Question 438Motor Plants - Assistant Engineer

The correct answer is A) reduce electrolytic action on heat exchanger metals. Sacrificial zinc anodes are used on the salt water side of diesel engine heat exchangers to protect the metal components from corrosion due to electrolytic action. The zinc anode is designed to corrode preferentially, sacrificing itself to prevent the more valuable heat exchanger metals from being corroded. This protects the integrity and functionality of the heat exchanger. The other answer choices are incorrect because: B) does not accurately describe the purpose of sacrificial anodes, C) is not the primary function, and D) is not the purpose of sacrificial anodes on heat exchangers.