Liquid Container Leak Detection With Shaft-Mounted Electrodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing leak detection systems for liquid containers prone to polluting groundwater are unreliable due to weather-related changes in soil conditions, which affect electrical resistance measurements, making it difficult to accurately and promptly detect leaks.
Innovation Solution
A system with monitoring electrodes inside and outside the container, combined with vertically arranged inspection shafts and annular shafts, measures the potential difference between these electrodes to reliably detect leaks, using a defined electrical charge, and directs leaks into inspection shafts for evaluation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If geoelectrical monitoring with electrodes distributed around and beneath the tank is used, then leak detection capability is provided, but measurement reliability deteriorates due to weather-related changes in soil conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the measurement system from the soil environment by placing electrodes inside the container and in inspection shafts above ground, eliminating the harmful influence of weather-related soil changes on measurements while maintaining leak detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The inspection shafts serve as intermediaries that allow electrode placement in a controlled environment above ground, mediating between the need for soil-based detection and the requirement for weather-independent measurements
2Measurement precision
If inspection shafts are placed close to the container for leak collection, then leak detection sensitivity is improved, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to condensation influence on electrodes
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode is extracted from the condensation-prone environment inside the inspection shaft and placed inside the container, removing it from the harmful condensation influence while maintaining proximity to potential leak sources for sensitive detection
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a duplicate measurement system with electrodes in both the container and inspection shaft, allowing comparison of measurements to distinguish between actual leaks and condensation effects
3Object-affected harmful factors
If constant inspection tours are conducted to check inspection shafts for leaks, then environmental protection is ensured, but response time deteriorates and detection may be delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical monitoring system provides continuous automatic detection of leaks, eliminating the interruptions inherent in periodic inspection tours and enabling immediate detection and response to leaks as they occur
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical inspection process is replaced with an automatic electrical measurement system that continuously monitors for leaks without requiring human intervention, dramatically reducing detection time
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 accurate, prompt, and cost-effective leak detection, preventing environmental contamination by localizing leaks and ensuring timely response.
Implementation Method 1
measuring the potential difference between a monitoring electrode arranged in the container and a monitoring electrode arranged outside the container
Implementation Method 2
The specific electrical resistance of a soil is determined by various influencing parameters
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device for leak detection in liquid containers filled with liquid contents that pose a risk to groundwater. The electrical conductivity of the liquid surrounding the monitoring electrodes (potential difference) is measured and evaluated by means of monitoring electrodes arranged on and in the liquid container, which are supplied with a defined electrical charge. According to the invention, at least one monitoring electrode (2.1) is arranged in the liquid container (1) for measuring the electrical conductivity of the liquid; several uniformly distributed and vertically arranged inspection shafts (3) are arranged at a distance from the outer wall (1.1) of the liquid container (1), each containing at least one monitoring electrode (2.2); and in the lower region of the liquid container (1) and there in the lower region of the base plate (1).2) A ring shaft (4) is arranged around the entire periphery of the container bottom (1.2), - the inspection shafts (3) extend to the lower bottom area of the container bottom (1.2) and open into the area of the ring shaft (4), in which a monitoring electrode (2.2) for measuring the electrical conductivity of the liquid accumulated in the ring shaft (4) at this point is arranged in the lower area of the inspection shaft (3).