Localized measurement system for monitoring corrosion inside a pole

Abstract

Localized measurement system for monitoring corrosion inside a pole, adapted to verify the progress of erosion caused by the most common atmospheric agents on new metal poles used in telecommunications or lighting systems; such corrosion effects thus being capable of being monitored through the use of a diode whose construction parameters are known, inserted in a circuit whose sensitivity can be managed via a resistor R1, on the negative lead of an operational amplifier; each measurement being managed by at least a microcontroller, adapted to acquire the exploration cunent I, the temperature values in the environment around the diode, the n cyclic measurements, which are subsequently adapted to be sent to a remote control center; said measurement system being adapted to be incorporated inside a generic metal pole during its manufacture.

Description

[0001] “Localized measurement system for monitoring corrosion inside a pole”

[0002] Description

[0003] Field of the invention

[0004] The invention refers to an innovative measurement system, located inside new metal poles, adapted to monitor the state of deterioration caused by erosion, due to the most common atmospheric agents; said system is furthermore adapted to send the recorded data to a specialized monitoring center, in order to set up a targeted and optimized maintenance strategy.

[0005] Prior art

[0006] To date, the use of electric current for the dimensional monitoring of metallic artifacts encounters a major obstacle in the low resistivity characterizing the measurements of very small voltages, which are the quantities usually found in electronic devices crossed by high currents.

[0007] Very often it is necessary to measure very small resistances, even less than thousandths of an ohm, in direct current conditions, such as shunt resistors, high frequency antenna coils, electrical cables, metal pipes, particular junctions, resistors of water heaters and stoves.

[0008] It is also necessary, in the current state of the art, to use electrical prospecting on metal apparatuses to carry out dimensional analyses on areas subjected to corrosion, using an appropriate current stress.

[0009] Some equipment today ensures high accuracy, with sensitivity down to a hundredth of a nano ohm; however, such equipment appears to be too expensive to be used in smaller artifacts.

[0010] The purchase costs of such equipment can exceed €5,700, further making them inconvenient. The most cutting-edge testers eliminate a long series of parasitic effects such as:

[0011] • the voltage burden introduced, which occurs at the ends of the ammeter input terminals during the measurement which reduces the effective current flowing in the circuit, thus penalizing the accuracy;

[0012] • the tribo-electric currents generated by the charges on the interface between a conductor and insulator due to the friction between the two: the free electronics detach from the conductor and create an imbalance of charges which causes a flow of current;

[0013] • piezoelectric-type currents are generated when mechanical stresses are applied to certain crystalline materials used for insulated terminals and interconnection systems;

[0014] • currents of an electrochemical nature are due to ionic imbalances which cause local batteries of low intensity between two conductors on supports of the measurement circuit;

[0015] • the dielectric absorption which is due to voltage applied to the ends of an insulator causes positive and negative charges therein, which polarize it.

[0016] The most cutting-edge testers in the sector would still be inadequate, not only due to the price, but also due to the objective measurement difficulties in a fixed and already operational system.

[0017] If it were therefore necessary to carry out a multiplicity of measurements of small resistances, indicative of corrosive processes on metal artifacts spread over a geographically extensive territory, the instrumentation currently available on the market would be totally inadequate in terms of cost, sensitivity and functionality. Not even patent JP2017110250, published on June 22, 2017, solves the aforesaid problems as it claims a diagnostic system adapted to predict and anticipate the total deterioration of a sacrificial anode, so as to preserve any component subject to erosion. Said patent JP2017110250 does not provide any useful tool for monitoring the state of deterioration of the component to be protected. The object of the present patent application is therefore to describe a measurement system localized inside new poles, useful for monitoring the state of deterioration thereof following erosion caused by the most common atmospheric phenomena; said monitoring is carried out using components known in the current state of the art, used and arranged so as to obtain precise and reliable results never achieved before.

[0018] Description of the invention

[0019] According to the present invention, a measurement system which can be localized is created for monitoring corrosion inside a pole which effectively solves the problems already indicated.

[0020] The measurement system described in the present patent application is advantageously adapted to be comprised inside any pole or object mathematically expressible in a topologically similar figure, used in the telecommunications sector or in the lighting sector.

[0021] Said system, defined as "localized", is comprised inside the shape of the newly produced pole, and is adapted to monitor the state of deterioration of the walls of said pole, using a very low voltage exploration electric current.

[0022] The deterioration of the poles in question is caused by the erosive effects of atmospheric agents, which affect the dimensions of the walls of said poles, thinning the thickness thereof and consequently altering the physical design properties thereof.

[0023] The measuring apparatus, which is necessary to check the deterioration of poles, consists of a diode, the construction parameters of which are known. Said diode is inserted in a circuit whose sensitivity is managed by means of a resistor Ri, on the negative lead of an operational amplifier.

[0024] The measurements carried out by said measuring apparatus are subsequently sent to a remote control center, adapted to view the results obtained in order to make decisions regarding the maintenance to be performed.

[0025] By way of non-limiting example, the signals sent by said communication system are addressed directly to a server which is capable of automatically processing the dimensional data of the pole, quickly returning a valid and reliable result regarding the erosive state of the metal pole.

[0026] The system which is the subject-matter of the invention comprises at least a diode, inserted in feedback on an operational amplifier with input voltage Vin> 0 [V]; said diode is adapted to remain counter-polarized, so as to optimize the measurement of very small voltages, useful for estimating the internal dimensions of poles and metal artifacts subjected to erosion by atmospheric agents.

[0027] To manage the measurement cycles completed by said diode, a programmable microcontroller is used, indispensable for creating a detailed report to be subsequently sent to a remote control center, where the data obtained in each cycle will be examined. A comb of at least four electrodes is arranged internally to said pole, during the phases of its construction, so as to allow a four-wire measurement, where the two wires at the ends are dedicated to powering the system while the two innermost wires are dedicated to the measurement process. Any other internal electrodes can be used for measuring local resistivity and residual contact resistances.

[0028] At least a polarity switch is further installed inside said pole, which must allow the direct polarization of the diode, for the evaluation of the offset voltage of the apparatus. An optical connection is adapted to manage the exploration current to make it fluctuate as much as possible, with respect to the measurement procedures from the local stress of the current. The latter refers to the ground potential, while the measurement system refers to the ground potential of the electronics and the only way to make it possible to acquire data from the two systems, differently referred in potential, is the optical connection.

[0029] A shelf is further comprised inside said pole, created during the manufacturing step, adapted to allow the support and attachment of a plurality of components useful for allowing the correct operation of the system subject matter of the invention. Said shelf is provided with a partial isolation, adapted to support the grounded part, the current stress system, the part isolated through a non-conducting material, the electronics and its ground reference potential.

[0030] Said pole further includes two current leads, two voltage leads and other leads, depending on the diagnostic capabilities which the designer of the pole wants to highlight, adapted to be connected with the measuring apparatus through the use of a bundle of cables. A multi-polar connection cable is also applied to said measurement leads.

[0031] A photovoltaic panel is installed externally to said pole, adapted to ensure the energy autonomy of the system described in the present patent application; such a panel can power the measuring apparatus, the microcontroller and the wireless communication system, further providing, in a completely separate maimer, the current necessary to obtain the diagnosis on the thickness of the pole.

[0032] The energy obtained from said photovoltaic panels is stored inside a battery, so as to power the electrical components comprised inside the present system.

[0033] By way of non-limiting example, the power supply of the measuring apparatus, the microcontroller and the wireless communication system occurs by connecting the pole to any fixed electrical network, coming from the national distribution system.

[0034] A memory card, also comprised inside said pole but above said shelf, is adapted to store therein the plurality of dimensional measurements carried out, so as to allow the extrapolation of a historical trend of the corrosion of the pole monitored.

[0035] In order to send the data detected by the measuring apparatus to a control center, at least a communication system is used, adapted to use a wireless connection; said communication system is further adapted to start a measurement procedure, communicating with said programmable microcontroller.

[0036] In an embodiment thereof, said wireless connection is guaranteed by the use of at least a Bluetooth module comprised inside said communication system, located inside said metal pole.

[0037] An antenna is adapted to guarantee a wide communication range between said pole and said remote control center, where the dimensional data received are processed.

[0038] An access hatch is arranged on the side of said pole to allow a thorough inspection of the components inside said pole.

[0039] The system described above is supported by a measurement method which makes use of a plurality of steps, necessary to maintain a high quality standard of the measurements carried out, so as to optimize the available resources.

[0040] The measurements first occur with the forward bias of the diode in a preliminary step, and subsequently with the reverse bias of such a diode, and comprise the following steps:

[0041] - measurement of the temperature Ta;

[0042] - measurement of the stress current I with optical connection from the programmable microcontroller;

[0043] - measurement of the offset voltage os at the opening of the measurement campaign;

[0044] - storage of the results obtained;

[0045] - change of power supply, so as to carry out a measurement with reverse bias;

[0046] - initial setting of the measurement electronics and setting of the reiterations;

[0047] - connection with the potential to be measured V;

[0048] - start preliminary procedure;

[0049] - measurements to be repeated n times respecting the minimum number of cycles to guarantee high standards of reliability;

[0050] - elementary variation of an electronic rheostat;

[0051] - control of the direction of the output voltage Vout;

[0052] - exit from the loop until switching occurs;

[0053] - storage of the number of steps to the electronic rheostat;

[0054] - verification of the number of repeated measurements and return to 7.i if the w-th measurement is not reached;

[0055] - measurement of the offset voltage Vos at the end of the n measurement operations . The advantages offered by the present invention are evident in the light of the description presented thus far and will be even clearer thanks to the attached figures and the detailed description.

[0056] The invention will be described hereinafter in at least a preferred embodiment by way of non-limiting example with the aid of the appended figures, in which:

[0057] - FIGURE 1 shows an explanatory diagram, useful for highlighting the presence of some components comprised inside the metal pole 20. Said components are adapted to allow the correct operation of the system object of the invention; each component is placed inside the pole, except the photovoltaic panel 10, which is adapted to power all the electrical circuits, using a storage battery 11. All the other components are advantageously installed inside the shape of the pole 20, during the manufacturing of the pole 20 itself. An antenna 14 is used to send the data collected by the measuring apparatus 13 to any control center, using a wireless connection.

[0058] - FIGURE 2 shows, in more detail, the internal section of a pole 20 intended to be monitored thanks to the system of the invention. Said pole 20 comprises a shelf 23, useful for stowing and securing the plurality of components. Inside said pole 20 are further comprised current 16, voltage 17 and resistivity 18 leads, adapted to be connected to the measuring apparatus 13 through the use of a bundle of cables. A hatch 22 instead makes the inside of said pole 20 inspectable, so as to carry out accurate maintenance checks during the period of operation of the pole 20.

[0059] - FIGURE 3 shows the base electrical diagram of the electronic sensor, adapted to guarantee the operation of said measuring apparatus 13, using a diode inserted in feedback on an operational amplifier with input voltage Vin> 0 [V],

[0060] - FIGURE 4 shows the flow chart underlying the measurement method for monitoring corrosion inside a pole 20 described in independent claim 5.

[0061] Detailed description of the invention The present invention will now be illustrated by way of a purely non- limiting or binding example, resorting to the figures which illustrate some embodiments with respect to the present inventive concept.

[0062] FIG. 1 illustrates the internal composition of one of the poles 20 monitored by the system which is the subject matter of the invention, so as to control the erosion process caused by atmospheric agents, which cause deterioration of the metal structure, causing a thinning thereof.

[0063] In fact, inside said pole 20 is comprised a programmable microcontroller 15, adapted to manage the detection cycles by controlling a measuring apparatus 13, which comprises a diode therein inserted in feedback on an operational amplifier with input voltage Vin> 0 [V],

[0064] An influx of exploration current 12 is guaranteed by the use of at least a storage battery 11, useful for storing the electrical energy obtained from special solar panels 10 installed externally.

[0065] Finally, an antenna 14 is adapted to facilitate the wireless connection between said microcontroller 15 and a control center, where the information derived from the measuring apparatus 13 is processed to design an efficient but at the same time economical maintenance plan.

[0066] FIG. 2 shows an internal section of a generic pole 20 made by including the components of the present measurement system therein.

[0067] In fact, the new poles 20 comprise a shelf 23, partly covered with a layer of highly insulating material, on which the electronic part referring to its ground potential will be located, and the other connected to the ground potential of the pole, on which the power generator is installed, whose control electronics are controlled through the optical connection; said shelf 23 is made inside the shape of said poles 20, adapted to host and secure the position of the plurality of components necessary to allow the functioning of said system.

[0068] Inside said pole 20 are further comprised current 16, voltage 17 and resistivity 18 leads, adapted to be connected to the measuring apparatus 13 through the use of a bundle of cables.

[0069] Inside said pole 20, at least a multipolar cable 21 is inserted connecting to said measurement leads 16, 17, 18.

[0070] Lastly, a hatch 22 is roves necessary to allow inspection processes, useful for optimizing ordinary maintenance involving the components comprised in the localized measurement system which is the subject-matter of the invention.

[0071] FIG. 3 shows a diagram of the main circuit, adapted to detect and measure the passage of current necessary to determine the state of deterioration of the pole 20.

[0072] Said diagram comprises a diode inserted in feedback on an operational amplifier with input voltage Vin> 0 [V]; the diode is kept counter-polarized, so as to optimize the measurement of very small voltages, using the comparison between the counterreaction and the output potential, brought back to the input, which is gradually increased, until the latter prevails, which brings the circuit to diverge. The time to reach divergence is related to the very small input voltage, which is repeatedly measured, giving results.

[0073] The electrical diagram illustrated in figure 3 constitutes the measuring apparatus of the present localized measurement system for monitoring corrosion inside a pole 20.

[0074] FIG. 4 shows the flow chart which defines the plurality of steps necessary to ensure the correct operation of the measurement method described.

[0075] Said method comprises the steps of:

[0076] - measurement 100 of the temperature Ta;

[0077] - measurement 200 of the stress current I with optical connection from the programmable microcontroller 15;

[0078] - storage 300 of the results obtained;

[0079] - measurement 400 of the offset voltage os at the opening of the measurement campaign;

[0080] - change of power supply 500, in order to carry out a measurement with reverse bias;

[0081] - initial setting 600 of the measurement electronics and setting of the reiterations;

[0082] - connection 700 with the potential to be measured Vin;

[0083] - start 800 preliminary procedure; - measurements to be repeated 900 n times respecting the minimum number of cycles to guarantee high standards of reliability;

[0084] - elementary variation 910 of an electronic rheostat;

[0085] - control 920 of the direction of the output voltage Vout;

[0086] - exit 930 from the loop until switching occurs; - storage 940 of the number of steps to the electronic rheostat;

[0087] - verification 950 of the number of repeated measurements and return;

[0088] - measurement 1000 of the Vos offset voltage at the end of the n measurement operations.

[0089] Finally, it is clear that modifications, additions or variations that are obvious to a person skilled in the art can be made to the invention described so far, without thereby departing from the scope of protection provided by the attached claims.

Claims

Claims1. Localized measurement system for monitoring corrosion inside a pole (20), designed to verify the progress of erosion, caused by atmospheric agents, on metal poles (20) used in telecommunications or lighting systems , sending an exploration current (12) designed to detect the change in resistance due to the reduction in the thickness of the walls of said poles (20); these corrosion effects being capable of being monitored through a diode, inserted in a circuit whose sensitivity can be managed via a resistor Rl, on the negative lead of an operational amplifier; each measurement being managed by at least a microcontroller (15), capable of acquiring the exploration current I (12), temperature values Ta, n cyclic measurements, which are subsequently capable of being sent to a remote control center, in order to carry out an in-depth analysis on the degradation of the poles (20) caused by erosion phenomena; said measurement system can be incorporated inside any metal pole (20) during its manufacture, in order to minimize any bulk, creating at least a shelf (23) inside it suitable for allowing the support of a plurality of components referred to both ground and ground reference potentials; said localized measurement system for corrosion monitoring being characterized in that it includes:- at least a diode, as measuring apparatus (13), inserted in feedback on an operational amplifier with input voltage Vin> 0 [V]; said diode being able to remain counter-polarized, optimizing the measurement of very small voltages, to estimate the internal dimensions of poles (20) and metal artefacts subjected to erosion by atmospheric agents;- at least a programmable microcontroller (15), capable of managing the measurement cycles completed by said diode, in order to create a detailed report to be subsequently sent to a remote control center, where the data obtained in each cycle will be examined;- at least a polarity switch, capable of keeping said diode counter-polarized;- at least an optical connection, capable of managing the exploration current (12) to detect the thickness of the pole (20), detecting any erosion caused byatmospheric agents;- at least a comb of four or more electrodes, arranged internally to said pole (20), necessary to allow a four- wire measurement, where the two wires at the ends are dedicated to powering the system while the two innermost wires are dedicated to measurement and the others are dedicated to resistivity and contact resistance measurements;- at least a shelf (23), made internally to said pole (20), suitable for allowing the support and attachment of a plurality of components useful for allowing the correct functioning of the system in question; said shelf is equipped with partial insulation, suitable for supporting the grounded part, the current solicitation system, the part insulated through a non-conducting material, the electronics and its mass reference potential;- at least some current (16), voltage (17) and resistivity (18) leads, suitable for being connected to the measuring apparatus (13) via a bundle of cables;- at least a multipolar cable (21) connecting to said measurement leads (16, 17, 18);- at least a photovoltaic panel (10), installed externally to said pole (20), designed to guarantee the energy autonomy of the system; said panels (10) being suitable for powering the measuring apparatus (13), the microcontroller (15) and the wireless communication system, providing the current necessary to obtain the diagnosis on the thickness of the pole (20);- at least a battery (11), suitable for accumulating the energy obtained from said photovoltaic panels (10), in order to power the components included internally in this system;- at least a memory card, included inside said pole (20) and above said shelf (23), suitable for storing within it the plurality of dimensional measurements carried out, to allow the extrapolation of a historical trend of the corrosion of the pole (20) monitored;- at least a communication system, capable of sending the data detected by the measuring apparatus (13) to a control center, using a wireless connection; saidcommunication system being further suitable for starting the measurement procedure, communicating with said programmable microcontroller (15);- at least an antenna (14), designed to allow a wide communication range between said pole (20) and said remote control center where the dimensional data received are processed;- at least an insulating plate suitable for separating the plurality of components included on the shelf (23) from the metal of the shelf (23) itself;- at least an access hatch (22), created on the side of said pole (20), suitable to allow a thorough inspection of the components included inside said pole (20).

2. Localized measurement system for monitoring corrosion inside a pole (20), according to the previous claim 1, characterized in that the power supply of the measurement apparatus (13), the microcontroller (15) and the wireless communication system, occurs by connecting the pole (20) to any fixed electrical network, coming from the national distribution system.

3. Localized measurement system for monitoring corrosion inside a pole (20), according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that said wireless connection is guaranteed by at least a Bluetooth module included internally to said communication system, placed inside said pole (20).

4. Localized measurement system for monitoring corrosion inside a pole (20), according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the signals sent by said communication system are addressed to a server capable of processing the dimensional data of the pile (20) automatically, quickly returning a valid and reliable result regarding the erosive state of the pile (20).

5. Measurement method for monitoring corrosion inside a pole (20) characterized in that it makes use of the system of any of the previous claims to carry out a measurement consistent with the state of erosion of the monitored metal pole (20), through the use of the plurality of components described in the previous claims; said measurement method including the steps of:- measurement (100) of the temperature Tfl;- measurement (200) of the stress current I with optical connection from theprogrammable microcontroller (15);- measurement (300) of the offset voltage KOS at the opening of the measurement campaign;- change of power supply (400), in order to carry out a measurement with reverse bias;- storage (500) of the results obtained;- initial setting (600) of the measurement electronics and setting of the reiterations;- connection (700) with the potential to be measured Vin;- start (800) preliminary procedure;- measurements to be repeated (900) n times respecting the minimum number of cycles to guarantee high standards of reliability;- elementary variation (910) of an electronic rheostat;- control (920) of the direction of the output voltage Vout;- exit (930) from the loop until switching occurs;- storage (940) of the number of steps to the electronic rheostat;- verification (950) of the number of repeated measurements and return;- measurement (1000) of the VOS offset voltage at the end of the n measurement operations.

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