RU2690261C1 - Self-contained device for cathodic protection of underground structures - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: electrical engineering.SUBSTANCE: invention relates to equipment for the electrochemical protection of underground metal structures from corrosion. Autonomous device comprises: a housing in the form of a control and measuring station rack, equipped with a tilting casing, an electronic unit, an accumulator, a terminal board, a sensor and a lock arranged on the housing end face inside the hinged housing, on the double-slope roof of which there are solar panels, a reference electrode placed outside the housing, a block of corrosion rate indicators plates, protector, controlled valve element, connecting cables for connection to terminal panel, respectively, comparison electrode, unit of plates-indicators of corrosion rate, protector, as well as a protected structure, wherein the electronic unit comprises an input switch, a signal converter, a measurement and control controller, a transceiver with a built-in antenna and an interface equipped with a connector for connecting external devices.EFFECT: technical result consists in provision of non-volatile protection of areas of underground structure hard to access for power supply in mode of automatic stabilization of protective potential with possibility of remote monitoring and control of protective device operation.1 cl, 2 dwg

Description

The invention relates to equipment for electrochemical corrosion protection of underground metal extensive structures.

It is known “A device for measuring the potential components of an underground metal structure in areas affected by cathodic protection installations with pulsating output voltage” (RU Patent No. 2350971, IPC G01R 19/00), which contains a measuring device located on the instrumentation counter, which includes: measurement and calculation, equipped with a self-contained power source, analog signal converter and interface unit with built-in keyboard and indicator. The analog signal converter is connected through the instrumentation stand with a metal underground structure and the corresponding reference electrodes. Inside the meter, the analog signal converter is galvanically isolated from the measuring and calculating unit, as well as the analog measuring channels of direct and alternating current. The measurement and calculation unit provides for measuring the potential components by alternately connecting the inputs of the measuring device to the corresponding analog measurement channels - in the measurement mode with direct current or in the measurement mode with alternating current.

The disadvantages of the known device include:

- the absence of the possibility of remote non-volatile control of the parameters of the electrochemical protection of the structure;

- no measurement of the corrosion rate of underground structures;

- the absence of the possibility of non-volatile protection of areas of underground construction that are difficult to reach for electricity supply in the mode of automatic stabilization of the protective potential.

Known remote test unit for cathodic protection, part of the cathodic protection system (US patent No. 201010238347 A1, application number US 13/053970 "Instruments and systems for automated testing of the pipeline") containing remote test devices for measuring various voltages and currents in remote places on the cathode-protected pipeline. Remote test device contains: a processor capable of storing measurement results in non-volatile memory, a wireless transceiver for communicating with other remote test devices or a central server computer, a switch for measuring the polarization potential by alternately switching an auxiliary sensor to a building or a voltmeter, measuring tools to measure shunt current, auxiliary sensor current, AC voltage and constant go current.

The “Remote control module for cathodic protection” (ES patent No. 2028510, IPC G05D 7/06) is known, containing: a remote monitoring unit for continuous monitoring of the pipeline condition and local data display, a remote signal input unit, a status signal transmission module , as well as a means of manual control of an object monitoring unit, a control unit for switching operating modes - from manual to remote, power supply unit.

A common disadvantage of a remote test unit and a remote control module for cathodic protection is the lack of non-volatile protection of areas of underground construction that are difficult to reach for power supply in the automatic stabilization mode of the protective potential.

The closest analogue in terms of essential features of the claimed technical solution is selected for the prototype "Automated device for diagnosing the state of underground metal structures" (RU patent for utility model No. 90215, IPC G01R 19/00), containing: a measuring device placed on the control stand measuring point with terminal panels for connecting cables to the reference electrodes and the diagnosed pipeline, the measuring device includes a measuring and calculating unit; Analog signals, an interface unit, an antenna, a control and communication unit, a device operation control unit, while the control and measurement unit stand consists of a metal case with a hinged lid, a lid open / close contact sensor, a lock, a solar power source and battery for solar batteries, in addition, a terminal block of corrosion rate indicators is connected to the terminal panels.

The main disadvantage of the known device is the lack of non-volatile protection of areas of underground construction that are difficult to reach for electricity supply in the mode of automatic stabilization of the protective potential.

The task, the solution of which the claimed technical solution is aimed at, is to increase the complex effectiveness of the protection of underground structures, especially long pipelines that have areas that are difficult to access for electricity.

The technical result that meets the above problem is to provide non-volatile protection for areas of an underground structure that are difficult to reach for power supply in the mode of automatic stabilization of the protective potential with the ability to remotely monitor and control the operation of the protective device.

This technical result is achieved by the fact that in a stand-alone device for cathodic protection of underground structures, comprising: a housing in the form of a rack measuring and measuring point with a folding casing, electronic unit, battery, terminal block, sensor and lock placed on the end base of the body inside the folding casing , on the double-slope roof of which solar panels are placed, connected by cable to the electronic unit; a reference electrode and a corrosion rate indicator plate block located outside the case, connected by cables to the terminal panel to which the protected structure is connected, and the electronic unit contains: an input switch connected to the terminal panel, a signal converter, a measurement and control controller , a transceiver with a built-in antenna, an interface equipped with a connector for connecting external devices, in accordance with the claimed invention, a protector is inserted and placed on the terminal strip at the controlled valve element in the form of a transistor, the emitter of which is connected through the terminal panel to the protected structure, the collector is connected through the terminal panel to the protector, and the base is connected to the auxiliary output of the electronic controller included in the measurement and control controller.

The causal relationship between the technical result and the essential features additionally introduced into the device: the protector, controlled valve element and equipment of the measurement controller and control of the additional output, is that the connection to the protector structure provides, within the zone of its operation, the protection of the structure against corrosion, and connecting the protector to the structure through a controlled valve element allows using the electronic unit to stabilize the protective potential of the structure on adannom level. In this case, the transceiver included in the electronic unit allows you to remotely monitor the state of the structure and control the process of stabilization of the protective potential of the structure. In connection with the above, the presence of each of the introduced essential features is necessary to achieve the above technical result.

The applicant has not been found sources of information about the device, which has the entire set of distinctive essential features, reflected in the formula for the claimed utility model. From which it was concluded that the proposed solution meets the criterion of "NOVELTY."

To verify the compliance of the claimed invention with the inventive step criterion, the applicant conducted an additional search for known solutions in order to identify signs that match the distinctive features of the claimed invention from the prototype. The search results showed that the claimed invention does not arise for specialists in an obvious way from the prior art. Despite the fact that all functionally independent distinctive features are known per se, the applicant has not found such a combination of them, as presented in the claimed combination. From this it is concluded that the claimed device complies with the “INVENTORY LEVEL” criterion.

The essence of the claimed technical solution is illustrated with graphic materials, where in FIG. 1 shows a functional diagram of the device, and FIG. 2 is a device layout variant.

1 - housing in the form of a rack measuring and measuring point.

2 - folding cover.

3 - electronic unit.

4 - battery.

5 - terminal block.

6 - sensor.

7 - the castle.

8 - solar panels.

9 - reference electrode.

10 - a block of plates-indicators of corrosion rate.

11 - protector.

12 - controlled valve element.

13, 14, 15, 16, 17 - connecting cables

18 - input switch.

19 - signal converter.

20 - measurement and control controller.

21 - transceiver.

22 - interface.

The essence of the claimed technical solution

Autonomous device for cathodic protection of underground structures, contains: case 1 in the form of a rack measuring and measuring point with a folding casing 2, electronic unit 3, battery 4, terminal block 5, sensor 6 and lock 7, placed on the end base of the body 1 inside the folding casing 2, on the double-slope roof of which solar panels 8 are placed, connected by cable to the electronic unit 3; Comparison electrode 9, a block of indicator plates for corrosion rate 10, a protector 11 placed outside the housing 1, a controlled valve element 12 placed on the terminal board 5 and connected through its terminals: to the electronic unit 3, to the protector 11 and to the protected structure; connecting cables 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 for connecting to the terminal board 5, respectively, of the reference electrode 9, the block of indicators-indicators of corrosion rate 10, the protector 11, the protected structure at the drain point, the protected structure at the potential measuring point, the electronic unit 3 contains, an input switch 18 connected to the terminal board 5, a signal converter 19 connected to the output of the input switch 18, a measurement and control controller 20 connected to the output of the signal converter 19, and also connected to the controller Roller measurement and control 20 transceiver 21 with built-in antenna and interface 22, equipped with a connector for connecting external devices.

An example implementation of the claimed invention.

A stand-alone device for cathodic protection of underground structures can be performed using the following components: as a housing 1, a standard instrumentation rack can be used, equipped with a standard terminal panel 5, contact sensor 6, a lock 7 and a folding cover 2, the roof of which is modified to install solar panels 8, which provide charging of the battery 4, the capacity and output voltage of which are determined by the power consumption of the electronic unit 3. The input switch 18 and the signal converter 19 can be They are based on analog switch MAX4590, configuration 2 × SPST, capacitor type K10-43V, comparator on chip LT311A, operational amplifier OP177A, microprocessor Atmega168, and measurement and control controller 20 is based on microcontroller PIC24FJ256GA106. The transceiver 21 can be made on the basis of a GSM modem of the GSM 1800 type, and the interface 22 can be made on the basis of an MAX485 interface chip. Of all the components that make up the electronic unit 3, most of the energy consumed is accounted for by the GSM modem, and then only during the transmission of the message (approximately 1 A). However, the average current consumption of an electronic unit with the aforementioned element base is: in active mode, about 20 mA, and in sleep mode, between data receiving / transmitting sessions, of the order of microampere units. At the same time, the typical nominal voltage of the digital components of the electronic unit 3 is 3.6 V, and to supply the analog nodes, a voltage of at least +/- 5 V is required. Thus, a 12-volt battery with a capacitance can be used to function the electronic unit 3 5 A * h., And the solar panel must provide a voltage of 15 V and a current of at least 0.5 A. For example, a CHN10-36M solar panel with a size of 290 mm × 290 mm provides a current of 0.55 A with an output voltage of 18 V. as the reference electrode 9 can be used electrode alignment model - ENES-3M is equipped with a sensor polarization potential production Stavropol radio factory. As a block of indicator plates for corrosion rate 10, a corrosion rate sensor can be used - DSC-1 produced by Energomera Concern, and a protector 11 for PMU10 is used as a protector 11. As a controlled valve element 12, a transistor with a collector current of at least 0.8 A, a gain of at least 200 must be used. The domestic KT686F transistor (1k = 1.5 A, Kus = 250-630) satisfies these requirements, the limit switched voltage It is not critical, since for serial devices the minimum value of this parameter is obviously more than the required one.

Description of the device.

The main purpose of the device is to measure the parameters of the structure and stabilize its protective potential at a given level. The ranges of measured parameters and the range of stabilization of the polarization potential are regulated by the regulatory documentation (GOST ISO 9.602-2005) and have the following meanings:

- polarization potential, Upp (-3.2 V) - 0 V;

- the total potential Ucim (-4.0 V) - 0 V;

- polarization current of the auxiliary electrode Ip (- 10 mA) - (+10 mA);

- resistance Nk 0 Ohm - 15 Ohm.

- stabilization of the polarization potential of the Device Upp (-0.85 V) - (-1.15 V)

The inventive device works as follows.

Analog signals generated by reference electrode 9, a block of indicator plates of corrosion rate 10, protected by the structure, go to input switch 18, and from its output - to signal converter 19. Next, the digitized measurement results go to measurement and control controller 20 , in the non-volatile memory of which contains the algorithm of the entire electronic unit. The measurement and control controller 20 is connected by one of the ports to the transceiver 21, through which it communicates with the control center, transmitting the results of measuring the parameters of the structure, and receiving control commands. Another port of the measurement and control controller 20 is connected to the interface 22, through which the measurement results are transferred directly to an external computer or to a portable storage medium. The measurement and control controller 20 is also programmed via interface 22. To stabilize the protective potential of the structure, use the port of the measurement and control controller 20 connected to the control input of the controlled valve element 12, through which protector 11 is connected to the protected structure. The current flowing from the protector 11 to the protected structure depends on the potential difference between the base and the emitter of the transistor 12, which is used as a controlled valve element 12. By changing the potential difference between the base and the emitter of the transistor 12, the measurement and control controller 20 can control the current given protector 11 protected structure, thereby changing its protective potential. The value of the potential level, which must be maintained by the measurement and control controller 20, is programmed both through the interface 22 and through the transceiver 21 from the control center.

The claimed technical solution, as described in the application materials, allows you to:

1. To provide with autonomous technical means non-volatile protection of areas of an underground structure that are difficult to reach for electricity supply in the mode of automatic stabilization of the protective potential of the structure in the area of the tread component.

2. Remote control of the state of a remote underground structure.

3. Remote control of remote facility protection parameters

4. To build a more rational and economical distribution of the means of protection of the pipeline, which has areas that are difficult of access for the power supply on its way.

The above information shows that when using the claimed invention made the following set of conditions:

- means embodying the claimed invention in its implementation, is intended for use in the means of protection of underground metal structures for various purposes, including pipelines.

- a means of embodying the claimed invention in its implementation, is able to achieve the technical result consisting in providing non-volatile protection of areas of underground construction that are difficult to reach for power supply in the automatic stabilization mode of the protective potential with the possibility of remote control and control of the protective device operation.

For the claimed device, in the form in which it is characterized in the stated claims, the possibility of its implementation is confirmed by means of the means described in the application, therefore, the claimed invention meets the criterion INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY.

Claims (1)

A stand-alone device for cathodic protection of underground structures, comprising a housing in the form of a rack of a measuring and measuring point with a folding casing, an electronic unit, a battery, a terminal panel, a sensor and a lock located on the end base of the housing inside the folding casing, on a sloping roof of which there are solar panels, cable connected to the electronic unit, placed outside the body of the reference electrode and a block of indicators of corrosion rate, connected with cables to the terminal panel, to which The protected structure is connected, and the electronic unit contains an input switch connected to the terminal board, a signal converter connected to the output of the input switch, a measurement and control controller connected to the output of the signal converter, and a transceiver with an integrated antenna and interface equipped with a connector for connecting external devices, characterized in that it is equipped with a protector and a controllable valve placed on the terminal panel With a transistor element, the emitter of which is connected through the terminal panel to the protected structure, the collector is connected through the terminal panel to the protector, and the base is connected to the auxiliary output of the measurement and control controller.

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