# US 11,906,418 B2 · Device and method for measuring condensation and/or advance of corrosion > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,906,418 B2 - Document ID: US11906418B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/762,176 - Filed: 2018-11-07 - Published: 2020-09-24 - Granted: 2024-02-20 - Earliest claimed: 2017-11-08 - Assignees: iSens Pro NV - Applicants: iSens Pro NV - Inventors: Yves Marie-Louis Gabriel Desmet - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11906418B2 ## CPC - G01N 17/02: Electrochemical measuring systems for weathering, corrosion or corrosion-protection measurement - G01N 27/223: {for determining moisture content, e.g. humidity (rain detectors on vehicle windows B60S1/0825)} - G01N 27/226: {Construction of measuring vessels; Electrodes therefor} - G01M 3/18: for pipes, cables or tubes; for pipe joints or seals; for valves; {for welds; for containers, e.g. radiators} - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A device for measuring condensation and/or advance of corrosion of a conduit includes an insulator extending around the conduit; a first conductor and a second conductor which are arranged such that at least a portion of the insulator lies between the conduit and the first conductor and the second conductor, such that the first conductor forms a first pole of a capacitor, the second conductor forms a second pole of the capacitor, and the portion therebetween comprises a capacitive coupling between the first pole and the second pole. At least one measuring instrument is configured to determine a value which is representative of the capacitive coupling. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for measuring condensation on and/or advance of corrosion of a conduit, comprising: an insulator extending around the conduit; a first conductor and a second conductor arranged such that at least a portion of the insulator lies between the conduit and the first conductor and the second conductor, such that the first conductor forms a first pole of a capacitor, the second conductor forms a second pole of the capacitor, and the portion therebetween comprises a capacitive coupling between the first pole and the second pole, wherein, in a longitudinal direction of the conduit, the first and second conductors are arranged at a longitudinal distance from each other along the longitudinal direction of the conduit, or the first and second conductors overlap only partially at an outer end thereof and have an electrically insulating strip disposed between the overlapping portions of the first and second conductors such that there is no direct contact between the two; and at least one measuring instrument configured to determine a value representative of the capacitive coupling. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the first conductor and the second conductor are each embodied as an electrically conductive coating or cladding for the insulator. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the first conductor and the second conductor are each shaped as at least a portion of an electrically conductive sleeve configured to accommodate at least a portion of the insulator. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one measuring instrument is configured to determine a frequency value which is representative of the capacitive coupling. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one measuring instrument is configured to drive a variable frequency alternating voltage or current through the capacitive coupling and to measure amplitude and phase changes thereof. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one measuring instrument comprises at least one oscillator. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the conduit is grounded or floating. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein a first measuring instrument of said at least one measuring instrument is fixed on or in the insulator or on an outer layer on the insulator. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, comprising a third conductor which is arranged such that at least a further portion of the insulator lies between the conduit and the second conductor and between the conduit and the third conductor; wherein the at least one measuring instrument is configured to perform a measurement between the second and the third conductor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the first conductor extends over a first length seen in the longitudinal direction, and wherein a surface area of the first conductor is at least 10% of a surface area of the conduit along the first length. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one measuring instrument is integrated in the insulator. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one measuring instrument is configured to transmit the determined value wirelessly to a wireless receiver of a monitoring controller. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein a transition area between the first conductor and the second conductor comprises a moisture-resistant strip comprising one of butyl tape and rubber. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, comprising a monitoring controller which is configured to analyse condensation and/or advance of corrosion of the conduit on the basis of the value or values determined by the or each measuring instrument. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The device according to claim 14, comprising at least one temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature, and/or at least one moisture sensor configured to measure a degree of moisture; wherein the monitoring controller is configured during analysis of the condensation and/or advance of corrosion to take into account the measured temperature and/or the measured degree of moisture. ### Claim 16 A device for measuring degradation of a surface layer of a conduit, comprising: an insulator extending around the surface layer on the conduit; a first conductor and a second conductor at a distance of the first conductor, said first and second conductor being arranged such that at least a portion of the insulator lies between the conduit and the first conductor and between the conduit and the second conductor, wherein, the first and second conductors are arranged in a longitudinal direction of the conduit at a longitudinal distance from each other, or the first and second conductors overlap only partially at an outer end thereof and have an electrically insulating strip disposed between the overlapping portions of the first and second conductors such that there is no direct contact between the two; and at least one measuring instrument configured to determine an impedance value between the first and second conductors which is representative of the impedance of the surface layer underneath said portion of the insulator. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The device according to claim 16, wherein the at least one measuring instrument comprises an electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurement instrument and/or a D.C. measurement apparatus. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The device according to claim 16, comprising a monitoring controller which is configured to analyse degradation of the surface layer on the basis of the value or values determined by the at least one measuring instrument. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The device according to claim 16, wherein the surface layer is any one of the following: a coating, a cover layer, an oxidation layer. ### Claim 20 A method for measuring condensation on and/or advance of corrosion of a conduit, comprising: arranging an insulator around the conduit; arranging a first conductor and a second conductor such that at least a portion of the insulator lies between the conduit and the first conductor and the second conductor, the portion extending along a longitudinal direction of the conduit such that the first conductor forms a first pole of a capacitor, the second conductor forms a second pole of the capacitor, and the portion therebetween comprises a capacitive coupling between the first pole and the second pole, wherein, in a longitudinal direction of the conduit, the first and second conductors are arranged at a longitudinal distance from each other along the longitudinal direction of the conduit, or the first and second conductors overlap only partially at an outer end thereof and have an electrically insulating strip disposed between the overlapping portions of the first and second conductors such that there is no direct contact between the two; and determining a value which is representative of the capacitive coupling.