Method and apparatus for detecting water in oil

Claim 1

A method of charging electric power transmission equipment with dielectric oil comprising the steps of providing a flow conduit between a reservoir of said oil and said equipment, providing a full-flow, hydrophilic filter within said conduit and motor driven pump means to induce flow of said oil through said filter, the improvement comprising the steps of: A. disposing within said conduit, downstream of said filter, water sensing means comprising a pair of electrodes separated by hydrophilic insulating means, said electrodes intimately contacting said insulating means; B. charging an electric potential across said electrodes of insufficient strength to conduct past said insulating means in the absence of water permeation thereof; C. sensing the presence of current flow past said insulating means in the event of water permeation thereof; D. initiating an actuating signal in response to said current flow; E. inactivating said pump motor means in response to said actuating signal.

Claim 2

A method of charging electric power transmission equipment with dielectric oil comprising the steps of providing a flow conduit between a reservoir of said oil and said equipment, providing a full-flow, hydrophilic filter within said conduit and motor driven pump means to induce flow of said oil through said filter, the improvement comprising the steps of: A. disposing within said conduit, downstream of said filter, water sensing means comprising a pair of electrodes separated by hydrophilic insulating means, said electrodes intimately contacting said insulating means; B. charging an electric potential across said electrodes of insufficient strength to conduct past said insulating means in the absence of water permeation thereof; C. sensing the presence of current flow past said insulating means in the event of water permeation thereof; D. initiating an actuating signal in response to said current flow; E. inactivating said pump motor means in response to said actuating signal.

Claim 4

An apparatus for detecting a dispersed, minute quantity of water in a petroleum fluid comprising: A. a pair of first and second concentric perforated metallic cylinder electrode means, said first electrode means being secured at one axial end thereof to fluid container attachment means, said second electrode means being circumferentially expansible for removable, concentric clamping positionment adjacent said first electrode means; B. a sheet of water permeable, hydrophilic insulating means cylindrically disposed concentrically between said first and second electrode means, said insulating means being characterized by a reduction of dielectric property when permeated by water; C. electric potential charging means connected across said electrodes; D. potential limiting means to maintain said potential across said electrodes below a conductive level in the absence of water permeation of said insulating means; and, E. current sensing means connected to said electrodes to initiate an actuating signal responsive to current flow across said electrodes.

Claim 5

An apparatus for detecting a dispersed, minute quantity of water in a petroleum fluid comprising: A. a pair of first and second concentric perforated metallic cylinder electrode means, said first electrode means being secured at one axial end thereof to fluid container attachment means, said second electrode means being circumferentially expansible for removable, concentric clamping positionment adjacent said first electrode means; B. a sheet of water permeable, hydrophilic insulating means cylindrically disposed concentrically between said first and second electrode means, said insulating means being characterized by a reduction of dielectric property when permeated by water; C. electric potential charging means connected across said electrodes; D. potential limiting means to maintain said potential across said electrodes below a conductive level in the absence of water permeation of said insulating means; and, E. current sensing means connected to said electrodes to initiate an actuating signal responsive to current flow across said electrodes.

Claim 8

An apparatus for charging a sealed container of electrical power transmission equipment with dielectric oil, said apparatus comprising: A. a supply reservoir for said dielectric oil; B. pump means in a first conduit operatively connected to said reservoir for drawing said oil therefrom and discharging same into a second conduit connected to said sealed container; C. full flow hydrophilic filter means disposed in said second conduit for extracting all water from said oil flowing therethrough; and D. water sensor means in said second conduit between said filter means and said sealed container comprising a pair of perforated metallic electrodes separated in a laminated assembly by a sheet of hydrophilic, water permeable material having a high dielectric strength when dry and low dielectric strength when wet. E. electric potential charging means connected across said sensor electrodes; F. potential limiting means combined with said charging means to maintain said potential across said electrodes below a conductive level in the absence of water permeation of said hydrophilic material; and, G. current sensing means connected to said sensor electrodes that is responsive to current flow across said electrodes due to water permeation of said hydrophilic material for initiating a signal to terminate the operation of said pump means.

Claim 9

An apparatus for charging a sealed container of electrical power transmission equipment with dielectric oil, said apparatus comprising: A. a supply reservoir for said dielectric oil; B. pump means in a first conduit operatively connected to said reservoir for drawing said oil therefrom and discharging same into a second conduit connected to said sealed container; C. full flow hydrophilic filter means disposed in said second conduit for extracting all water from said oil flowing therethrough; and D. water sensor means in said second conduit between said filter means and said sealed container comprising a pair of perforated metallic electrodes separated in a laminated assembly by a sheet of hydrophilic, water permeable material having a high dielectric strength when dry and low dielectric strength when wet. E. electric potential charging means connected across said sensor electrodes; F. potential limiting means combined with said charging means to maintain said potential across said electrodes below a conductive level in the absence of water permeation of said hydrophilic material; and, G. current sensing means connected to said sensor electrodes that is responsive to current flow across said electrodes due to water permeation of said hydrophilic material for initiating a signal to terminate the operation of said pump means.