Hot water heater corrosion detector probe
AssigneeCanadian Gas Research Institute
InventorSian W. Khoo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for providing a continuous indication of the interior condition of a water heater tank are shown herein. Iron interior surface of water heater tank is normally protected from corrosion by cathodic protection with the provision of a sacrificial anode element made of a highly anodic metal. A zinc probe is incorporated in the water heater tank such that the potential measured between the zinc probe and the iron interior surface indicates the condition of the sacrificial anode element thus providing an indication of the effectiveness of the cathodic protection. The zinc probe may be conveniently incorporated in the drain cork of the water heater tank.
Claims10
A hot water heater tank comprising an enclosed chamber having a substantially exposed iron interior surface, sacrificial anode means disposed in said chamber and in electrical contact with said iron interior surface operative to provide an electro-chemical cathodic protection to said iron interior surface, an elongated non-sacrificial metal element formed of zinc or stainless steel mounted to said tank and being electrically insulated from said iron interior surface and extending into said chamber and operatively in contact with the water in said chamber whereby an electromotive force measurable between said metal element and said iron interior surface is indicative of the efficiency of the cathodic protection.
In a hot water heater tank having an enclosed chamber with a substantially exposed iron interior surface and sacrificial anode means disposed in said chamber and in electrical contact with said iron interior surface to provide an electrochemical cathodic protection to the latter, a drain outlet means operative for draining water from said chamber, a drain cock means removably mounted in said drain outlet means and being operative to close or open said drain outlet means, an elongated non-sacrificial metal element mounted in said drain cock means and extending into said chamber to contact the water therein, said metal element being electrically insulated from said iron interior surface whereby an electromotive force measurable between said metal element and said iron interior surface is indicative of the efficiency of the cathodic protection.
A method of measuring the efficiency of cathodic protection to iron interior surface of an enclosed hot water heater tank by sacrificial anode means disposed in said tank, comprising mounting a non-sacrificial metal element to said tank, said metal element being electrically insulated from said iron interior surface and operatively in contact with the water in said tank, measuring electrical electrochemical potentials manifested between said metal element and said iron interior surface whereby the measured potentials more negative than a predetermined threshold value indicate said cathodic protection being efficiently in operation.
A drain cock device removably securable in a drain outlet pipe of a hot water heater tank, comprising a substantially cylindrical body threadingly engageable in said drain outlet pipe and operative selectively to open or close said drain outlet pipe, a metal rod element mounted in said cylindrical body and having a threaded end portion therein, a zinc probe element securable to and covering over said threaded end portion of said metal rod whereby when said cylindrical body is mounted in said drain outlet pipe said zinc probe element extends into said tank, the other end portion of said metal rod extending outward of said cylindrical body to provide an electrical connection terminal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.