Detecting moisture proximate to insulation

• US 10,222,290 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2016
• Issued: 03/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company (Exxon Mobil Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company (Exxon Mobil Corporation)
• Inventors: Yunker, William N., Matheidas, Michael T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huls, Natalie
• Application Number:
  US15/183,164
• Publication Number:
  US 20170045412A1
• Time in Patent Office: 993 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/18 for pipes, cables or tubes; for pipe joints or seals; for valves; for welds; for containers, e.g. radiators

Abstract

Systems and a method for detecting potential areas of corrosion under insulation are provided. An exemplary system includes an enclosure, insulation disposed upon an outer surface of the enclosure, and a number of microelectromechanical system (MEMS) sensors. The MEMS sensors detect water proximate to the insulation.

Claims

1. A system for detecting water proximate to an insulation layer, comprising:

an enclosure;

insulation disposed on an outer surface of the enclosure; and

a plurality of microelectromechanical system (MEMS) sensors, wherein the plurality of MEMS sensors detect water proximate to the insulation, and wherein the MEMS sensors comprise an electronic circuitry, a power bus and a sensing portion;

wherein the plurality of MEMS sensors is mounted along a tape, and wherein the tape comprises a cover that is impermeable in a location proximate of the electronic circuitry and the power bus, and the tape comprises a cover that is permeable in a location proximate the sensing portion.

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

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

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of MEMS sensors comprises humidity sensors, water sensors, or temperature sensors, or any combinations thereof.

5. The system of claim 1, comprising a computing system configured to determine a location of a MEMS sensor that has detected an actionable change, and alert an operator.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the tape comprises a power bus and a communications bus.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the enclosure comprises a pipe, and wherein the tape is disposed along an axis of the pipe.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the tape is disposed between the insulation and the enclosure.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the tape is disposed between the insulation and a layer of cladding.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the tape integrates MEMS sensors with a heat trace.

11. The system of claim 1, comprising a process control computer configured to determine, from the plurality of MEMS sensors, a location of water infiltration into an insulation layer.

12. A method for detecting water proximate to an insulation layer, comprising:

disposing the insulation layer upon an outer surface of an enclosure; and

disposing a plurality of microelectromechanical system (MEMS) sensors proximate to the insulation layer, wherein the MEMS sensors detect water proximate to the insulation layer, and wherein the MEMS sensors comprise an electronic circuitry, a power bus and a sensing portion; and

disposing the plurality of MEMS sensors in a tape along the outer surface of the enclosure, wherein the tape comprises a cover that is impermeable in a location proximate of the electronic circuitry and the power bus, and the tape comprises a cover that is permeable in a location proximate the sensing portion.

13. The method of claim 12, comprising identifying a location of water infiltration from the plurality of MEMS sensors.