Making and using corrosion measuring probes for fluid conveying conduits

Claim 2

A process of measuring the rate of corrosion within a fluid-conveying metallic pipe comprising: utilizing as a portion of said fluid-conveying pipe a corrosion measuring section which is made of substantially the same metal and has an interior configuration that is typical of the fluid-containing pipe, but contains a pair of relatively thick and thin wall sections which are electrically connected as the arms of an electrical resistance measuring bridge circuit; and, measuring the ratio between the resistances of said relatively thick and thin wall sections at least two times in order to determine the rate at which corrosion is occuring within the fluid conveying pipe.

Claim 5

The process of claims 1 or 2 in which the fluid-conveying pipe or conduit in which the rate of corrosion is measured is a fluid-transporting pipeline.

Claim 6

The process of claims 1 or 2 in which the fluid-conveying pipe or conduit in which the rate of corrosion is measured is a component of a heat exchanger.

Claim 7

A corrosion measuring conduit section capable of being connected into an electrically conductive fluid-confining conduit having a corrodible wall which is in contact with the corrosive fluid, comprising: a measuring conduit section in which (a) in locations capable of being contacted by said corrosive fluid, both the composition and configuration of the metal in said measuring conduit section are substantially the same as those which predominate throughout said fluid-confining conduit; (b) in locations within said measuring conduit section that do not contact the corrosive fluid, the thickness of the wall in one portion is thin relative to that in another portion; and, (c) said relatively thick and thin wall portions of the conduit section contain portions capable of receiving means for electrically connected said wall portions as the arms of an electrical resistance measuring bridge; and, means for mechanically connecting said measuring conduit section into said fluid-confining conduit.

Claim 8

A corrosion measuring conduit section capable of being connected into an electrically conductive fluid-confining conduit having a corrodible wall which is in contact with the corrosive fluid, comprising: a measuring conduit section in which (a) in locations capable of being contacted by said corrosive fluid, both the composition and configuration of the metal in said measuring conduit section are substantially the same as those which predominate throughout said fluid-confining conduit; (b) in locations within said measuring conduit section that do not contact the corrosive fluid, the thickness of the wall in one portion is thin relative to that in another portion; and, (c) said relatively thick and thin wall portions of the conduit section contain portions capable of receiving means for electrically connected said wall portions as the arms of an electrical resistance measuring bridge; and, means for mechanically connecting said measuring conduit section into said fluid-confining conduit.

Claim 9

The measuring conduit section of claim 5 in which that section and said fluid-confining conduit are composed of carbon steel.

Claim 10

The measuring conduit section of claim 5 or 6 in which said leads for electrically connecting the thick and thin wall portions into a resistance measuring bridge are soldered directly onto those wall portions.