Systems for tracking corrosion within enclosures using sacrificial loop targets

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9976987-B2
Application number	US-201615350731-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 14, 2016
Priority date	Dec 8, 2015
Publication date	May 22, 2018
Grant date	May 22, 2018

Abstract

A corrosion tracking system within an enclosure can include an electrical circuit through which a first current flows, where the first current creates a magnetic field. The system can also include a target component disposed proximate to the electrical circuit, where the magnetic field induces a number of second currents to flow within the target component. The system can further include a sensor that measures the plurality of second currents flowing within the target component to generate a plurality of measurements. The measurements can indicate whether the target component is experiencing corrosion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A corrosion tracking system within an electrical enclosure, the system comprising:
an electrical circuit having a spiral-wound shape when viewed from above and through which a first current flows, wherein the first current creates a magnetic field;
a first sacrificial loop disposed above or below the electrical circuit, wherein the magnetic field induces a plurality of second currents to flow within the first sacrificial loop; and
a sensor that measures the plurality of second currents flowing within the first sacrificial loop to generate a plurality of measurements,
wherein the plurality of measurements indicates whether the first sacrificial loop is experiencing corrosion,
wherein the electrical circuit, the first sacrificial loop, and the sensor are located within a cavity of the electrical enclosure.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first sacrificial loop comprises a known material, has a known shape and size, and is located a distance from the electrical circuit.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a second sacrificial loop disposed proximate to the electrical circuit and the sensor.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein a third sacrificial loop is disposed proximate to an additional electrical circuit of a plurality of electrical circuits and an additional sensor of a plurality of sensors.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electrical circuit and the sensor are part of a same device.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electrical circuit and the sensor comprise a non-corrosive material.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electrical circuit and the sensor are hermetically sealed.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the corrosion of the first sacrificial loop is non-uniform throughout the first sacrificial loop.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first sacrificial loop is a loop coupon.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first sacrificial loop is stationary relative to the electrical circuit and the sensor.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of measurements are taken over time and indicates that the corrosion of the first sacrificial loop is becoming more extensive.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of second currents are eddy currents.

13. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a controller coupled to the sensor, wherein the controller tracks the plurality of measurements, applies the plurality of measurements to at least one algorithm to determine whether the first sacrificial loop is experiencing corrosion, and communicates the corrosion of the first sacrificial loop to a user.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the controller is further coupled to the electrical circuit, wherein the controller controls the first current flowing through the electrical circuit.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electrical circuit is an inductor.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first sacrificial loop is untreated to allow for natural corrosion.

17. An electrical enclosure comprising:
at least one wall that forms a cavity;
a first device disposed within the cavity, wherein the first device comprises a first material subject to first corrosion;
a first corrosion tracking system disposed within the cavity adjacent to the first device, wherein the first corrosion tracking system comprises:
a first electrical circuit having a spiral-wound shape when viewed from above and through which a first current flows, wherein the first current creates a first magnetic field;
a first sacrificial loop disposed above or below the first electrical circuit, wherein the first magnetic field induces a plurality of second currents to flow within the first sacrificial loop; and
a first sensor that measures the plurality of second currents flowing within the first sacrificial loop to generate a plurality of first measurements,

wherein the plurality of first measurements indicates whether the first sacrificial loop is experiencing second corrosion, and
wherein the second corrosion of the first sacrificial loop indicates a level of the first corrosion in the first device.

18. The electrical enclosure of claim 17 , further comprising:
a controller coupled to the first sensor, wherein the controller tracks the plurality of first measurements, determines, using the plurality of first measurements, whether the first sacrificial loop is experiencing the second corrosion, and communicates the second corrosion of the first sacrificial loop to a user.

19. The electrical enclosure of claim 17 , comprising:
a second device disposed within the cavity, wherein the second device comprises a second material subject to third corrosion;
a second corrosion tracking system disposed within the cavity adjacent to the second device, wherein the second corrosion tracking system comprises:
a second electrical circuit through which a third current flows, wherein the third current creates a second magnetic field;
a second sacrificial loop disposed proximate to the second electrical circuit, wherein the second magnetic field induces a plurality of fourth currents to flow within the second sacrificial loop; and
a second sensor that measures the plurality of fourth currents flowing within the second sacrificial loop to generate a plurality of second measurements,

wherein the plurality of second measurements indicates whether the second sacrificial loop is experiencing fourth corrosion, and
wherein the fourth corrosion of the second sacrificial loop indicates a level of the third corrosion in the second device.

Assignees

• Freer Benjamin Avery
• Taylor Jesse Wade
• Cooper Technologies Co

Inventors

• Freer Benjamin Avery
• Taylor Jesse Wade

Classifications

• G01N17/00

  Investigating resistance of materials to the weather, to corrosion, or to light · CPC title

• G01N27/9073 Primary

  Recording measured data · CPC title

• G01N27/9006 Primary

  Details, e.g. in the structure or functioning of sensors · CPC title

• G01N17/02

  Electrochemical measuring systems for weathering, corrosion or corrosion-protection measurement · CPC title