Moisture and/or thermal resistance monitoring system for insulation-containing conduit and methods of use

A system for monitoring moisture in a fluid-carrying conduit comprising:

• the fluid-carrying conduit having an inner conduit, an outer member, and a space between the inner conduit and the outer member, the space containing an absorbent media or air, the inner conduit having an electrically conductive material on or as part of an outer surface of the inner conduit and the outer member having an electrically conductive material on or as part of an inner surface of the outer member, and
• a means for monitoring moisture in the space between the inner conduit and the outer member of the fluid-carrying conduit by using the electrically conductive outer surface of the inner conduit and the electrically conductive inner surface of the outer member and the space between the electrically conductive materials of the inner conduit and outer member, wherein the means for monitoring moisture further comprises:
• a capacitance sensing circuit comprising a power source, a capacitance measuring device, a signal device, and wiring, a first end of the wiring of the circuit connected to the electrically conductive material of the inner conduit and a second end of the wiring connected to the electrically conductive material of the outer member, the capacitance measuring device and the signal device located in the circuit between the first end and second end of the circuit, wherein when the capacitance measuring device detects a change in capacitance from an initial capacitance for the fluid-carrying conduit, the signal device is powered to provide an indication of a change in capacitance in the space between the electrically conductive materials of the fluid-carrying conduit.

A system for monitoring moisture and/or thermal resistance in a fluid-carrying conduit comprising:

• the fluid-carrying conduit having an inner conduit, an outer member, and a space between the inner conduit and the outer member, the space containing an absorbent media or air, the inner conduit having an electrically conductive material on or as part of an outer surface of the inner conduit and the outer member having an electrically conductive material on or as part of an inner surface of the outer member, and
• a means for monitoring moisture in the space between the inner conduit and the outer member of the fluid-carrying conduit by using the electrically conductive outer surface of the inner conduit and the electrically conductive inner surface of the outer member and the space between the electrically conductive materials of the inner conduit and outer member, wherein the inner conduit is made of a non-conductive material, the electrically conductive material that is on or is a part of the outer surface of the inner conduit has a plurality of openings therethrough, the system includes the means for monitoring moisture in the space between the inner conduit and the outer member of the fluid-carrying conduit by using the electrically conductive outer surface of the inner conduit and the electrically conductive inner surface of the outer member and the space between the electrically conductive materials of the inner conduit and outer member, wherein the openings permit fluid leaking through the inner conduit to be detected using the means for monitoring moisture in the space.

A system for monitoring thermal resistance in a fluid-carrying conduit comprising:

• the fluid-carrying conduit having an inner conduit, an outer member, and a space between the inner conduit and the outer member, the space containing an absorbent media or air, the inner conduit having an electrically conductive material on or as part of an outer surface of the inner conduit and the outer member having an electrically conductive material on or as part of an inner surface of the outer member, and
• a means for monitoring thermal resistance of the fluid-carrying conduit by using the electrically conductive outer surface of the inner conduit and the electrically conductive inner surface of the outer member and the space between the electrically conductive materials of the inner conduit and outer member,
• wherein the means for monitoring thermal resistance further comprises:
• a capacitance sensing circuit comprising a power source, a capacitance measuring device, a signal device, and wiring, a first end of the wiring of the circuit connected to the electrically conductive material of the inner conduit and a second end of the wiring connected to the electrically conductive material of the outer member, the capacitance measuring device and signal device located in the circuit between the first end and second end of the circuit, wherein when the capacitance measuring device detects a change in capacitance from an initial capacitance for the fluid-carrying conduit, the signal device is powered to provide an indication of a change in capacitance in the space between the electrically conductive materials of the fluid-carrying conduit.