Method and system for measuring the humidity in the walls of a building

Abstract

A method and a system for measuring the humidity in the walls of a building are described. The method comprises the following steps: carrying out a preliminary empiric verification of the presence of the humidity in the wall; carrying out an initial calibration of the measurement system; preparing a predefined portion of the wall for inserting the sensor devices (10); inserting the sensor devices (10) in the wall, wherein each sensor device (10) is inserted in the wall at said predefined heights (H1, H2, H3) with respect to a walking surface; connecting the sensor devices (10) with an electronic control unit (12) through a predefined communication protocol; carrying out a first measurement of the humidity by the sensor devices (10) and sending the first measured humidity values to the electronic control unit (12); comparing the first measured humidity values with the average humidity values by means of the electronic control unit (12), so as to determine a correlation between said first measured humidity values and said average humidity values; carrying out a plurality of subsequent measurements of the humidity by means of the sensor devices (10), with a predefined frequency and for a predefined period of time, and sending the subsequent measured humidity values to the electronic control unit (12); sending all the measured humidity values to the remote server (14), by means of the electronic control unit (12), in order to carry out processing of said measured humidity values.

Description

[0001] METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MEASURING THE HUMIDITY IN THE WALLS OF A BUILDING

[0002] The present invention relates to a method and a system for measuring the humidity in the walls of a building.

[0003] The current systems for measuring the humidity in the walls of a building usually consist of contact hygrometers, or are equipped with pin hygrometric probes. These hygrometers perform an indirect measurement of the humidity, as the respective probes are capable of detecting the value of the electrical conductivity of the material present on the wall surface. This value is then electronically converted into the relative humidity value.

[0004] A first drawback of these hygrometers, as well as the respective method for measuring the humidity, is due to the fact that different conductive materials, that is materials having different electrical conductivity values, are normally present in a wall. This can lead to measurement errors. A second drawback is due to the fact that the measurements with these known hygrometers are always superficial. The pin hygrometric probes, in the rare case that they can be inserted deeply, can only take the measurement at the point of contact, but not in the entire section of the wall, as they are designed for a punctual measurement.

[0005] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a method and a system for measuring the humidity in the walls of a building which are capable of solving the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art in an extremely simple, economical and particularly functional manner.

[0006] In detail, an object of the present invention is to provide a method and a system which allow the most precise measurement of humidity in the walls of a building to be obtained.

[0007] This and other objects according to the present invention are achieved by providing a method and a system for measuring the humidity in the walls of a building as set forth in the independent claims.

[0008] Further features of the invention are highlighted by the dependent claims, which are an integral part of the present description.

[0009] The features and advantages of a method and a system for measuring the humidity in the walls of a building according to the present invention will be clearer from the following exemplifying and hence non-limiting description, referring to the attached schematic drawings in which:

[0010] Figure 1 is a schematic view of the main components of a system implementing the method for measuring humidity in the walls of a building according to the present invention;

[0011] Figure 2 is a schematic view of a single sensor device of the system for measuring the humidity in the walls of a building of figure 1 , where the sensor is shown in an operating position inside a wall; and

[0012] Figure 3 is a schematic view of the sensor device of figure 2.

[0013] With reference in particular to figure 1 , a preferred illustrative embodiment of a system implementing the method for measuring the humidity in the walls of a building according to the present invention is shown. The measurement system comprises a plurality of sensor devices 10, which are configured to be at least partially inserted inside a wall W in order to measure its humidity values. The measurement system further comprises at least one electronic control unit 12 provided with storage means, which is configured to communicate, through a predefined communication protocol, with the sensor devices 10 to control the operation of the sensor devices 10 and to receive the humidity values measured by the sensor devices 10.

[0014] The electronic control unit 12 is configured to communicate with at least one remote server 14 through the predefined communication protocol. The remote server 14 is in turn configured to receive and process the humidity values measured by the sensor devices 10. Preferably, the communication protocol is a wireless communication protocol. More preferably, the communication protocol is a Bluetooth communication protocol.

[0015] With reference to figures 2 and 3, each sensor device 10 comprises at least two electrically conductive oblong probes 16. Unlike a traditional pin probe, each oblong probe 16 has a predefined length L1 , that is to say a length L1 which is considerably greater than its thickness. Each oblong probe 16 is configured to be completely inserted inside the wall W, up to a depth which is substantially equal to its length L1 , in order to measure its humidity values by detecting the value of the electrical conductivity of the material inside the wall W. Preferably, each sensor device 10 comprises two separate oblong probes 16 which are arranged parallel to each other and are configured to be inserted inside the wall W in a perpendicular direction with respect to a surface layer C of the wall W. Again, preferably, each oblong probe 16 has a length L1 which is equal to about 9 cm.

[0016] Each sensor device 10 further comprises at least one head portion 18, which is configured to stay outside the wall W when the sensor device 10 is in the operating position. This head portion 18 contains electronic means for controlling the oblong probes 16 and communicating with the electronic control unit 12.

[0017] At least one intermediate portion 20 having a predefined length L2 is interposed between each oblong probe 16 and the head portion 18 of each sensor device 10. This intermediate portion 20 is manufactured with an insulating material and is configured to completely pass through the surface layer or plaster C of the wall W in the operating position of the respective sensor device 10, in order to prevent each oblong probe 16 and the surface layer or plaster C from contacting each other.

[0018] Preferably, as shown in figure 1 , the measurement system comprises three separate sensor devices 10, each of which is configured to be inserted inside the wall W at a respective predefined height H1 , H2, H3 with respect to a walking surface. Each predefined height H1 , H2, H3 can take on values for example of about 20 cm, 40 cm and 60 cm, respectively, with respect to the walking surface.

[0019] By carrying out measurements using a voltmeter, the applicant has in fact found out that numerous types of plaster contain conductive substances (salts). A high concentration of salts causes an altered humidity reading when usual hygrometers on the market with electrically conductive tips are used. In the specific case, measurements were carried out on walls subject to capillary rising humidity and it was determined that the greatest margin of error in identifying the humidity values occurs in the most salinized areas, while the error is reduced in the less salinized areas. Nonetheless, it is not easy to understand which areas of the surface layer or plaster of a wall are most salinized, as in cases of capillary rising humidity salts can be dissolved and therefore they cannot be seen with the naked eye. This factor provides an incorrect measurement of the humidity values, which can instead be exactly calculated only using specific comparative measurements, as will be better explained below. The method for measuring the humidity in the walls of a building according to the present invention, which will also be better explained below, therefore involves a step of preparing the wall W in which the surface layer or plaster C is removed up to a predefined depth, of the order of about 2 cm, in order to eliminate the error factor described so far.

[0020] The method for measuring the humidity in the walls of a building according to the present invention involves carrying out an electrical measurement that quantifies the humidity values that are as realistic as possible, that is measured with quantitative methods. One of these quantitative methods is the weight measurement method according to UNI 1 1085. This weight measurement method consists of a measurement performed by taking from the wall one or more samples of material with a predefined weight, which is equal to 2 grams according to the UNI standard. Each sample of material is weighed with a high-precision scale and is then heated, forcing the evaporation of the water present in it. When the drying is finished, each sample of material is weighed again: the exact amount of water present in each sample of material is obtained by calculating the difference compared to the previous weighing.

[0021] As previously mentioned, there are different elements in a wall that are electrically conductive and therefore create an increase in the total conductivity of the wall, making the measurement of the humidity by means of the current measurement systems using conventional hygrometers inaccurate. Conversely, the presence of two oblong probes 16 parallel to each other on each sensor device 10 of the measurement system allows an electrical contact along the entire length L1 (about 9 cm) of the oblong probes 16. These oblong probes 16 are in fact inserted perpendicular to the wall W to allow the humidity to be measured in a specific portion of the wall W and not just on a surface point.

[0022] Furthermore, the presence on each sensor device 10 of the measurement system of an intermediate portion 20 which can be inserted into the wall W going beyond the surface layer or plaster C avoids electrical contact between the oblong probes 16 and this surface layer or plaster C, where the greatest quantities of conductive salts are present. The measurement of the actual amount of water in the wall W can be obtained, significantly reducing the measurement error, by going beyond the surface layer or plaster C and avoiding contact with the salts transported by the capillary rising humidity. Based on qualitative and quantitative measurements of the salts, definitive confirmation has been obtained that the amount of salts in the surface layer or plaster C of a wall W is on average 90%. Only about 10% of salts are dispersed deep in the wall W: this is a negligible concentration, which does not affect the measurement of the humidity.

[0023] Furthermore, environmental factors do not affect the measurement of the humidity inside the wall W. In fact, in the surface layer or plaster C, a natural evaporation of water occurs, as the surface layer or plaster C is in contact with the air. Heat and relative humidity of the air can cause the surface layer or plaster C to dry or soak, thus causing further errors in the humidity measurement. Finally, the conformation of the materials of which the surface layer or plaster C is composed also affects the identification of the humidity values, as there are materials that allow faster evaporation which, on the surface, can make the wall appear dry. For example, a material typically which is used to try and solve the problem of capillarity is the so-called macro-porous plaster, which however only partially and temporarily solves the problem of capillarity. All these materials, being significantly different in porosity compared to the internal portions of a wall, in any case cause altered measurements of the humidity values.

[0024] The method for measuring the humidity in the walls of a building according to the present invention, which uses the measurement system described so far, therefore comprises a step of carrying out a preliminary verification of the presence of the humidity in the wall W, which is typically the so-called humidity from capillary rising of water, otherwise called rising humidity. This step can be carried out empirically, for example using known detection means (including pin / contact hygrometers), or with the naked eye.

[0025] An initial calibration of the measurement system is then carried out through the following sub-steps:

[0026] - withdrawal of a plurality of samples of the wall W material from the wall W, at respective predefined heights H1 , H2, H3 with respect to the walking surface and respective predefined depths inside the wall W;

[0027] - measuring the humidity in the samples of the wall W material by using the weight method in accordance with UNI 1 1085;

[0028] - calculating the average humidity values in the samples of the wall W material; and

[0029] - inserting said average humidity values in the storage means of the electronic control unit. Three separate samples of the wall W material can, for example, be withdrawn at three predefined depth values with respect to the surface of the wall W. Again by way of example, these three predefined depth values can correspond to 3 cm, 6 cm and 9 cm, or in any case to values which are greater than the thickness of the surface layer or plaster C of the wall W.

[0030] The predefined portion of the wall W in which the sensor devices 10 will be inserted requires an adequate preliminary preparation step. This preparation step can comprise the following sub-steps:

[0031] - removing the surface layer or plaster C at the predefined portion of the wall W in which the sensor devices 10 will have to be inserted; and

[0032] - drilling the wall W at the above-mentioned predefined portion of the wall W and at the predefined heights H1 , H2, H3, in such a way as to obtain a plurality of holes equal to the number of the oblong probes 16 of each sensor device 10 to be inserted at the predefined heights H1 , H2, H3.

[0033] When the preparation step for preparing the wall W has been completed, it is possible to proceed with the step of inserting the sensor devices 10 into the wall W. Each sensor device 10 is inserted into the wall W at a respective predefined height H1 , H2, H3 with respect to the walking surface. The predefined heights H1 , H2, H3 can be selected on the basis of the measurements carried out by using the weight method. Based on this measurement method, three different humidity ranges are identified in a wall, namely a first range at the base of the wall, which is very humid, a second intermediate range, which is moderately humid, and a third upper range of evaporation, which is slightly humid. Ultimately, as already mentioned, values of the predefined heights H1 , H2, H3 can be considered equal to 20 cm, 40 cm and 60 cm, respectively, compared to the walking surface.

[0034] After being inserted in the wall W, the sensor devices 10 are operatively connected to the electronic control unit 12 through the predefined communication protocol. A first measurement of the humidity can be then carried out by the sensor devices 10, in order to send these first measured humidity values to the electronic control unit 12 for comparing them, again by means of the electronic control unit 12, with the average humidity values obtained by using the weight measurement method, so as to determine a correlation between the first humidity values measured by the sensor devices 10 with the average humidity values. Once configured, the measurement system is capable of carrying out a plurality of subsequent measurements of the humidity by means of the sensor devices 10, with a predefined frequency and for a predefined period of time. All the measured humidity values can be sent to the electronic control unit 12 and, through this latter to the remote server 14, in order to carry out various processing of said measured humidity values. For example, a user will be able to access the remote server 14 to view all measurements taken by the measurement system.

[0035] The method for measuring the humidity in the walls according to the present invention therefore uses the only measurement that allows to know the real amount of humidity in a wall, namely the weight measurement method in accordance with UNI 1 1085. The measurement using the sensor devices 10, which is an electrical measurement, is therefore compared with the weight measurement in accordance with UN1 1 1085, so as to have a starting correlation exactly equal to the real amount of the water present in the wall W. The measurement system is configured to allow its own calibration on site, exactly for the amount of the humidity present in a given building, with walls which are made of a given material and for a specific geographical area.

[0036] After the initial calibration step, at least part of the humidity values, which have been measured after this initial calibration step, can be still compared with the average humidity values obtained by using the weight method in accordance with UNI 1 1085. Finally, when the drying of the wall W and then the humidity measurement procedure are finished, a further check can also be carried out by using the weight measurement in accordance with UN1 1 1085 for a final comparison with the last humidity values obtained by using the measurement system described above.

[0037] The applicant has repeatedly experienced the difference in measurement between the weight measurement in accordance with UNI 1 1085 and the electrical methods and systems (conductivity of the material soaked in water) or the thermal methods and systems (thermal cameras that record the temperature difference of the material the wall is made of). If a building is subject to a problem of capillary rising humidity, the dispersion is accentuated, but it is very difficult to distinguish the heat dispersion with the ground and the heat dispersion accentuated by the humidity in the wall, especially in cases where the capillary rising humidity coincides with the natural level of heat dispersion caused by the contact of the foundations with the ground. Even in this case, various tests and weight measurements have shown that it is impossible to distinguish and quantify the capillary rising humidity with a thermal camera without isolating the actual amount of water present in the wall.

[0038] A series of measurements carried out over the years, in a variety of situations and with a variety of samples, has made it possible to carry out an approximate calculation of the heat dispersion, again by totally using the weight measurements in accordance with UNI 1 1085, without which no other value can be compared with the real and actual one. All this confirms once again the need to have an initial value compared with a real and quantitative measurement such as the one in accordance with UNI 1 1085. Failing such a real measurement, the values and scale of the measuring instruments currently on the market are approximated to ideological situations, probably recreated in laboratories, which due to the enormous number of variables present even in a small area such as a city cannot approach reality precisely, but can only give an indicative approximation.

[0039] The weight measurements have been compared with the surface measurements (using different hygrometers coming from various types of brands); these measurements have shown that the precision of the surface measurements is approximate and does not take into account the operator's ability to use the instrument. The intrinsic limitations of these measuring instruments do not allow for accurate diagnoses even with expert knowledge and experience in using measuring instruments. In several situations, surface hygrometers have measured humidity that has not been there for a long time, which was caused instead by the presence of salts in the plaster. In other cases, the weight measurement method in accordance with UNI 1 1085 has shown the presence of water deep in seemingly dry lime plastered walls.

[0040] It has thus been seen that the method and the system for measuring the humidity in the walls of a building according to the present invention achieves the objects highlighted above. The major advantage lies in the fact of obtaining very precise measurements, which are very close to the real conditions of the building to be monitored, thus allowing a correct estimate of the humidity values. In fact, this estimate becomes much more evident in buildings where there are historical elements that have a cultural value. In such conditions, maximum precision is rightly required, and incorrect assessments can have irreparable damaging effects. Regardless of its historical importance and due to the variables described so far, each building differs so much from every other building that it becomes almost impossible to "standardize" an instantaneous and fast measurement. A generic case can be approached in a laboratory, but each case can be very different from the other: this is why a timely diagnosis on site becomes necessary.

[0041] The method and the system for measuring the humidity in the walls of a building of the present invention thus conceived are however susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which falling within the scope of the same inventive concept; furthermore, all the details can be replaced by technically equivalent elements. In practice, the materials used, as well as the shapes and dimensions, may be any according to the technical requirements.

[0042] The scope of protection of the invention is therefore defined by the attached claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method for measuring the humidity in the walls (W) of a building by using a measurement system comprising:- a plurality of sensor devices (10), wherein each sensor device (10) comprises at least two electrically conductive oblong probes (16);- at least one electronic control unit (12) provided with storage means; and- at least one remote server (14), the method comprising the following steps: a) carrying out a preliminary empiric verification of the presence of the humidity in the wall (W); b) carrying out an initial calibration of the measurement system through the following sub-steps: b1 ) withdrawing a plurality of samples of the wall material (W) from the wall (W), at respective predefined heights (H1 , H2, H3) with respect to a walking surface and at respective predefined depths inside the wall (W), b2) measuring the humidity in said plurality of samples of the wall material (W) by using the weight method in accordance with UNI 1 1085, b3) calculating the average humidity values in said plurality of samples of the wall material (W), b4) inserting said average humidity values in the storage means of the electronic control unit (12); c) preparing a predefined portion of the wall (W) for inserting the sensor devices (10); d) inserting the sensor devices (10) in the wall (W), wherein each sensor device (10) is inserted in the wall (W) at one of said predefined heights (H1 , H2, H3) with respect to a walking surface; e) connecting the sensor devices (10) with the electronic control unit (12) through a predefined communication protocol; f) carrying out a first measurement of the humidity by the sensor devices (10) and sending the first measured humidity values to the electronic control unit (12); g) comparing the first measured humidity values with the average humidity values by means of the electronic control unit (12), so as to determine a correlation between said first measured humidity values and said average humidity values;h) carrying out a plurality of subsequent measurements of the humidity by means of the sensor devices (10), with a predefined frequency and for a predefined period of time and sending the subsequent measured humidity values to the electronic control unit (12); and i) sending all the measured humidity values to the remote server (14), by means of the electronic control unit (12), in order to carry out processing of said measured humidity values.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said preparation step c) comprises the following sub-steps: c1 ) removing the surface layer or plaster (C) at said predefined portion of the wall (W); and c2) drilling the wall (W) at the above-mentioned predefined portion of the wall (W) and at said predefined heights (H1 , H2, H3), in such away as to obtain a plurality of holes equal to the number of the oblong probes (16) of each sensor device (10) to be inserted at said predefined heights (H1 , H2, H3).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a step of comparing, by means of the electronic control unit (12), at least part of the subsequent measured humidity values with the average humidity values obtained by using the weight method in accordance with UNI 11085.

4. The method according to any claims 1 to 3, further comprising a step of repeating the sub-steps b1 ), b2), b3) and b4) at the end of the humidity measurement procedure, for comparing, by means of the electronic control unit (12), the last measured humidity values with the average humidity values obtained by repeating the sub-steps b1 ), b2), b3) and b4).

5. A system for measuring the humidity in the walls (W) of a building by implementing the method according to any claims 1 to 4, the measurement system comprising:- a plurality of sensor devices (10), which are configured to be at least partially inserted inside the wall (W) in order to measure its humidity values;- at least one electronic control unit (12) provided with storage means, which is configured to communicate, through a predefined communication protocol, with the sensor devices (10) to control the operation of said sensor devices (10) and to receive the humidity values measured by said sensor devices (10); and- at least one remote server (14), which is configured to communicate, through said predefined communication protocol, with the electronic control unit (12) to receive and process the humidity values measured by said sensor devices (10), wherein each sensor devices (10) comprises:- at least two electrically conductive oblong probes (16), wherein each oblong probe (16) has a predefined length (L1 ) and is configured to be completely inserted inside the wall (W) in order to measure its humidity values by detecting the value of the electrical conductivity of the material inside the wall (W);- at least one head portion (18), which is configured to stay outside the wall (W) when the sensor device (10) is in the operating position and contains the electronic means for controlling said at least one oblong probe (16) and communicating with the electronic control unit (12); and- at least one intermediate portion (20) having a predefined length (L2), which is manufactured with an insulating material and is interposed between said at least one oblong probe (16) and said at least one head portion (18), wherein said at least one intermediate portion (20) is configured to completely pass through one surface layer or plaster (C) of the wall (W) in the operating position of the respective sensor device (10), in order to prevent said at least one oblong probe (16) and said surface layer or plaster (C) from contacting each other.

6. The measurement system according to claim 5, characterized in that each sensor device (10) comprises two separate oblong probes (16), which are arranged parallel to each other and are configured to be inserted inside the wall (W) in a perpendicular direction with respect to said surface layer or plaster (C).

7. The measurement system according to claim 6, characterized in that each oblong probe (16) has a length (L1 ) which is equal to about 9 cm.

8. The measurement system according to any claims 5 to 7, characterized in that said communication protocol is a wireless communication protocol.

9. The measurement system according to claim 8, characterized in that said wireless communication protocol is a Bluetooth communication protocol.

10. The measurement system according to any claims 5 to 9, characterized in that it comprises three separate sensor devices (10), each of which is configured to be inserted inside the wall (W) at a respective predefined height (H1 , H2, H3) with respect to a walking surface.

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