Patent Application
20230039308
This application claims priority to AT A 50631/2021 filed Aug. 3, 2021, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
The invention relates to a method for detecting the presence of water. The undesirable presence of water can occur in the arena of liquid-filled pipes, such as, for example, in lines in waste-water, drinking-water, and heating systems. In addition, the undesirable presence of water can occur in the arena of swimming pools (indoor and outdoor pools), swimming ponds, underground containers, shafts, oil traps, and sewage treatment plants, etc.
Also, the undesirable presence of water can occur in the residential arena, so that it is necessary to monitor household installations, water and waste-water lines, heating systems, basement areas, flat roofs, and composite lumber. It is advantageous when in the case of household installations, any leaks that cause the undesirable presence of water can be located.
Finally, it is important to monitor retaining walls in the case of dams in order to detect undesirable losses of water and to be able to provide corrective actions.
Methods and arrangements for detecting water are known.
In the case of WO 2009/023956 A1, leak sites in a film (“membrane”) of a roof are to be detected. On the film of the horizontal roof, blank electrical conductors are installed in a lattice pattern with insulated crossing points. Voltage is applied between the substructure of the roof and the conductors. Relays from conductor to conductor are used to test whether current flows. When current flows at one site, the other conductors are grounded.
According to WO 2017/011871 A1, leaks in a liquid-conveying line are to be detected. A sensor that emits electrical signals that are different from one another is moved in the line. An electrode is arranged on the outside of the line. The electrode can receive signals from the sensor. A processor processes the signals of the sensor with positional data of the sensor in order to locate a detected leak. A leak is located when the signals emitted by the sensor are received by the electrode with identical intensity.
In order to detect and locate a leak, electrodes in the form of electrical conductors are arranged parallel to one another according to JP H03-125939 A. One of the conductors is connected to (+). The other conductor is grounded. The (+)-connected conductor is guided through an insulating pipe and connected to (+) behind the pipe. Current flows between the conductors at a leak site. In order to locate a leak site, one end of a conductor is moved.
In the case of U.S. Pat. No. 5,081,422 A, two conductors parallel to one another are arranged in a netlike manner for detecting and locating leak sites in roofs or basement walls. Voltage is applied to the conductor. By scanning current caused by a leak site, the leak site is located.
The object of the invention is to make available a method of the above-mentioned type with which the (undesirable) presence of water (moisture) at or in any objects can be detected.
The method according to the invention allows the (undesirable) presence of water to be detected inside and outside of an object, wherein it is also possible to locate and qualify leak sites, so that leaks and drip losses can be detected. Even in the case of oil trap basins, underground containers, shafts, filter beds, etc., a leak test can thus also be performed.
The method according to the invention can be applied for monitoring as well as for locating and qualifying increased moisture in or on structures, leaks, and/or leak sites.
In an exemplary application, when the method according to the invention is implemented, the procedure can be carried out in such a way that the pipe wall of a pipe serves as an insulating layer between the interior of the pipe and the surrounding soil, so that the exit of water through leak sites or through other leaks can be detected using the method according to the invention. Something analogous also applies for films of swimming ponds, flat roofs (tarred-board, tin, or tiled roofs), so that the method according to the invention can be advantageously applied even here.
In these applications, measurement of the electrical current between two electrodes on which electrical voltage is applied is performed by the method according to the invention. It is thus possible to detect conductivity (electrolyte) that is produced or increased by the presence of water and electrical current that flows because of the applied voltage or current that flows with increased current intensity relative to a flowing (basic) current.
When pipes are to be monitored in order to detect the presence of undesirable water that exits from the pipe, an electrode can be drawn through the pipe. In this case, it is preferred that a measuring sensor be used as an electrode, which sensor has a (measuring) electrode that is concentric to the measuring sensor and is arranged around the latter. In this case, a ground acts as a counter electrode. When, in this application of the method, a (water-induced) conductive connection is present between the pipe interior and the surrounding area of the pipe, current flows, thereby causing a rise in the measuring signal (flowing current). This change can be pinpointed and identified as a leak (leak or damaged spot) in the pipe.
With the application of the method according to the invention at/in buildings or flat roofs as well as retaining walls, measurement is done between at least two electrodes. If, in the case of applied measuring voltage, the measured value (current) increases in the case of leaks or the presence of water, a leak is identifiable—when two electrode pairs are used—and can be located.
In another application of the method according to the invention, more than two electrode pairs are used, so that a cross-measurement can take place between various pairs of electrodes and a locating of the site where water is present can be carried out.
With the method according to the invention, the procedure can be carried out with d.c. voltage or a.c. voltage, i.e., electrical d.c. voltage or electrical a.c. voltage can be applied on the at least one pair of electrodes by the measuring unit, so that d.c. current or a.c. current flows when water is present.
When the method according to the invention is implemented, a measuring device can be used that automatically transfers basic voltages from a (saved) database, wherein the basic voltages usually lie in the millivolt range. As an alternative, it is possible to measure up to 700 Hz to set the basic voltage used to the optimal conductivity of the object on which water is to be detected, so that a successful measurement can take place.
In one embodiment, with the invention, a database with various conductivities is saved, wherein, however, it is also possible, in special applications, to perform a calibration for the conductivity between two defined electrode pairs at a defined distance and defined measuring voltage.
The thus determined data of the conductivity are saved and stored for each measuring section.
The method according to the invention can be applied in various arenas, e.g., in building installations, indoor and outdoor pools, swimming ponds, building superstructures, flat roofs, building parts, basements, slabs, concrete pavement-composite lumber-prefabricated houses, etc.
The (basic) conductivity of the materials in which testing for the presence of (undesirable) water is done is taken into consideration when the method according to the invention is implemented.
When the method according to the invention is implemented, the electrode and the counter electrode can be arranged in a different way, wherein the counter electrode can also be designed as a ground.
In a variant of the method according to the invention, the procedure is carried out with an electrode (ground sensor) that is designed as a ground, which is advantageous, for example, in the case of pipes in the soil, in the case of buildings (house installations, flat roofs, swimming pools, swimming ponds, etc.). It is preferred to fasten the ground sensor in the soil or in/on a concrete pavement or road bridge in the case of flat roofs or buildings.
As an alternative, the method according to the invention can be applied to water-filled pipes. With this exemplary embodiment, two electrodes are pulled through the interior of the pipe. Because of the length of the cable to which the electrodes are connected, leaks (leak sites) can be located in the water-filled pipe. The positions of the two electrodes arranged inside the pipe, which positions are known from the cable lengths, can be used to determine where a leak is located.
The method according to the invention can also be used for locating leaks in house installations, underfloor heating systems, and general water lines. With the application of the method according to the invention to water-filled lines, a ground sensor can be installed with a pressure screwing in the line that is to be examined. Thus, an electrical contact with the medium is created.
In the case of buildings or flat roofs or inside a pipe, measurement can be done with the invention between individual pairs of electrodes. Also, a manual sensor on the floor or walls can be used to determine precisely whether a leak or increased moisture is present, for example in composite lumber or in prefabricated houses.
In the case of fixed installations, when increased moisture (undesirable presence of water) is detected, an exact location of the position of moisture or a leak can be carried out if more than one electrode pair is installed and a cross-measurement is performed.
With the method according to the invention, relative measured values and absolute measured values can be depicted or compared. The measured values are values that the current intensity of the electrical current that flows between measuring sensors (=electrodes) because of the voltage that is applied to the electrodes.
When the procedure is carried out with the absolute measured values in the method according to the invention, these measured values relate to the current intensity based on the occurrence of water on/in the tested object. In this case, an upper limit can be set depending on the respective material. When the measured value, i.e., the current intensity, exceeds the upper limit, it is assumed that (undesirable) water has been detected on/in the object, for example water that has exited from a leaky spot (leak site).
In the case of relative measured values, for example, a highest measured value is applied, wherein when reaching the highest measured value, it is decided whether a leak site that induces the presence of water is present. When carrying out the method according to the invention with relative measured values, the temperature and humidity when carrying out the method according to the invention do not play any role. With the variant of the method according to the invention—in which the procedure is carried out with relative measured values, a measured value that is elevated relative to, for example, the measured value (=current intensity) due to current that is flowing per se (“countercurrent”) induced by the presence of undesirable additional water, originating from, e.g., a leak site—current with an elevated current intensity can be used to detect a leak site/undesirable water.
Additional details and features of the method according to the invention follow from the description below of examples depicted in the drawings. Here:
In the example, shown in
When implementing the method according to the invention, voltage is applied by the measuring unit 2 between each of the four electrodes 3, which are attached to the bottom 4 of the swimming pool, and the ground 5. When current flows between at least one of the four electrodes 3 and the ground 5 that is used as a counter electrode, it can be assumed that a leaky spot exists in the area of the electrodes 3 that are affected in each case, since an (electrolytically)-conductive connection is provided between the electrodes 3 and the ground 5 by water that exits from the swimming pool.
In the arrangement shown in
In the embodiment shown in
In the case of the application according to the invention of the method according to the invention in accordance with
In the application of the method according to the invention for detecting the presence of water in the area of the flat roofs 6, it must be assumed that the concrete pavement acts as an insulating layer between the interior of the roof and the ceiling under it. In this case, the conductivity between two pairs of electrodes 3 or more than two pairs of electrodes 3 is measured. When more than two pairs of electrodes 3 are applied, a cross-measurement can be performed, so that the position of a leaky spot in the flat roof 6 can be determined (located).
Seal 8
Separating layer 9
Planking 10
Separating layer (diffusion furnace) 11
Insulation 12
Moisture barrier 13
Bitumen layer 14
Electrodes 3
Base/Roof structure 15
Ground 5 (depicted as a cable).
Vegetation layer 17 and green planting 18
Draining layer, system filters, & root-blocking non-woven sheet 19
Separating/Sliding layer 9
Roof sealing
Separating layer 11
Insulation 12
Moisture barrier 13
Bitumen layer 14
Electrodes 3
Base/Roof structure 15
Ground 5 (depicted as a cable).
Gravel fill 21
Roof non-woven sheet 22
Hard-foam plates 23
Roof sealing 24
Bitumen layer 14
Electrodes 3
Base/Roof structure 15
Ground 5 (depicted as a cable).
Gravel fill 21
Seal 24
Separating layer 11
Thermal insulation 12
Moisture barrier 13
Bitumen layer 14
Electrodes 3
Base/Roof structure 15
Ground 5 (depicted as a cable).
Concrete slabs/Asphalt 27
Ballast substructure 28
Bearing layer 29
Draining and protective layer 19
Separating and sliding layer 9
Top ply 30
Sealing layer 31
Bitumen layer 14
Electrodes 3
Base/Roof structure 15
Ground 5 (depicted as a cable).
Seal 8
Separating layer 9
Planking 10
Separating layer (diffusion furnace) 11
Insulation 12
Moisture barrier 13
Bitumen layer 14
Electrodes 3
Base/Roof structure 15.
Vegetation layer 17 and green planting 18
Draining layer, system filters, & root-blocking non-woven sheet 19
Separating/Sliding layer 9
Roof sealing 8
Separating layer 11
Insulation 12
Moisture barrier 13
Bitumen layer 14
Electrodes 3
Base/Roof structure 15.
Gravel fill 21
Roof non-woven sheet 22
Hard-foam plates 23
Roof sealing 24
Bitumen layer 14
Electrodes 3
Base/Roof structure 15.
Gravel fill 21
Seal 8
Separating layer 9
Thermal insulation 12
Moisture barrier 13
Bitumen layer 14
Electrodes 3
Base/Roof structure 15.
Concrete slabs/Asphalt 27
Ballast substructure 28
Bearing layer 29
Draining and protective layer 19
Separating and sliding layer 9
Top ply 30
Sealing layer 31
Bitumen layer 14
Electrodes 3
Base/Roof structure 15.
In
In
In the arrangement, shown in
In the embodiment, shown in
By moving the sensor 83 in the pipe 60—this can be done using the line 66 to which the sensor 83 is connected—the sensor 83 is moved through the pipe 60. A leak site 82 can be detected in the pipe 60 based on the electrical current that flows between the electrode 3 in the sensor 83 and the ground 5 because of the increased conductivity induced by the presence of water. Locating the leak site can be done by measuring the length of the line 66 (of the cable) to which the sensor 83 that has the electrode 3 is attached.
In the case of the variant, shown in
In the case of all practical examples of the method according to the invention, it is advantageous, but not necessary, when even the temperature prevailing when water is detected and the humidity are taken into consideration in order to eliminate misinterpretations when the presence of (undesirable) water is detected.
In the practical example, shown in
The method according to the invention can also be used to test and monitor the leak tightness of a (waste-water) filter bed 96.
In summary, an embodiment of the invention can be described as follows:
In a method for detecting the presence of water or additional water, which exists because of a leak, the following steps are carried out:
When implementing the method, at least two electrodes (3, 5) are used, wherein one electrode (5) can be a ground. The electrodes (3, 5) are arranged separated from one another. D.c. or a.c. voltage is applied to the electrodes (3, 5) by a device (2). The device 2 detects a measured value corresponding to the intensity of the current flowing between the electrodes 3, 5.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| A 50631/2021 | Aug 2021 | AT | national |
