Detecting moisture proximate to insulation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10481099-B2
Application number	US-201615155513-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 16, 2016
Priority date	Jul 2, 2015
Publication date	Nov 19, 2019
Grant date	Nov 19, 2019

Abstract

A system and method for determining the presence of water proximate to insulation. A system provided includes an enclosure, and insulation disposed over the enclosure. A moisture reactive compound indicates water proximate to the insulation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
an enclosure;
insulation material disposed over the enclosure, wherein the insulating material comprises a mineral fiber, a glass fiber, a polymeric foam, or any combinations thereof; and
a moisture reactive compound, wherein the moisture reactive compound indicates water proximate to the insulation; and
wherein the moisture reactive compound is incorporated into the insulation material.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure comprises a pipe.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure comprises a process unit, a field unit, a cylinder, a vessel, a tank, a chamber, a container, a receptacle, or a pipe, or any combinations thereof.

4. The system of claim 1 , comprising a transparent layer disposed over the insulation material.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the transparent layer comprises a polymer.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the moisture reactive compound changes color in the presence of the water.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the moisture reactive compound expands in size as it adsorbs or absorbs water.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the moisture reactive compound comprises a desiccant.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the moisture reactive compound comprises an acid base indicator.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the moisture reactive compound comprises a super-adsorbent polymer.

11. The system of claim 1 , comprising a barrier layer disposed between the moisture reactive compound and the enclosure.

12. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a layer comprising the moisture reactive compound disposed over the insulation material.

13. The system of claim 1 , comprising disposing the moisture reactive compound in locations with a highest probability of water accumulation.

14. A system, comprising:
an enclosure;
insulation disposed over the enclosure;
a moisture reactive compound, wherein the moisture reactive compound indicates water proximate to the insulation; and
stingers comprising the moisture reactive compound, wherein the stingers penetrate through the insulation to a surface of the enclosure.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the stingers comprise a cap selected to rupture as the moisture reactive compound expands.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the stingers comprise a dye cell under a cap, wherein the dye cell is selected to rupture as the moisture reactive compound expands to spill a dye.

17. A method for detecting water proximate to an insulation layer, comprising:
disposing the insulation layer over an enclosure; and
disposing a moisture reactive compound proximate to the insulation layer, wherein the moisture reactive compound indicates the presence of water proximate to the insulation layer;
further comprising:
selecting the moisture reactive compound to expand upon contact with water to create a visible change in the insulation layer, or
placing stingers comprising the moisture reactive compound through the insulation layer over the enclosure.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the insulation layer comprises the moisture reactive compound.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the enclosure comprises a process unit, a field unit, a cylinder, a vessel, a tank, a chamber, a container, a receptacle, or a pipe, or any combinations thereof.

20. An insulation system for a pipe, comprising:
an insulating material disposed over the pipe, wherein the insulating material comprises a mineral fiber, a glass fiber, a polymeric foam, or any combinations thereof; and
a moisture reactive compound, wherein the moisture reactive compound indicates the presence of water proximate to the insulating material;
wherein the moisture reactive compound is incorporated into the insulating material during production of the insulating material.

21. The insulation system of claim 20 , wherein the insulating material comprises the moisture reactive compound.

Assignees

• Yunker William N
• Pon Wayne S
• Moore Patrick M
• Matheidas Michael T
• Exxonmobil Upstream Res Co

Inventors

• Yunker William N
• Pon Wayne S
• Moore Patrick M
• Matheidas Michael T

Classifications

• G01N21/81 Primary

  Indicating humidity · CPC title

• G01N31/222

  for investigating moisture content · CPC title

• G01M3/042

  by using materials which expand, contract, disintegrate, or decompose in contact with a fluid (G01M3/12 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01M3/18

  for pipes, cables or tubes; for pipe joints or seals; for valves; {for welds; for containers, e.g. radiators} · CPC title

• G01M3/045

  with electrical detection means · CPC title