Corrosion detecting device

• US 7,129,471 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2003
• Issued: 10/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Institut Francais Du Petrole
• Original Assignee: Institut Francais Du Petrole
• Inventors: Frot, Didier, Guillou, Françoise, Longaygue, Xavier
• Primary Examiner(s): Allen, Stephone B.
• Application Number:
  US10/540,201
• Publication Number:
  US 20060077379A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 250/227.14, 250/227.19, 250/227.23, 250/573, 250/574, 356/32, 356/477, 385/12, 385/13, 385/37
• US Class Current: 250/227.14
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 17/04 Corrosion probes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/431 Dip refractometers, e.g. using optical fibres

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for detecting the corrosion induced by a medium on a structure. The device comprises a chamber (5) closed by a closing disc (4) made of such a material that the disc becomes permeable to the medium once corroded by the medium, and means for measuring the refractive index of the medium present in the chamber. According to a preferred embodiment, an optical fiber is used to measure the refractive index variation.

Claims

1. A device for detecting the corrosion induced by a medium, comprising a chamber closed by a closing disc made of a material such that the disc becomes permeable to the medium once corroded by the medium;

and means for measuring a refractive index of fluid present in the chamber.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for measuring comprises a light source and a photodetector.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for measuring comprise at least one optical fiber portion.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein one end of the optical fiber is adjacent to the disc.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chamber contains air.

6. A device as claimed claim 1, wherein the disc is connected to a support withstanding pressure of the medium.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the support is permeable to said medium.

8. A device as claimed in claim 1, comprising means for balancing pressure on sides of the disc.

9. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for measuring is are included in the chamber.

10. A device as claimed in claim 9, comprising at least one of measurement transmission mechanism:

waves,

an optical fiber, and

an electric conductor.

11. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the means for measuring comprise at least one optical fiber portion.

12. A device as claimed in claim 11, wherein one end of the optical fiber is adjacent to the disc.

13. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the chamber contains air.

14. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the chamber contains air.

15. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the chamber contains air.

16. A device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the chamber contains air.

17. A device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the chamber contains air.

18. A device as claimed in claim 2, comprising means for balancing pressure on sides of the disc.

19. A device as claimed in claim 3, comprising means for balancing pressure on sides of the disc.

20. A device as claimed in claim 4, comprising means for balancing pressure on sides of the disc.

21. A device as claimed in claim 5, comprising means for balancing pressure on sides of the disc.

22. A device as claimed in claim 13, comprising means for balancing pressure on sides of the disc.

23. A device as claimed in claim 14, comprising means for balancing pressure on sides of the disc.

24. A device as claimed in claim 15, comprising means for balancing pressure on sides of the disc.

25. A device as claimed in claim 16, comprising means for balancing pressure on sides of the disc.

26. A device as claimed in claim 17, comprising means for balancing pressure on sides of the disc.