Anode grounding with self-diagnostic function

Abstract

This utility model relates to the field of anti-corrosion protection of underground metal structures, specifically to anode grounding electrodes for cathodic protection stations of main gas pipelines. It can be used for automatic, continuous monitoring of the anode's depletion rate and remote transmission of data on its condition to the cathodic protection station and control center. The anode grounding electrode, with a self-diagnostic function, comprises an electrode made of an anode-active material and a current lead wire connected to the electrode via a contact node. Five independent control circuit cores are integrated into the electrode body, each made of a corrosion-resistant conductive material and located at one of five design depths, corresponding to 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 95% of the electrode's full depletion rate, and one common return core.The control circuit wires are electrically connected to the electrode body and connected to a control sensor capable of alternately applying test current to each circuit and recording its state. The control sensor is designed to be electrically connected to the cathodic protection station and the control center, with the ability to simultaneously transmit data on the electrode's state. 1 c.p. fil., 2 fig.

Description

[0001] The utility model relates to the field of anti-corrosion protection of underground metal structures, in particular to anode grounding devices of cathodic protection stations of main gas pipelines, and can be used for automatic continuous monitoring of the degree of anode wear and remote transmission of data on its condition to the cathodic protection station and to the control center.

[0002] Known technical solutions aimed at assessing the technical condition of anode grounding electrodes are mainly indirect monitoring methods. A known method for detecting breaks in extended anode grounding electrodes is based on connecting a low-frequency current generator and measuring the transverse gradient of the earth's surface potential between the measuring electrodes [Patent of the Russian Federation No. 2576979, IPC C23F 13 / 00, published 10.03.2016, Bulletin No. 7]. A known method for determining the period of removal of anode grounding for repairs is also based on periodic measurement of the output voltage of the converter of the cathodic protection system, calculation of the resistance to current spreading and linear extrapolation of its change over time [Patent of the Russian Federation No. 2721250, IPC C23F 13 / 02, published [18.05.2020, Bulletin No. 14].The above methods require personnel to travel to the site, use specialized equipment, do not provide targeted diagnostics of each anode in the string, and are not integrated into the design of the anode grounding device itself.

[0003] An anode grounding device is known, selected by the applicant as a prototype, which includes a current lead wire and at least one metal electrode connected to it, made in the form of a hollow through or blind pipe, wherein the contact of the current lead wire with the electrode is made in the form of at least one compression spring [Patent of the Russian Federation for Utility Model No. 132079, IPC C23F 13 / 00, C23F 13 / 08, published 10.09.2013, Bulletin No. 25].

[0004] The disadvantages of the prototype include the lack of built-in means for monitoring the degree of anode wear, the inability to obtain information about the current state of the grounding electrode without personnel visiting the site, the lack of remote data transmission to the cathodic protection station and the control center, as well as the lack of the ability to target diagnostics of each anode in the deep anode grounding garland with a separate assessment of the residual life of each element.

[0005] The technical problem is the creation of an anode grounding device with a self-diagnostic function, containing an electrode made of anode-active material and a current lead wire connected to the electrode through a contact unit, which allows for automatic continuous monitoring of the degree of anode wear in real time without personnel visiting the site and remote transmission of data on its condition to the cathodic protection station and the control center.

[0006] The technical result consists in increasing the reliability of the operation of cathodic protection stations by ensuring continuous monitoring of the degree of wear of the anode grounding device with a self-diagnostic function, containing an electrode made of anode-active material and a current lead wire connected to the electrode through a contact unit.

[0007] The technical result in an anode earthing device with a self-diagnostic function, containing an electrode made of an anode-active material and a current lead wire connected to the electrode through a contact unit, is achieved in that five independent control circuit cores are integrated into the electrode body, each of which is made of a corrosion-resistant conductive material and is located at one of five calculated depths corresponding to 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 95% of the full development of the electrode, and one common return core, wherein the control circuit cores are electrically connected to the electrode body and connected to a control sensor configured to alternately supply a test current to each circuit and record its “closed / open” state, wherein the control sensor is configured to be electrically connected to a cathodic protection station and to a control point with the ability to simultaneously transmit data on the state of the electrode.The control circuit cores are designed with the ability to maintain conductivity within the electrode and to consistently destroy or lose conductivity when the anodic dissolution zone reaches the corresponding calculated depths, ensuring discrete determination of the degree of electrode depletion.

[0008] The proposed utility model is illustrated by drawings.

[0009] Fig. 1 shows the overall architecture of signal transmission;

[0010] Fig. 2 - structural diagram of the grounding conductor;

[0011] Anode earthing device with a self-diagnostic function, containing an electrode made of anode-active material and a current lead wire connected to the electrode through a contact unit, contains the following structural elements: 1 - electrode made of anode-active material, 2 - current lead wire, 3 - individual control circuit cores (C1-C5), 4 - common return core, 5 - control sensor.

[0012] An anode grounding device with a self-diagnostic function, containing an electrode made of an anodic-active material and a current lead wire connected to the electrode through a contact unit, contains an electrode 1 made, for example, of an iron-silicon alloy (ferrosilicon) of the ChS-15 brand according to GOST 7769-86 with an anodic dissolution rate of 0.1 to 0.5 kg / A per year, or of a magnetite-based alloy with an anodic dissolution rate of the order of 0.02 kg / A per year, and a current lead wire 2 made, for example, in the form of a VPP 1×16 brand cable with a copper conductive core, connected to the electrode 1 through a sealed contact unit.

[0013] Five independent cores of control circuits 3 (C1-C5) and one common return core 4 are integrated into the body of electrode 1 as part of a single signal cable, for example, of the KVVGng(A)-LS 6×0.5 brand, electrically connecting the control circuits 3 with the control sensor 5. The control sensor 5 is made in the form of a microprocessor discrete input module, which is a purchased product manufactured by industry, for example, based on the OWEN MV110-224.16D module, and is designed with the possibility of alternately supplying a test current (about 1-5 mA) to each of the control circuits 3 and recording its “closed / open” state. The control sensor 5 is electrically connected to the cathodic protection station, for example, the UKZN IPKZ type, via the RS-485 interface (Modbus RTU protocol) and to the control center via the GSM / GPRS channel or via a dedicated communication channel with the possibility of simultaneous transmission of data on the state of the electrode 1.

[0014] Each core of the control circuit 3 is made of a corrosion-resistant conductive material, for example, stainless steel grade 12X18H10T according to GOST 5632-2014, or titanium grade VT1-0 according to GOST 19807-91, or a copper core with a cross-section of 0.5-1.0 mm² in insulation made of cross-linked polyethylene or fluoroplastic F-4, providing electrical insulation of the core from the body of electrode 1 along its entire length. The specified materials are characterized by high corrosion resistance within the anode-active material in the absence of contact with the soil and dissolve or lose conductivity when exposed to the anodic dissolution zone and contact with an aggressive soil environment at specified design depths corresponding to 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 95% of the full development of electrode 1.

[0015] Each core of control circuit 3 is electrically connected to the body of electrode 1 at its calculated depth, forming a conductive connection through the body of electrode 1 with the common return core 4. While the section of electrode 1 at the junction of the core is intact and is not exposed by the anodic dissolution zone, control circuit 3 remains closed through the body of electrode 1. When the anodic dissolution zone reaches the calculated depth, the material of core 3 either deteriorates under the action of corrosion in the soil environment (in the case of stainless steel or titanium), or loses insulation and undergoes anodic dissolution (in the case of a copper core in insulation), as a result of which control circuit 3 loses conductivity and goes into the "open" state.

[0016] Let's consider an anode grounding conductor with a self-diagnostic function, containing an electrode made of anode-active material and a current lead wire connected to the electrode through a contact unit in use.

[0017] Electrode 1 is buried in the ground (as part of a surface or deep anodic grounding system) and connected via current lead 2 to the positive terminal of the cathodic protection station's current source. During operation, electrode 1 gradually dissolves under the influence of the anodic current. As electrode 1 wears down, the anodic dissolution zone successively reaches the location of the control circuit conductors 3, causing them to gradually lose conductivity.

[0018] Control sensor 5 alternately applies test current to each of the five control circuits 3 and the common return wire 4, recording the state of each circuit—closed or open. The combined states of the five control circuits 3 uniquely determine the current state of electrode 1. Resistance measurement and calibration are not required—the operating logic is discrete (5 bits).

[0019] As electrode 1 wears out, control circuits 3 sequentially lose conductivity, which is recorded by control sensor 5 and interpreted as a wear stage: normal (0%) → initial (~20%) → intermediate (~40%) → high (~60%) → critical (~80%, warning) → limit (~95%, replacement). Data on the current stage of electrode 1 wear is simultaneously transmitted by control sensor 5 to the cathodic protection station for adjusting the protection mode and generating an alarm, as well as to the control center for remote visualization, archiving of wear history, and automatic generation of replacement requests.

[0020] Thus, the technical problem has been solved and the technical result has been achieved.

[0021] An additional advantage of the claimed technical solution is the ability to perform targeted diagnostics of each electrode within the deep anode grounding string with separate assessment of the residual life of each element, as well as the ability to integrate the anode grounding condition monitoring system into existing automated process control systems and dispatching systems without significant modifications.

[0022] An analysis of known technical solutions, carried out using scientific, technical and patent documentation, showed that the set of essential features of the claimed technical solution is unknown from the state of the art, therefore, it meets the conditions of patentability of a utility model of novelty.

[0023] The claimed technical solution is planned for use in the linear production departments of main gas pipelines (LPUGP) and operational production departments (OPD) of Gazprom Transgaz Kazan LLC for continuous monitoring of the condition of anode grounding electrodes of cathodic protection stations of main gas pipelines.

Claims

1. An anode earthing device with a self-diagnostic function, comprising an electrode made of an anode-active material and a current lead wire connected to the electrode through a contact unit, characterized in that five independent control circuit cores are integrated into the electrode body, each of which is made of a corrosion-resistant conductive material and is located at one of five calculated depths corresponding to 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 95% of the full development of the electrode, and one common return core, wherein the control circuit cores are electrically connected to the electrode body and connected to a control sensor configured to alternately supply a test current to each circuit and record its state, wherein the control sensor is configured to be electrically connected to a cathodic protection station and to a control point with the ability to simultaneously transmit data on the state of the electrode.

2. An anode grounding device with a self-diagnostic function according to paragraph 1, characterized in that the cores of the control circuits are designed with the ability to maintain conductivity within the electrode and sequentially destroy or lose conductivity when the anodic dissolution zone reaches the corresponding calculated depths, ensuring discrete determination of the degree of electrode wear.

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