Corrosion sensor

Abstract

The corrosion sensor according to the present invention comprises: a base cylindrical housing extending a predetermined length along one direction and surrounding a plurality of wires; an extension cylindrical housing coupled to the base cylindrical housing at one side thereof and having connecting pins connected to the individual wires of the base cylindrical housing; a buried plug which is inserted in the base cylindrical housing at the other side thereof and faces the individual wires; and a corrosion inducement member having an extension pad which is positioned opposite to the individual wires, covers and passes through the buried plug, and is electrically connected to the individual wires.

Description

Corrosion sensor

[0001] The present invention relates to a corrosion sensor that is inserted into a pipe and comes into contact with a fluid within the pipe to indirectly monitor the degree of corrosion of the pipe.

[0002] Typically, corrosion sensors are inserted into metal pipes (hereinafter referred to as "pipes") through which fluid flows at work sites to monitor the internal corrosion status of the pipes and predict their remaining lifespan. Here, the work sites may refer to oil and gas plants, power plants, offshore plants, petrochemical plants, oil refineries, airplanes, ships, or homes.

[0003] The fluid may correspond to oil, gas, tap water, or sewage. Furthermore, the corrosion sensor is implemented by measuring electrical resistance due to corrosion within the pipe, thereby enabling the user to predict the internal corrosion status and remaining service life of the pipe. To this end, one or more corrosion sensors are inserted into the pipe so that the electrical resistance probes are flush with the inner wall of the pipe, thereby enabling real-time monitoring of corrosion caused by cavitation or erosion within the pipe.

[0004] The above-mentioned cavitation phenomenon occurs when pressure fluctuations in the fluid within the pipe cause bubbles to form on the inner wall of the pipe, and when the bubbles collapse, the accompanying pressure changes send shock waves to the film on the inner wall, causing corrosion. The above-mentioned erosion occurs when the fluid flows within the pipe and contacts the inner wall of the pipe, resulting in an electrochemical reaction between the metal and the fluid.

[0005] The above corrosion sensor indirectly monitors the internal condition of a pipe by detecting a gradual increase in resistance according to a gradual decrease in cross-sectional area of ​​the electrical resistance probe by contacting the electrical resistance probe with the fluid during its service life. However, the corrosion sensor cannot withstand the internal pressure of the pipe (400 bar water pressure in the case of water or 90 bar gas pressure in the case of nitrogen gas) while inserted into the pipe, and causes the fluid to leak out of the pipe through the components that make up the corrosion sensor.

[0006] The above fluid flows through the pipe and out of the corrosion sensor, deteriorating the working environment at the work site. Meanwhile, the above corrosion sensor is similarly disclosed as a prior art in Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2015-0025605.

[0007] The present invention has been devised to solve the conventional problems, and its purpose is to provide a corrosion sensor suitable for preventing leakage of a fluid flowing from the inside of a pipe toward the outside while applying internal pressure of the pipe (400 bar water pressure in the case of water or 90 bar gas pressure in the case of nitrogen gas) to the electric resistance probe while being inserted into a pipe and making the electric resistance probe form the same plane as the inner wall of the pipe.

[0008] A corrosion sensor according to the present invention comprises: a reference cylindrical housing extending in one direction to a predetermined length and surrounding a plurality of wires, wherein the reference cylindrical housing is inserted into a pipe and comes into contact with a fluid in the pipe to indirectly monitor a degree of corrosion of the pipe; an extension cylindrical housing having a connecting pin coupled to the reference cylindrical housing at one side of the reference cylindrical housing and connected to individual wires of the reference cylindrical housing; a recessed plug inserted into the reference cylindrical housing at the other side of the reference cylindrical housing and facing the individual wires; and a corrosion inducing member having an extension pad positioned on the opposite side of the individual wires, the extension pad penetrating the recessed plug and electrically connected to the individual wires, wherein the reference cylindrical housing is characterized in that it has a compression portion that surrounds the recessed plug near the corrosion inducing member at the other side of the reference cylindrical housing.

[0009] The above-mentioned reference cylindrical housing may have an inner diameter and an outer diameter that gradually increase from one side of the reference cylindrical housing toward the other side when viewed along the longitudinal direction of the reference cylindrical housing.

[0010] The above-mentioned reference cylindrical housing may have a minimum thickness at the compression portion in the above-mentioned reference cylindrical housing when viewed along the longitudinal direction of the above-mentioned reference cylindrical housing.

[0011] The above compression member is positioned along the circumference of the embedded plug and can press the embedded plug by coming into contact with the embedded plug while being folded toward the center of the embedded plug.

[0012] The above-mentioned compression member can expose the embedded plug together with the corrosion-inducing member to the outside on the other side of the reference cylindrical housing.

[0013] The above-mentioned extension cylindrical housing can be fitted to one side of the above-mentioned reference cylindrical housing and welded to the above-mentioned reference cylindrical housing.

[0014] The above connecting pins are repeatedly positioned along the perimeter of an imaginary circle inside the extended cylindrical housing, are surrounded by the extended cylindrical housing, and can be exposed to the outside through the extended cylindrical housing.

[0015] The corrosion sensor further includes a circular sealing ring that contacts the embedded plug inside the reference cylindrical housing and is positioned closer to the one side of the reference cylindrical housing than the embedded plug, and the sealing ring can be inserted into a receiving groove positioned on the inner wall of the reference cylindrical housing around the embedded plug.

[0016] The above-mentioned filling plug can be pressed against the compression portion of the above-mentioned reference cylindrical housing to push the seal toward the inner wall of the above-mentioned reference cylindrical housing.

[0017] The above-mentioned embedded plug may have a round surface along the circumference of the embedded plug between the sealing ring and the pressing portion, and may have the same outer diameter on the round surface of the embedded plug along the longitudinal direction of the reference cylindrical housing.

[0018] When the above-mentioned insertion cylindrical housing has a male or female helix, the embedded plug can have a male or female helix around the embedded plug between the sealing ring and the pressing portion and form a helical connection with the reference cylindrical housing.

[0019] When the above-mentioned standard cylindrical housing has a fitting groove or a fitting projection, the above-mentioned embedded plug has a fitting projection or a fitting groove on the circumference of the above-mentioned embedded plug between the above-mentioned sealing ring and the above-mentioned pressing portion and can be fitted with the above-mentioned standard cylindrical housing.

[0020] When the above-mentioned buried plug has at least two first passage holes opening toward the one side of the reference cylindrical housing, and a second passage hole communicating with the individual first passage holes and opening toward the corrosion-inducing member, the extension pad may pass through the individual first passage holes and the second passage holes in the above-mentioned buried plug, and the second passage hole may have a larger size than the individual first passage holes.

[0021] The corrosion sensor further includes a first filler positioned from the embedded plug toward the one side of the reference cylindrical housing within the reference cylindrical housing; and a second filler positioned between the embedded plug and the corrosion inducing member, wherein the reference cylindrical housing can be inserted into the pipe together with the embedded plug and the corrosion inducing member and exposed to the fluid.

[0022] The above-mentioned embedded plug has at least two first passage holes opening toward the one side of the reference cylindrical housing, and a second passage hole opening toward the corrosion-inducing member while communicating with the individual first passage holes, and when the extension pad passes through the individual first passage holes and the second passage hole in the embedded plug, the first filler and the second filler can come into contact through the at least two first passage holes and the second passage hole in the embedded plug.

[0023] The first filler may be configured to surround the plurality of wires within the reference cylindrical housing as individual strands and be fixed to the inner wall of the reference cylindrical housing to fix the positions of the individual wires with respect to the reference cylindrical housing and the extension pad, and the second filler may be configured to fix the position of the corrosion-inducing member to the embedded plug.

[0024] The first filler and the second filler may be made of epoxy and surround the extension pad on one side and the other side of the embedding plug.

[0025] The corrosion-inducing member may be sunk into the embedded plug and separated from the compression member on the embedded plug.

[0026] The above-mentioned reference cylindrical housing, the above-mentioned extension cylindrical housing, and the above-mentioned corrosion induction sensor may be made of metal, and the above-mentioned embedded plug may be made of polyetheretherketone (PEEK).

[0027] The corrosion sensor according to the present invention,

[0028] When a sealing ring and a buried plug and a corrosion-inducing member are sequentially arranged on the other side of the reference cylindrical housing together with an extension cylindrical housing on one side of the reference cylindrical housing, and an extension pad is provided on the corrosion-inducing member that is exposed toward one side of the reference cylindrical housing by penetrating the first passage holes and the second passage holes communicating with the buried plug,

[0029] In the reference cylindrical housing, a plurality of wires are electrically connected to the extension pads, and connecting pins connected to individual wires in the extension cylindrical housing are electrically connected, and a first filler is positioned between the individual wires and the extension pads and the embedded plugs inside the reference cylindrical housing, and a second filler is positioned between the embedded plugs and the corrosion-inducing member.

[0030] The base cylindrical housing has a compression member positioned along the circumference of the embedded plug, the second passage holes are made larger than the first passage holes in the embedded plug, and the first filler is accommodated in the first passage holes and the second filler is accommodated in the second passage holes in the embedded plug, so that the first and second fillers are brought into contact with each other along the extension pad.

[0031] It is possible to prevent the outflow of fluid from the inside of the pipe to the outside while applying the internal pressure of the pipe (400 bar water pressure in the case of water or 90 bar gas pressure in the case of nitrogen gas) to the electric resistance probe while it is inserted into the pipe and the electric resistance probe is placed on the same plane as the inner wall of the pipe.

[0032] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a corrosion sensor according to the present invention.

[0033] Figure 2 is an exploded view showing the corrosion sensor of Figure 1.

[0034] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the corrosion sensor of Figure 1.

[0035] Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the other side periphery of the reference cylindrical housing in the corrosion sensor of Fig. 1.

[0036] Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a first modified example of the corrosion sensor of Fig. 3.

[0037] Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a second modified example of the corrosion sensor of Fig. 3.

[0038] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings so that a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains can easily practice the present invention.

[0039] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a corrosion sensor according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing the corrosion sensor of FIG. 1.

[0040] Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the corrosion sensor of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the other side periphery of the reference cylindrical housing in the corrosion sensor of Fig. 1.

[0041] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, a corrosion sensor (123) according to the present invention is configured to be inserted into a pipe (not shown in the drawings) and to indirectly monitor the degree of corrosion of the pipe by coming into contact with the fluid within the pipe. To this end, the corrosion sensor (123) includes a reference cylindrical housing (23), an extension cylindrical housing (40), a buried plug (73), and a corrosion inducing member (90).

[0042] The above-described reference cylindrical housing (23), when considering FIGS. 1 to 3, extends in one direction to a predetermined length and surrounds a plurality of wires (10). The above-described extended cylindrical housing (40), when considering FIGS. 1 to 3, has a connecting pin (30) that is coupled to the reference cylindrical housing (23) on one side of the reference cylindrical housing (23) and is connected to individual wires (10) of the reference cylindrical housing (23).

[0043] The above-described buried plug (73), when considering FIGS. 1 to 3, is inserted into the reference cylindrical housing (23) from the other side of the reference cylindrical housing (23) and faces the individual wire (10). The above-described corrosion-inducing member (90), when considering FIGS. 1 to 3, is located on the opposite side of the individual wire (10) and has an extension pad (85) that covers the buried plug (73) and penetrates the buried plug (73) to be electrically connected to the individual wire (10).

[0044] Here, the reference cylindrical housing (23) has a compression member (21) surrounding a buried plug (73) near a corrosion-inducing member (90) on the other side of the reference cylindrical housing (23), as shown in FIG. 3.

[0045] More specifically, the reference cylindrical housing (23) gradually increases in inner and outer diameter from one side of the reference cylindrical housing (23) to the other side when viewed along the longitudinal direction of the reference cylindrical housing (23), as illustrated in FIG. 3. The reference cylindrical housing (23), as illustrated in FIG. 3, has a minimum thickness at the compression portion (21) in the reference cylindrical housing (23) when viewed along the longitudinal direction of the reference cylindrical housing (23).

[0046] The above-mentioned compression member (21), as illustrated in FIG. 3, is positioned along the circumference of the embedded plug (73) and is folded toward the center of the embedded plug (73) so as to come into contact with the embedded plug (73) and press the embedded plug (73). The above-mentioned compression member (21), as illustrated in FIG. 3, exposes the embedded plug (73) to the outside together with the corrosion-inducing member (90) on the other side of the reference cylindrical housing (23).

[0047] The above-described extended cylindrical housing (40), when considering FIGS. 1 to 3, is fitted to one side of the reference cylindrical housing (23) and welded to the reference cylindrical housing (23). The above-described connecting pin (30), when considering FIGS. 1 and 3, is repeatedly positioned along the perimeter of a virtual circle inside the extended cylindrical housing (40), surrounded by the extended cylindrical housing (40), and exposed to the outside through the extended cylindrical housing (40).

[0048] Meanwhile, the corrosion sensor (123) further includes a circular sealing ring (50) that is in contact with the embedded plug (73) inside the reference cylindrical housing (23) and is positioned closer to one side of the reference cylindrical housing (23) than the embedded plug (73), as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Here, the sealing ring (50) is inserted into a receiving groove (not shown in the drawing) positioned on the inner wall of the reference cylindrical housing (23) around the embedded plug (73).

[0049] The above-mentioned embedded plug (73), when considered with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, is pressed against the compression portion (21) of the reference cylindrical housing (23) to push the sealing (50) toward the inner wall of the reference cylindrical housing (23). As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the above-mentioned embedded plug (73) has a round surface along the circumference of the embedded plug (73) between the sealing (50) and the compression portion (21), and has the same outer diameter on the round surface of the embedded plug (73) along the longitudinal direction of the reference cylindrical housing (23).

[0050] When the above-described buried plug (73) has at least two first passage holes (64) that open toward one side of the reference cylindrical housing (23), and a second passage hole (68) that communicates with the individual first passage holes (64) and opens toward the corrosion inducing member (90), considering FIGS. 2 to 4, the extension pad (85) passes through the individual first passage holes (64) and the second passage holes (68) in the buried plug (73), as shown in FIG. 3.

[0051] The above second passage hole (68) has a larger size than the individual first passage hole (64) in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0052] Meanwhile, the corrosion sensor (123) further includes, as shown in Fig. 3, a first filler (100) positioned toward one side of the reference cylindrical housing (23) from the embedded plug (73) inside the reference cylindrical housing (23), and a second filler (110) positioned between the embedded plug (73) and the corrosion inducing member (90). Although not shown in the drawing, the reference cylindrical housing (23) is inserted into a pipe together with the embedded plug (73) and the corrosion inducing member (90) and is exposed to the fluid.

[0053] The above-described buried plug (73) has, as shown in FIG. 3, at least two first passage holes (64) that open toward one side of the reference cylindrical housing (23), and a second passage hole (68) that opens toward the corrosion-inducing member (90) while communicating with the individual first passage holes (64), and when the extension pad (85) passes through the individual first passage holes (64) and the second passage holes (68) in the buried plug (73), as shown in FIG. 3, the first filler (100) and the second filler (110), although not shown in the drawing, come into contact through at least two first passage holes (64) and the second passage hole (68) in the buried plug (73).

[0054] The first filler (100), as shown in FIG. 3, surrounds a plurality of wires (10) within a reference cylindrical housing (23) as individual strands and is fixed to the inner wall of the reference cylindrical housing (23) to fix the position of the individual wires (10) with respect to the reference cylindrical housing (23) and the extension pad (85). The second filler (110), as shown in FIG. 3, fixes the position of the corrosion-inducing member (90) to the embedded plug (73).

[0055] The first filler (100) and the second filler (110) are made of epoxy, and wrap around the extension pad (85) on one side and the other side of the embedded plug (73) as shown in FIG. 3. The corrosion inducing member (90) is sunken into the embedded plug (73) as shown in FIG. 3 and is spaced from the compression portion (21) on the embedded plug (73). The reference cylindrical housing (23), the extended cylindrical housing (40), and the corrosion inducing sensor (90) are made of metal. The embedded plug (73) is made of polyetheretherketone (PEEK).

[0056] Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a first modified example of the corrosion sensor of Fig. 3. In this case, Fig. 5 has the same reference numerals for the same components as Fig. 3.

[0057] Referring to FIG. 5, a corrosion sensor (126) according to a first modified example of the present invention has a structure similar to that of the corrosion sensor (123) of FIG. 3, but the reference cylindrical housing (26) and the embedded plug (76) of the corrosion sensor (126) have a different coupling relationship from the reference cylindrical housing (23) and the embedded plug (73) of the corrosion sensor (123) of FIG. 3. That is, the reference cylindrical housing (26) may have a female or male spiral (S1) around the embedded plug (76).

[0058] When the above-mentioned insertion cylindrical housing (26) has a male or female helix (S1), the embedded plug (76) has a male or female helix (S2) around the embedded plug (76) between the sealing (50) and the pressing portion (25) and is helically connected with the reference cylindrical housing (26). Here, the pressing portion (25) may have the same shape as or a different shape from the pressing portion (21) of FIG. 3, but pushes the embedded plug (76) toward the sealing (50) in the same manner as the pressing portion (21) of FIG. 3.

[0059] Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a second modified example of the corrosion sensor of Fig. 3. In this case, Fig. 6 has the same reference numerals for the same components as Fig. 3.

[0060] Referring to FIG. 6, a corrosion sensor (129) according to a second modified example of the present invention has a structure similar to that of the corrosion sensor (123) of FIG. 3, but the reference cylindrical housing (29) and the embedded plug (79) of the corrosion sensor (129) have a different coupling relationship from the reference cylindrical housing (23) and the embedded plug (73) of the corrosion sensor (123) of FIG. 3. That is, the reference cylindrical housing (29) may have a fitting groove (G) or a fitting protrusion around the embedded plug (79).

[0061] When the above-mentioned standard cylindrical housing (29) has a fitting groove (G) or a fitting projection, the above-mentioned embedded plug (79) has a fitting projection (P) or a fitting groove on the circumference of the embedded plug (79) between the sealing (50) and the pressing portion (28) and is fitted and connected with the standard cylindrical housing (29). Here, the pressing portion (28) may have the same shape as or a different shape from the pressing portion (21) of FIG. 3, but pushes the embedded plug (79) toward the sealing (50) in the same manner as the pressing portion (21) of FIG. 3.

Claims

1. In a corrosion sensor that is inserted into a pipe and comes into contact with the fluid in the pipe to indirectly monitor the degree of corrosion of the pipe, A reference cylindrical housing extending along one direction to a predetermined length and enclosing a plurality of wires; An extension cylindrical housing having a connecting pin that is coupled to the reference cylindrical housing on one side of the reference cylindrical housing and is connected to an individual wire of the reference cylindrical housing; A recessed plug inserted into the reference cylindrical housing on the other side of the reference cylindrical housing and facing the individual wire; and A corrosion-inducing member having an extension pad positioned opposite said individual wire and covering said buried plug and electrically connected to said individual wire by penetrating said buried plug, The above reference cylindrical housing, A corrosion sensor having a compression member surrounding the buried plug near the corrosion inducing member on the other side of the reference cylindrical housing.

2. In paragraph 1, The above reference cylindrical housing, A corrosion sensor, wherein when viewed along the longitudinal direction of the reference cylindrical housing, the inner and outer diameters of the reference cylindrical housing gradually increase from one side of the reference cylindrical housing toward the other side.

3. In paragraph 1, The above reference cylindrical housing, A corrosion sensor having a minimum thickness in the compression portion of the reference cylindrical housing when viewed along the longitudinal direction of the reference cylindrical housing.

4. In paragraph 1, The above compression part, A corrosion sensor positioned along the periphery of the above-mentioned buried plug and folded toward the center of the above-mentioned buried plug, thereby contacting the above-mentioned buried plug and pressing the above-mentioned buried plug.

5. In paragraph 1, The above compression part, A corrosion sensor that exposes the buried plug together with the corrosion inducing member to the outside on the other side of the reference cylindrical housing.

6. In paragraph 1, The above extension cylindrical housing, A corrosion sensor fitted to one side of the above-mentioned reference cylindrical housing and welded to the above-mentioned reference cylindrical housing.

7. In paragraph 1, The above connecting pin is, A corrosion sensor that is repeatedly positioned along the perimeter of an imaginary circle inside the extended cylindrical housing, surrounded by the extended cylindrical housing, and exposed to the outside through the extended cylindrical housing.

8. In paragraph 1, Further comprising a circular sealing ring in contact with the embedded plug inside the reference cylindrical housing and positioned closer to the one side of the reference cylindrical housing than the embedded plug; The above sealing, A corrosion sensor inserted into a receiving groove located on the inner wall of the reference cylindrical housing around the above-mentioned buried plug.

9. In paragraph 8, The above-mentioned buried plug, A corrosion sensor that presses the seal against the compression portion of the reference cylindrical housing and pushes the seal toward the inner wall of the reference cylindrical housing.

10. In paragraph 8, The above-mentioned buried plug, having a round surface along the circumference of the embedding plug between the sealing member and the pressing member; A corrosion sensor having the same outer diameter on the round surface of the buried plug along the longitudinal direction of the reference cylindrical housing.

11. In paragraph 8, When the above-mentioned cylindrical housing has a female or male helix, The above-mentioned buried plug, A corrosion sensor having a male or female helix around the perimeter of the embedded plug between the sealing member and the compression member and forming a helical connection with the reference cylindrical housing.

12. In paragraph 8, When the above-mentioned standard cylindrical housing has a fitting groove or fitting projection, The above-mentioned buried plug, A corrosion sensor having a fitting projection or fitting groove around the periphery of the embedded plug between the sealing member and the pressing member and being fitted into the reference cylindrical housing.

13. In paragraph 8, The above-mentioned buried plug, When the above-mentioned reference cylindrical housing has at least two first passage holes opening toward the one side thereof, and a second passage hole communicating with the individual first passage holes and opening toward the corrosion-inducing member, The above extension pad, In the above-mentioned landfill plug, passing through the individual first passage hole and the second passage hole, The above second passage hall, A corrosion sensor having a size larger than the above individual first passage hole.

14. In paragraph 8, A first filler positioned toward one side of the reference cylindrical housing from the embedded plug within the reference cylindrical housing; and Further comprising a second filler positioned between the above-mentioned filling plug and the above-mentioned corrosion-inducing member, The above reference cylindrical housing, A corrosion sensor inserted into the pipe together with the above-mentioned buried plug and the above-mentioned corrosion-inducing member and exposed to the fluid.

15. In paragraph 14, The above-mentioned buried plug, At least two first passage holes opening toward the one side of the above-mentioned reference cylindrical housing, and a second passage hole opening toward the corrosion-inducing member while communicating with the individual first passage holes, The above extension pad, When passing through the individual first passage hole and the second passage hole in the above-mentioned buried plug, The above first filler and the above second filler, A corrosion sensor that makes contact through at least two first passage holes and the second passage hole in the above-mentioned buried plug.

16. In paragraph 14, The above first filler is, The plurality of wires are individually wrapped around the reference cylindrical housing and fixed to the inner wall of the reference cylindrical housing, thereby fixing the positions of the individual wires with respect to the reference cylindrical housing and the extension pad, The above second filler is, A corrosion sensor that fixes the position of the corrosion inducing member to the above-mentioned buried plug.

17. In paragraph 14, The above first filler and the above second filler, Wrap the extension pad on one side and the other side of the above-mentioned buried plug, A corrosion sensor made of epoxy.

18. In paragraph 1, The above corrosion-inducing member is, A corrosion sensor that is sunken into the above-mentioned buried plug and is spaced apart from the above-mentioned compression member on the above-mentioned buried plug.

19. In paragraph 1, The above-mentioned reference cylindrical housing, the above-mentioned extension cylindrical housing and the above-mentioned corrosion induction sensor are made of metal, The above-mentioned buried plug is a corrosion sensor made of polyetheretherketone (PEEK).

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