JP2008164467A - Corrosion environment sensor and sensor system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an corrosion environment sensor and a sensor system simply, easily and inexpensively manufactured without use of a dedicated facility and a noble metal as a constitution member, simplifying a structure, excellent in the durability and obtaining historical information. <P>SOLUTION: The corrosion environment sensor 1 has two types of metal electrodes 2, 3 formed by different components, compositions or surficial process states, and generating a voltage difference by an intervention of an electrolyte. An insulating material 4 intervenes in a gap between the metal electrodes 2, 3. Both metal electrodes 2, 3 and the insulating material 4 are fixed by a fixing means 5. A detection section 7 is provided so as to bring moisture as the to-be-detected object into contact with the metal electrodes 2, 3. The periphery of the detection section 7 is sealed by a waterproof material 8 in the gap between two types of the metal electrodes 2, 3 in which the insulating material 4 intervenes. Since the moisture is attached to the detection section 7, a corrosion current is generated and measured between the electrodes 2, 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to environmental monitoring of installation locations of equipment in facilities such as wind power plants, monitoring of ambient environments such as transportation equipment, environmental monitoring of installation locations of transportation containers and vehicle carts mounted on railways and ships, etc. The present invention relates to a corrosive environment sensor used in the field and a sensor system using the corrosive environment sensor.

As a conventional example of this type of corrosive environment sensor, for example, by providing a gap forming member facing a part or all of the detection unit with a predetermined gap, the sensor communicates with the outside of the sensor between the detection unit and the gap forming member. (Patent Document 1) in which a pseudo space of a corrosive environment is formed. In addition, two or more types of metal electrodes having different components or compositions are disposed on a moving body, at least part of which is made of a metal material, via an insulator, and a current or potential difference between the electrodes is measured ( Patent Document 2) and the like.
JP 2005-134161 A JP 2005-134162 A

However, the conventional corrosion environment sensor including the above-described corrosion environment sensor has the following problems.
・ Many of them are manufactured by printing technology and scientific deposition technology, and special equipment is required for manufacturing.
-Precious metals such as gold and silver, which have a low ionization tendency, are often used as constituent members, resulting in high costs.
-The shape is complicated, patterning is required, and manufacturing is not easy.
・ Few things have the function to acquire the history of corrosion information.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a corrosion environment sensor and sensor that can be manufactured easily and inexpensively without using dedicated equipment and without using precious metals as constituent members, having a simple structure, high durability, and capable of acquiring history information. Is to provide a system.

The corrosive environment sensor of the present invention has two types of metal electrodes that are different from each other in composition, composition, surface treatment state, etc. and cause a potential difference due to the presence of an electrolyte, and an insulating material is interposed in the gap between these metal electrodes The two metal electrodes and the insulating material are fixed by a fixing means, and a detection unit is provided to allow moisture to be detected to touch over the two types of metal electrodes. The peripheral portion of the detection unit in the gap is sealed with a waterproof material, and the corrosion current generated between the electrodes due to moisture adhering to the detection unit is measured.
According to this configuration, a detection unit is provided in which an insulating material is interposed in a gap between two types of metal electrodes that generate a potential difference, and moisture that becomes an object to be detected is touched across the two types of metal electrodes. Because it is sealed with a waterproof material, it does not require special equipment for printing technology or chemical deposition technology, and it is simple and inexpensive without using precious metals such as gold or silver that have a low ionization tendency as components. Corrosion environment sensor can be manufactured. Moreover, the thickness of the metal to be used can be increased, and durability can also be improved. Further, since the shape is simple, patterning is unnecessary, and the structure is simple, the corrosion environment sensor can be manufactured easily and inexpensively from this point.

  In the corrosive environment sensor of the present invention, two metal electrodes that are the first type of the two types of metal electrodes are provided, and a second type of metal electrode is provided between the two metal electrodes that are the first type. A metal electrode is interposed, and the insulating material is interposed in a gap between the second type metal electrode and the first type metal electrode on both sides of the second type metal electrode. The metal electrode, the second metal electrode, and the two insulating materials are fixed to each other by a fixing means penetrating between them, and the two first metal electrodes and the first metal electrode around the fixing means A waterproofing material is provided around the fixing means for sealing the two metal electrodes and the insulating material, and one of the two first metal electrodes and the insulating material on the one metal electrode side are An opening is provided as a detection part for exposing the second metal electrode. Around the detection portion may be sealed structure waterproof material a gap between one of the first metal electrode and the second metal electrode above.

In the corrosive environment sensor according to the present invention, at least one of the two types of metal electrodes is a machine in which the corrosive environment sensor is disposed, parts constituting the machine, work in process stored in the same place as the corrosive environment sensor, half It is good also as what has the metal currently used with either the product, the product, or the facility which stores these.
In the case of this configuration, a detection result that correctly reflects the surrounding environment of the corrosion environment sensor can be obtained.

The corrosive environment sensor system of the present invention converts the corrosive environment sensor of any one of the above configurations of the present invention and the measured output of the corrosive environment sensor into a physical quantity such as a charge amount, and the converted values are singly or accumulated. And determining means for detecting the inferiority of the environment in which the corrosion environment sensor is installed by comparing with the set value.
According to this configuration, the environmental state of the place where the corrosion environment sensor is installed can be detected with high accuracy and high reliability.

  In the corrosive environment sensor system of the present invention, there may be provided storage means for storing the measured output of the corrosive environment sensor or a physical quantity obtained by converting the measured output into a charge amount or the like as a history.

Another corrosive environment sensor system of the present invention stores as a history a corrosive environment sensor having any one of the above configurations of the present invention, a measurement output of the corrosive environment sensor, or a physical quantity obtained by converting the measurement output into a charge amount or the like. A storage means is provided.
According to this configuration, the environment at the product stage and the transportation / storage stage such as a warehouse can be monitored by the corrosion environment sensor, and the history of corrosion information can be recorded by the storage means.

  In the corrosive environment sensor system having the above-described configuration according to the present invention, the measurement output of the corrosive environment sensor or the information related to the corrosion obtained from the measurement output is transmitted and received with a device different from the corrosive environment sensor system by wire or wirelessly. A transmission / reception means may be provided. In the case of this configuration, the environment at the product stage and the transportation / storage stage such as a warehouse is monitored by the corrosion environment sensor, and other detection devices (temperature, humidity sensor, and sensor obtained by transmission / reception of transmission / reception means) System) and information from the display device, and the environmental state of the place where the sensor system is installed is determined, so that highly accurate and reliable corrosive environment detection can be performed.

The corrosive environment sensor of the present invention has two types of metal electrodes that generate a potential difference due to the presence of an electrolyte, an insulating material is interposed in the gap between these metal electrodes, and both the metal electrodes and the insulating material are fixed by fixing means. And providing a detection portion for allowing moisture to be detected to touch the two types of metal electrodes, and using a waterproof material for the peripheral portion of the detection portion in the gap between the two types of metal electrodes with the insulating material interposed therebetween. Sealing and measuring the corrosion current generated between the electrodes due to moisture adhering to the detection unit, so that it can be manufactured easily and inexpensively without using dedicated equipment and without using precious metals as components, It can be a corrosive environment sensor with a simple structure and high durability.
The corrosive environment sensor system of the present invention converts the corrosive environment sensor of the present invention and the measured output of the corrosive environment sensor into a physical quantity such as a charge amount, and compares the converted value with a set value alone or by accumulation. Thus, since the determination means for detecting the inferiority of the environment in which the corrosion environment sensor is installed is provided, the environmental state of the place where the corrosion environment sensor is installed can be detected with high accuracy and high reliability.
The other corrosive environment sensor system of the present invention includes the corrosive environment sensor of the present invention and the storage means for storing the measured output of the corrosive environment sensor or the physical quantity obtained by converting the measured output into the charge amount as a history. The environment at the product stage and the transportation / storage stage such as a warehouse can be monitored by the corrosion environment sensor, and the history of corrosion information can be recorded by the storage means.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration diagram of the corrosion environment sensor of this embodiment, and FIG. 2 shows a partially enlarged sectional view thereof. This corrosive environment sensor 1 has two types of metal electrodes 2 and 3 that are different in the types of components, compositions, and the like and cause a potential difference due to the presence of an electrolyte. Here, metals having different ionization tendencies are used as the two types of metal electrodes 2 and 3. That is, for example, iron is used as the first type of metal electrode 2 and zinc is used as the second type of metal electrode 3. Note that the metal electrodes 2 and 3 of different types here include those of the same type of metal that have different characteristics depending on the surface treatment state, impurity addition, and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the two types of metal electrodes 2 and 3 are each plate-shaped, and two of the first type of metal electrodes 2 are provided, and these two types of metal of the first type are provided. One metal electrode 3 of the second type is interposed between the electrodes 2 and 2. Although FIG. 1 illustrates the case where the metal electrodes 2 and 3 are formed in a ring shape in plan view, it is not limited to such a shape. Further, an insulating material 4 is interposed in each gap between the second type metal electrode 3 and the first type metal electrode 2 on both sides thereof. The two first type metal electrodes 2 and 2, the second type metal electrode 3, and the two insulating materials 4 and 4, which are overlapped with each other, penetrate between them. They are fixed to each other by the fixing means 5. Here, a bolt is used as the fixing means 5. Around the fixing means 5, the two first-type metals 2 and 2, the first-type metal electrode 3 and the two insulating materials 4 and 4 are sealed in a cylindrical shape. A waterproof material 6 around the insulating fixing means is provided.

  One metal electrode 2 of the two first-type metal electrodes 2 and 2 and the insulating material 4 on the one metal electrode 2 side have an opening hole penetrating over both of these members. It is provided as a detection unit 7 that exposes various types of metal electrodes 3. An insulating material 4 between the first type metal electrode 2 on which the detection unit 7 is formed and the second type metal electrode 3 exposed by the detection unit 7 is a peripheral portion of the detection unit 7. The intervening gap is sealed with a waterproof material 8 having insulating properties. Here, as the waterproof material 8, an O-ring is fitted in a groove 9 provided in the peripheral portion of the detection portion 7 on the back surface of the first type metal electrode 2.

  The detection unit 7 is a part that allows moisture to be detected to be touched over the two types of metal electrodes 2 and 3, and when moisture adheres to the detection unit 7, both the metal electrodes 2 and 2 are caused by a battery action. A current (corrosion current) is generated between the three. Both the metal electrodes 2 and 3 are provided with terminals 12 and 13, respectively, and the corrosion current is measured by a current detection amplification circuit 10 connected to these terminals 12 and 13.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the current detection amplifier circuit 10 converts a corrosion current generated by the battery action between the metal electrodes 2 and 3 to a load resistance R to convert it into a voltage signal. Is amplified by the amplifier 14 and detected by the voltmeter 15. When this corrosive environment sensor 1 is used by being fixed to equipment or equipment, the first type metal electrode 2 arranged outside as shown in FIG. 3 is grounded, and the second type metal arranged inside is used. It is desirable to have a circuit configuration for detecting a corrosion current flowing between the electrode 3 and the metal electrode 2 serving as the ground. According to this circuit configuration, noise can be reduced.

  For example, when the corrosive environment sensor 1 is disposed in an arbitrary machine and the corrosive environment around the machine is monitored, at least one of the two types of metal electrodes 2 and 3 includes the machine, It is desirable to use a metal used in any of the parts constituting the machine, the work in progress, the semi-finished product, the product stored in the same place as the corrosive environment sensor 1, or the equipment storing these. In this case, it is possible to obtain a detection result that correctly reflects the surrounding environment of the product or the stored facility.

  FIG. 1 shows an example in which a signal recording determination circuit 11 is connected to the next stage of the current detection amplification circuit 10 of the corrosion environment sensor 1 to configure a sensor system. The signal recording judgment circuit 11 converts the measured output of the corrosive environment sensor 1 into a physical quantity such as an amount of electric charge, and compares the converted value with a set value by itself or by accumulating the corrosive environment sensor 1. It becomes a determination means for detecting the inferiority of the environment.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of determination processing by the signal recording determination circuit 11. In this determination process, if the output (current value data) of the current detection amplifier circuit 10 shown in the waveform diagram of FIG. 4 becomes larger than a preset current threshold value Ith, “the environment has deteriorated”. Determine and output a warning signal.

It can also be determined by converting the charge amount from the current value. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an example of this determination process. In this determination process, the output (current value data) of the current detection amplifier circuit 10 is expressed by the following equation: q = ∫ (Vout / R−Icorr) dt (1)
Accordingly, the charge amount q is calculated by accumulating in a certain time, and is accumulated to obtain the charge amount Q. When the obtained charge amount Q becomes larger than a preset charge amount threshold value Qth, it is determined that the environment has deteriorated and a warning signal is output.
In the equation (1), Vout is the output voltage of the current detection amplifier circuit 10, R is the value of the load resistance R, and Icorr is the corrosion current reference value. The corrosion current reference value Icorr indicates a current value not related to the corrosion reaction, and may be ignored depending on the measurement conditions. Furthermore, the charge amount q obtained by the above equation (1) may be used without accumulating in order to judge the inferiority of the environment. Since the integration process according to the equation (1) gives a filter effect, the noise component contained in the current is suppressed and stable measurement is possible as compared with the case where the determination is made using the current itself.

FIG. 6 shows a specific configuration example of the signal recording determination circuit 11. The signal recording determination circuit 11 includes an arithmetic device 16, a storage device 17, a transmission / reception circuit 18, and a power supply circuit 19. Information obtained by the signal recording determination circuit 11 is transmitted by the transmission / reception device 20 to a monitoring system or the like. The output of the current detection amplifier circuit 10 is subjected to the determination process described above with reference to FIG. The processing result is stored in the storage device 7. The power supply circuit 19 may be provided outside the signal recording determination circuit 11, or a power supply such as a battery may be provided inside.
In this way, when the sensor system is configured, the environment at the product stage or the transportation / storage stage such as a warehouse is monitored by the corrosion environment sensor 1, and the history of corrosion information is recorded by the signal recording judgment circuit 11. be able to. Furthermore, in consideration of information from other detection devices (temperature, humidity sensor, sensor system, etc.) obtained by transmission / reception of the transmission / reception device 20 and a display device (not shown), the environment of the place where this sensor system is installed By determining the state, highly accurate and reliable corrosion environment detection can be performed.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a data transfer configuration between the sensor system and the outside. This data transfer configuration example is an example in which data is transmitted / received wirelessly, and data handled by the signal recording determination circuit 11 is transmitted from the transmission / reception device 20 to, for example, the transmission / reception terminal 22 by the radio wave 21, and the transmission / reception terminal 22 transmitted by the radio wave 21. Is received by the transmitting / receiving device 20.
FIG. 8 shows another example of a data transfer configuration between the sensor system and the outside. This data transfer configuration example is an example in which transmission / reception is performed by wire, and data handled by the signal recording determination circuit 11 is transmitted to the transmission / reception terminal 22 via the wire 23 and the communication network 24, and the data transmitted from the transmission / reception terminal 22 is also transmitted. The data is received by the transmission / reception device 20 via the cable 23 and the communication network 24.

By connecting the sensor system and the transmission / reception terminal 22 in a data transfer configuration as shown in FIG. 7 or FIG. 8, an environmental detection monitor for an installation location of equipment in a facility such as a wind power plant, an ambient environment monitor such as a transportation device, Data can be easily obtained even for measurement targets that are set up in remote locations or equipped with moving means, such as environmental monitors for installation locations such as transport containers such as railways and ships, and loading platforms for transport vehicles. Collection is possible.
In addition, by providing an internal power source (for example, a battery) and a wireless transmission / reception device (for example, a wireless tag device), a product including a moving unit that is difficult to connect by wire, such as equipment in a facility such as a wind power plant, Data can also be collected for parts.

  9 and 10 show a cross-sectional view and a front view of an example in which the corrosive environment sensor 1 having the shape shown in FIG. 1 is mounted on a wind turbine main shaft bearing device for wind power generation. This bearing device 31 is a device in which a rolling bearing 32 on which a wind turbine main shaft 40 is rotatably supported is held by a housing 36. The rolling bearing 32 is composed of a self-aligning roller bearing and includes two inner rings 33 and an integral outer ring 34 provided for the double-row rollers 35 and 35. The inner ring 33 is a rotating side wheel, and the windmill main shaft 40 is fitted and supported on the inner peripheral surface thereof. The outer ring 34 is a fixed side wheel and is fitted and fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the housing 36. The housing 36 includes a housing main body 37 into which the outer ring 34 is fitted, and two lid members 38 and 38 that cover both ends of the rolling bearing 32. The corrosive environment sensor 1 is fixed to the surface of one lid member 38 concentrically with the rolling bearing 32 as shown in FIG. In this case, the fixing means 5 for fixing the metal electrodes 2 and 3 and the insulating member 4 is also used as the fixing means.

  Thus, by mounting the corrosive environment sensor 1 on the wind turbine main shaft bearing device 31 for wind power generation, it is possible to monitor the environment in which the bearing parts and the like are installed. That is, the corrosion current generated when moisture adheres to the detection unit 7 (FIG. 1) of the corrosion environment sensor 1 is detected by the current detection amplification circuit 10 (FIG. 5) via the terminals 12 and 13 of two different types of metal electrodes 2 and 3. The signal recording determination circuit 11 (FIG. 6) determines environmental degradation based on the output signal.

  Thus, in the corrosive environment sensor 1 of this embodiment, the insulating material 4 is interposed in the gap between the two types of metal electrodes 2 and 3 in which the potential difference is caused by the electrolyte, and both the metal electrodes 2 and 3 and the insulating material are interposed. 4 is fixed by a fixing means 5, and a detection unit 7 is provided to allow moisture to be detected to touch the metal electrodes 2, 3, and the gap in the gap between the metal electrodes 2, 3 interposed by the insulating member 4 is provided. Since the peripheral portion of the detection unit 7 is sealed with a waterproof material 8 and the corrosion current generated between the metal electrodes 2 and 3 due to moisture adhering to the detection unit 7 is measured. It can be manufactured easily and inexpensively without using dedicated equipment for chemical deposition technology and without using noble metals such as gold and silver which have a low ionization tendency as constituent members. Moreover, the thickness of the metal to be used can be increased, and durability can also be improved. Further, since the shape is simple, patterning is unnecessary, and the structure is simple, the corrosion environment sensor 1 can be manufactured easily and inexpensively from this point.

  In this embodiment, the corrosive environment sensor 1 converts the measured output into a physical quantity such as an electric charge, and compares the converted value with a set value by itself or by accumulating the converted value. Since the sensor system is configured by adding the signal recording determination circuit 11 as a determination means for detecting the inferiority of the environment in which 1 is installed, history information regarding corrosion can be acquired.

It is a schematic block diagram of the sensor system using the corrosion environment sensor which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a partial expanded sectional view of the corrosion environment sensor. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the electric current detection amplifier circuit in the same corrosion environment sensor. It is explanatory drawing of an example of the judgment process by the signal recording judgment circuit in the said sensor system. It is explanatory drawing of the other example of the judgment process by the signal recording judgment circuit in the sensor system. It is a block diagram of an example of the signal recording judgment circuit in the sensor system. It is a block diagram of an example of the data transfer between the sensor system and the exterior. It is a block diagram of the other example of the data transfer between the sensor system and the exterior. It is sectional drawing of the windmill main shaft bearing apparatus for wind power generation carrying the said corrosion environment sensor. It is a front view of the windmill main shaft bearing device.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Corrosion environment sensor 2 ... 1st type metal electrode 3 ... 2nd type metal electrode 4 ... Insulating material 5 ... Fixing means 6 ... Waterproof material 7 around a fixing means 7 ... Detection part 8 ... Waterproof material 10 ... Current Detection amplification circuit 11... Signal recording determination circuit (determination means)
12, 13 ... Terminal 17 ... Storage device 20 ... Transmission / reception device

Claims (7)

  There are two types of metal electrodes that have different types of components, compositions, surface treatment conditions, etc., and generate a potential difference due to the presence of an electrolyte. An insulating material is interposed in the gap between these metal electrodes to insulate the two metal electrodes. A detection unit is provided to fix the material by a fixing means and allow moisture to be detected to touch over the two types of metal electrodes, and the detection unit in the gap between the two types of metal electrodes with the insulating material interposed therebetween. A corrosive environment sensor characterized in that a peripheral portion is sealed with a waterproof material, and a corrosion current generated between the electrodes is measured by moisture adhering to the detection portion.   In Claim 1, two metal electrodes which become the first type of the two types of metal electrodes are provided, and the second type metal electrode is interposed between the two metal electrodes which are the first type. The first metal electrode and the two first metal electrodes stacked on each other, with the insulating material interposed in the gap between the second type metal electrode and the first type metal electrode on both sides thereof. The second metal electrode and the two insulating materials are fixed to each other by fixing means penetrating between them, and the two first metal electrodes and the second metal around the fixing means A waterproof material around the fixing means for sealing the electrode and the insulating material to each other is provided, and one of the two first metal electrodes and the insulating material on the one metal electrode side are provided with a second An opening hole serving as a detection unit that exposes the metal electrode is provided. In the corrosion environment sensor a sealed gap between one of the first metal electrode and the second metal electrode above a waterproof material.   In Claim 1 or Claim 2, at least one of the two types of metal electrodes is a machine in which a corrosive environment sensor is disposed, a component constituting the machine, a work-in-process stored in the same place as the corrosive environment sensor, Corrosion environment sensors with metals used in either semi-finished products, products, or equipment that stores them. The corrosive environment sensor according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and the measured output of the corrosive environment sensor are converted into a physical quantity such as a charge amount, and the converted value is set alone or accumulated. A corrosive environment sensor system comprising: determination means for detecting the deterioration of the environment in which the corrosive environment sensor is installed by comparing with the above.   The corrosive environment sensor according to any one of claims 1 to 3, and storage means for storing the measured output of the corrosive environment sensor or a physical quantity obtained by converting the measured output into a charge amount or the like as a history. Corrosion environment sensor system.   5. The corrosion environment sensor system according to claim 4, further comprising storage means for storing the measurement output of the corrosion environment sensor or a physical quantity obtained by converting the measurement output into a charge amount or the like as a history.   7. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the measurement output of the corrosion environment sensor or the information about corrosion obtained from the measurement output is wired or wirelessly separated from the corrosion environment sensor system. Corrosion environment sensor system with transmission / reception means for transmitting / receiving.

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