RU90215U1 - AUTOMATED DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE FOR THE CONDITION OF UNDERGROUND METAL STRUCTURES - Google Patents

Abstract

An automated device for diagnosing the condition of underground metal structures, containing a measuring device located on the stand of a control and measuring station with terminal panels for connecting cables with reference electrodes and a diagnosed pipeline, the measuring device includes a measurement and calculation unit, an analog signal converter, an interface unit that differs the fact that the measuring device additionally includes an antenna, control and communication unit, control unit for operating modes of the device equipment, and the stand of the test point consists of a metal case with a hinged lid, a contact sensor for opening / closing the lid, a lock, a solar-powered power supply and a solar battery; in addition, an additional block of corrosion indicator plates is connected to the terminal panels .

Description

The proposed device relates to the field of automated remote monitoring of the state of electrochemical protection against corrosion of underground metal structures.

A device is known for measuring the polarization potential of a metal underground structure in the zone of operation of stray currents (RF patent No. 2287832, class G01D 11/00, 2006). The device includes a measuring device, the first input of which is connected to the stand of the control and measuring point (KIP) connected with the pipeline, and the second and third inputs, respectively, with the first and second comparison electrodes. The measuring device includes a data collection system that allows using stray current as a current source, and an autonomous power source connected to it, a connector (for connecting to a computer), and control units (keyboard), displays, and memory. The device in question does not provide a measurement of potential components in the zones of operation of the cathodic protection installations with a pulsating voltage at the output due to the lack of an analog measuring channel for alternating current, designed to measure a signal having a variable component with a frequency of 100 Hz, and an industrial noise suppression unit with a frequency of 50 Hz , since in the device the measurement is carried out only on direct current.

The closest technical solution is a device for measuring the components of the potential of an underground metal structure in the zones of operation of cathodic protection devices with a pulsating output voltage (RF patent No. 2350971, class G01R 19/00, 2007), containing a measuring device located on the instrumentation rack. The measuring device includes modules: a measurement and calculation unit equipped with an autonomous power supply, an analog signal converter and an interface unit having a built-in keyboard and indicator. The analog signal converter is connected to the inputs of the measuring device, of which the first input is connected by a connecting conductor through the instrumentation rack to a metal underground structure, and the second and third inputs are connected by connecting conductors with the corresponding reference electrodes. Inside the measuring device, the analog signal converter is connected to the unit for measuring and calculating by the analog measuring channels direct current and alternating current with a frequency of 100 Hz, to which a noise suppression unit with a frequency of 50 Hz is connected. The analogue measuring channels of direct and alternating current and the measuring and calculation unit are galvanically isolated from each other. The measurement and calculation unit provides the measurement of potential components by alternately connecting the inputs of the measuring device to the corresponding analog measuring channels - in the direct current measurement mode or in the alternating current measurement mode and their calculation by formulas.

The disadvantage of the prototype is the inability to carry out automated remote non-volatile control of the parameters of electrochemical protection. In addition, the design of the instrumentation rack does not provide durability and ease of use. Also, the device in question does not allow measuring the corrosion rate of underground structures.

The utility model is based on the task of creating such a device for diagnosing the condition of underground metal structures, which would provide effective automated remote non-volatile monitoring of the main parameters of electrochemical protection (polarization potential, protective potential, polarization current, resistance and corrosion rate) of underground metal structures.

The problem is achieved in that an automated device for diagnosing the condition of underground metal structures containing a measuring device located on the stand of a control and measuring station with terminal panels for connecting cables with reference electrodes and a diagnosed pipeline, the measuring device includes a measurement and calculation unit, a converter analog signals, a unit for interfacing with external devices, an antenna, a control and communication unit, and a control unit are additionally included it depends on the operating modes of the device, and the instrumentation rack consists of a metal case with a hinged lid, a contact sensor for opening / closing the lid, a lock, a solar-powered power supply and a solar battery; in addition, an additional block of corrosion rate indicator plates is connected to the terminal panels.

Figure 1-2 shows the structural diagrams of an automated device for diagnosing the state of underground metal structures.

Figure 1 shows the structural diagram of the proposed device as a whole. It consists of a stationary measuring unit 1, a contact sensor for opening / closing the cover 2, a terminal panel 3, a hinged cover 4, a solar-powered power supply 5, a solar battery 6, a lock 7, a metal housing 8, a reference electrode 9, a plate block - indicators of the corrosion rate 10. Also, the block diagram of the diagnosed main pipeline 11 is reflected in the structural diagram. The connection of the reference electrode 9, the block of indicator plates of the corrosion rate 10 and the diagnosed main pipeline 11 with changes The unit 1 is carried out using cables A, B, B.

Figure 2 shows the structural diagram of a stationary measuring unit 1: a switching unit 12, a signal converter 13, a measurement and calculation unit 14, a control and communication unit 15, a control unit for operating modes 16, an interface unit with external devices 17, and an antenna 18.

The main function of the stationary measuring unit 1 is the conversion to a hexadecimal digital code:

- polarization potential (Upp) according to the method of the auxiliary electrode according to GOST ISO 9.602-2005 in the range from -3.2 to 0 V;

- protective potential (Ut) in the range from -4 to 0 V;

- polarization current (Ip) of the auxiliary electrode in the range from - 10 to 10 mA;

- resistance (Nk) in the range from 0 to 15 Ohms.

The proposed device operates as follows.

Analog signals from sensors 2, 9, 10, as well as from pipe 11, enter the switching unit 12, then to the converter of analog signals to digital 13. Digital signals enter the measuring and calculation unit 14, which is a low-power microprocessor device, in the command memory which is programmed by the algorithm of the entire device. The measurement and calculation unit 14 includes an additional non-volatile memory of large capacity. Information from the measurement and calculation unit 14 automatically enters the control and communication unit 15, which includes a radio or GSM modem. The control and communication unit 15 and the antenna 18 allow you to transfer information about the state of the electrochemical protection of the pipeline to the automated workplace of an engineer of the corrosion protection service, or to automated workstations of a higher level. Also, using the control and communication unit 15 and antenna 18, remote control of the operation of the diagnostic device is possible. Additionally, the stationary measuring unit 1 includes an interface unit 17 for docking with external devices (PCs, flash drives, calibration equipment, etc.).

Using the control and communication unit 15 with the built-in radio or GSM modem and antenna 18, the diagnostic device is able to remotely monitor the state of the electrochemical protection of underground metal structures.

To power the device, it is proposed to use an autonomous power supply, which uses solar panels 5 and a battery for solar panels 6. To save energy from an autonomous power source, it is proposed to use an energy-saving mode of operation of the device. Most of the time, the device is in a low energy consumption state (1 μA), only the timer works, which is integrated in the operating mode control unit 16. After a predetermined time has passed, the operating mode control unit 16 gives a command and the device exits from the energy-saving mode to operating mode.

The proposed approach makes it possible to organize automated remote non-volatile monitoring of the state of electrochemical protection of underground metal structures. And thanks to the proposed design of the instrumentation rack, the durability and ease of use of the device for diagnosing the condition of underground metal structures are increased. Thus, the tasks are solved.

Claims (1)

An automated device for diagnosing the condition of underground metal structures, containing a measuring device located on the stand of a control and measuring station with terminal panels for connecting cables with reference electrodes and a diagnosed pipeline, the measuring device includes a measurement and calculation unit, an analog signal converter, an interface unit that differs the fact that the measuring device additionally includes an antenna, control and communication unit, control unit for operating modes of the device equipment, and the stand of the test point consists of a metal case with a hinged lid, a contact sensor for opening / closing the lid, a lock, a solar-powered power supply and a solar battery; in addition, an additional block of corrosion indicator plates is connected to the terminal panels .