Method and system for detecting corrosion under insulation
First Claim
1. A method of detecting corrosion under insulation, said method comprising:
- disposing one or more thermal imaging devices in electromagnetic communication with an insulated substrate;
disposing said one or more thermal imaging devices in communication with an associated corrosion under insulation monitor comprising a moisture assessment unit, a metal substrate assessment unit, and a CUI monitor unit, strategically located proximate to said insulation at a plurality of locations;
scanning multiple location subsections of said insulated substrate simultaneously for temperature gradients experienced by said insulated substrate as a result of a process flow associated with said insulated substrate with said one or more thermal imaging devices;
using said one or more thermal imaging devices to scan multiple location subsections of said insulated substrate simultaneously for temperature gradients experienced by said insulated substrate as a result of a process flow associated with said insulated substrate;
obtaining corrosion related data, including said temperature gradients, by transmitting said corrosion related data to said corrosion under insulation monitor by means of said thermal imaging devices; and
communicating said corrosion related data to an operator via said CUI monitor unit.
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Abstract
The present invention relates generally to thermal imaging systems and methods and uses therefor, and in a particular though non-limiting embodiment, to a method of detecting corrosion under insulation, as well as corrosion-related material data associated therewith. The system utilizes advanced infrared imaging video cameras to detect characteristic signatures of wet thermal traits on process equipment. Various embodiments of the invention integrate equipment, automation, and algorithms to form a method for identifying wet thermal insulation by scanning multiple locations along insulated piping, tanks, or other manufacturing equipment. Such scans can occur individually, sequentially, or simultaneously, with the results then being stored and comparatively analyzed. Further embodiments comprise tracking the approximate time of exposure to moisture, prediction of the corrosion rates for underlying insulated metal substrates, and measuring wall thicknesses along either predetermined random portions of the metal substrate.
25 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of detecting corrosion under insulation, said method comprising:
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disposing one or more thermal imaging devices in electromagnetic communication with an insulated substrate; disposing said one or more thermal imaging devices in communication with an associated corrosion under insulation monitor comprising a moisture assessment unit, a metal substrate assessment unit, and a CUI monitor unit, strategically located proximate to said insulation at a plurality of locations; scanning multiple location subsections of said insulated substrate simultaneously for temperature gradients experienced by said insulated substrate as a result of a process flow associated with said insulated substrate with said one or more thermal imaging devices; using said one or more thermal imaging devices to scan multiple location subsections of said insulated substrate simultaneously for temperature gradients experienced by said insulated substrate as a result of a process flow associated with said insulated substrate; obtaining corrosion related data, including said temperature gradients, by transmitting said corrosion related data to said corrosion under insulation monitor by means of said thermal imaging devices; and communicating said corrosion related data to an operator via said CUI monitor unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for detecting corrosion under insulation, said system comprising:
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one or more thermal imaging devices disposed in electromagnetic communication with an insulated substrate; said one or more thermal imaging devices disposed in communication with one or more associated corrosion under insulation monitor comprising a moisture assessment unit, a metal substrate assessment unit, and a CUI monitor unit, strategically located proximate to said insulation at a plurality of locations, wherein said one or more thermal imaging devices scan multiple location subsections of said insulated substrate simultaneously for temperature gradients experienced by said insulated substrate as a result of a process flow associated with said insulated substrate; a means for obtaining corrosion related data, including said temperature gradients, by transmitting said corrosion related data collected by said thermal imaging devices to said corrosion under insulation monitor; and a means for communicating said corrosion related data to an operator. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. The system of detecting corrosion under insulation of dam 11, said system further comprising:
a thermal imaging device disposed in wireless communication with an associated corrosion under insulation monitor.
Specification