Corrosion Estimation Device for Underground Metal Structures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods are inefficient and costly for inspecting the deterioration state of underground metal equipment buried in soil, as they require expensive sensors and complex excavation processes, especially for deep underground structures.
Innovation Solution
A corrosion estimation method and device that estimate the relationship between underground depth and corrosion rate or amount by analyzing soil particle diameter and oxygen concentration, using a first estimation function unit to correlate soil depth with oxygen concentration and a second unit to estimate corrosion rates based on surface metal corrosion data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sensors are attached or embedded to monitor deterioration state, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the underground metal structure's corrosion state by estimating corrosion rates at different depths based on surface corrosion data and soil oxygen concentration profiles. This virtual model replaces the need for physical sensors embedded in the ground, allowing monitoring without actual sensor installation or maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the mechanical approach of embedding physical sensors in the ground with a computational method that uses mathematical models to estimate corrosion states. The system replaces physical measurement devices with a calculation-based approach that uses readily available soil parameters.
2Measurement precision
If excavation is performed to embed sensors at target depth, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual representation of deep underground corrosion conditions by calculating oxygen concentration profiles and estimating corrosion rates at various depths based on surface measurements and soil properties, eliminating the need for physical excavation to embed sensors at depth.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary calculations of oxygen concentration distributions and corrosion rate estimations before any field work is required. By pre-calculating the relationships between depth, oxygen concentration, and corrosion rates, the system eliminates the need for time-consuming excavation and sensor embedding operations.
3Ease of operation
If visual inspection is performed near ground surface, then ease of operation is improved, but loss of information about deep underground portions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the inspection capability from the ground surface dimension into the underground depth dimension by calculating oxygen concentration profiles and corrosion rates at various depths. This allows the system to access information about deep portions without requiring physical access to those locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses oxygen concentration as an intermediary parameter to indirectly assess corrosion states at deep underground locations. By measuring or calculating oxygen concentration at different depths and using the relationship between oxygen concentration and corrosion rates, the system can infer corrosion conditions without direct observation.
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
Enables easy and inexpensive inspection of underground metal equipment deterioration by estimating corrosion rates and amounts, facilitating cost-effective maintenance without the need for extensive excavation or sensor installation.
Implementation Method 1
estimating, on the basis of a particle diameter of soil of a target land, a relationship between an underground depth of the land and an oxygen concentration in soil
Implementation Method 2
estimating, on the basis of a corrosion rate or a corrosion amount of a target metal near a ground surface of the land and the relationship estimated in the first step, a relationship between the underground depth and the corrosion rate or the corrosion amount in the land
Data Source
AI summary
A first estimation function unit estimates, on the basis of a particle diameter of soil of a target land, a relationship between an underground depth of the land and an oxygen concentration in soil. A second estimation function unit estimates, on the basis of a corrosion rate or a corrosion amount of a target metal near a ground surface of the land and the relationship estimated by the first estimation function unit, a relationship between the underground depth and the corrosion rate or the corrosion amount in the land from a relationship between the oxygen concentration and the corrosion rate or the corrosion amount. A third estimation function unit estimates a corrosion state of a structure constituted of the metal buried in target ground in the land from the relationship estimated by the second estimation function unit.