Binary-Coded Elongate Sensor for Pipe Moisture Localization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing moisture and corrosion detection methods for pipes are unreliable and inaccurate, often requiring complex equipment and are affected by environmental variations, unable to accurately locate multiple moisture incidents, and fail to distinguish between single and multiple moisture locations.
Innovation Solution
An elongate sensor system with alternating insulated and non-insulated conductors, each parallel to a non-conductive carrier material, detects moisture and corrosion by measuring electrical conductivity between conductors, using a binary distance measurement system to locate moisture or corrosion along the pipe.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If localised test probes are used to detect moisture, then the detection can be performed at specific points along the pipe, but the results are misleading when tested away from moisture points and cannot detect the whole length of pipe
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor is divided into multiple discrete sensing zones along its length, with each zone capable of independent moisture detection. This segmentation allows the sensor to cover the entire pipe length while maintaining precise local detection capability at each zone, resolving the contradiction between point-specific accuracy and overall coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple sensing zones are merged into a single continuous sensor assembly that can detect moisture at multiple locations simultaneously. The combined sensor provides both comprehensive coverage along the pipe and precise localization of moisture incidents through binary encoding of detection signals from each zone.
2Reliability
If sacrificial wire arrangements are used to detect corrosion, then the location of corrosion can be indicated, but the exact position along the pipe length cannot be determined
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor adds spatial dimensionality to corrosion detection by incorporating multiple sensing zones distributed along the pipe length. Each zone's detection signal is encoded with positional information through binary representation, transforming the detection from a simple presence/absence indicator to a multi-dimensional measurement that includes both detection reliability and precise location data.
Solution Approach 2:
A binary encoding system acts as an intermediary between the physical corrosion detection and the location information output. The detection signals from multiple zones are processed through binary encoding to generate precise location data, mediating between the reliable corrosion detection and the positional information that would otherwise be lost.
3Measurement precision
If waveform analysis methods are used to detect corrosion, then the location can be determined, but the equipment required is complex and the results are affected by environmental variations
Solution Approach 1:
The complex electromagnetic waveform analysis system is replaced with a simpler electrical conductivity-based detection system. The new system uses basic electrical measurements between conductors to detect moisture and corrosion, substituting complex signal processing with straightforward conductivity measurements that are less susceptible to environmental variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection method changes from analyzing electromagnetic waveform characteristics to measuring electrical conductivity parameters. This parameter change simplifies the measurement system and reduces sensitivity to environmental factors while maintaining precise location determination capability through the binary encoding of conductivity measurements from multiple zones.
4Loss of information
If resistance methods with multiple conductors are used to detect moisture, then the position can be determined, but the large variation in moisture conductivity makes it impossible to distinguish multiple moisture incidents
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor divides the detection task into multiple independent sensing zones, each with its own conductor pairs. This segmentation allows each zone to independently detect moisture presence, enabling the system to distinguish multiple moisture incidents at different locations. The binary encoding of each zone's detection result preserves information about multiple separate events.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a single continuous measurement that averages conductivity over the entire sensor length, the system performs multiple partial measurements at discrete zones. This excessive sampling approach ensures that each moisture incident is detected independently, preventing the averaging effect that would cause multiple incidents to be indistinguishable.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides accurate and reliable detection of moisture and corrosion by preventing direct electrical contact between conductors, allowing ingress of conductive media, and uses binary distance measurement to pinpoint the location of moisture or corrosion with high precision.
Implementation Method 1
detects moisture and corrosion by measuring electrical conductivity between conductors
Data Source
AI summary
An elongate sensor, system and method for detecting moisture and/or corrosion. The elongate sensor can include multiple conductors located alongside one another, or parallel with each other, not contacting each other and not making direct electrical contact between one another. Each conductor has a distinct pattern of alternating insulated and non-insulated portions. In each insulated portion, the Nth conductor is within an electrically non-conducting material forming Nth non-detecting portions. In each non-insulated portion, the Nth conductor is exposed or not electrically insulated forming Nth detecting portions. Each of the Nth detecting or non-detecting portions would have a single Nth unit length. Each Nth unit length is a distance equal to two to the power of N minus one first unit lengths, 2(N−1) times the first unit length. Electrically conductive object provides a base conductor and/or the elongate sensor includes a base conductor.