阅读说明：本技术 阴极保护系统和小型恒流整流器 (Cathode protection system and small-sized constant current rectifier ) 是由 约瑟夫·J·科伦 杰弗里·A·里斯 布拉德利·M·伯恩斯 克里斯多夫·H·福格蒂 于 2020-03-11 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种阴极保护系统,其向多单元结构中的单独的钢筋混凝土单元提供基本上完全的覆盖。该系统包括电源、电子电路板、接头电缆、每个单元中被连接到接头电缆的阳极导线、每个单元中的粘合性纤维垫,以及每个单元中的导电涂层。(A cathodic protection system provides substantially complete coverage to individual reinforced concrete units in a multi-unit structure. The system includes a power source, an electronic circuit board, a stub cable, an anode lead in each cell connected to the stub cable, an adhesive fiber mat in each cell, and a conductive coating in each cell.)

1. A cathodic protection system for providing substantially complete, individual cell coverage to a multi-cell structure characterized by reinforced concrete cells, the system comprising:

an apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a power supply for supplying power to the electronic device,

a first electronic circuit board configured to convert residential AC to direct current, an

A second electronic circuit board configured to regulate an output of the direct current, set a constant current output and limit a voltage,

for a joint cable carrying an electric current,

an anode conductor in each of the reinforced concrete units, which is connected to the junction cable,

an adhesive fiber mat in each of the reinforced concrete units, and

an electrically conductive coating in each of the reinforced concrete units.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the multi-unit structure comprises a reinforced concrete, multi-balcony apartment.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second electronic circuit board is configured to convert residential AC 120V to approximately 2mA of direct current per square foot of concrete.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the anode wire comprises a platinum wire coated with a conductive mixed metal oxide.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the adhesive fiber mat comprises drywall tape.

6. The cathodic protection system of claim 1 wherein said second electronic circuit board limits voltage to a value 20-30% higher than operating voltage.

7. An apparatus for providing constant current protection, comprising:

a power supply for supplying power to the electronic device,

a first electronic circuit board configured to convert residential AC to direct current, an

A second electronic circuit board configured to regulate an output of the direct current, set a constant current output, and limit a voltage.

8. The apparatus for providing constant current protection of claim 7, wherein the second electronic circuit board limits the voltage to a value 20-30% higher than the operating voltage.

9. A method of providing substantially complete, individual cell coverage to a multi-cell structure characterized by reinforced concrete cells, the method comprising:

activating a cathodic protection system, the system comprising:

a power supply for supplying power to the electronic device,

a first electronic circuit board configured to convert residential AC to direct current, an

A second electronic circuit board configured to regulate an output of the direct current, set a constant current output, and limit a voltage;

for a joint cable carrying an electric current,

anode conductors in each of the reinforced concrete units, which are connected to the junction cable,

where desired, an adhesive fibre mat in each of the reinforced concrete units, and

an electrically conductive coating applied to each of the reinforced concrete units;

operating the cathodic protection system by providing constant current protection from the application of the device, whereby residential AC is converted to direct current, an

The output of the direct current is regulated, a constant current output is set and the system voltage is limited.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising initially installing the cathodic protection system of claim 9.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the second electronic circuit board limits the voltage to a value 20-30% higher than the operating voltage.

Background

The subject matter herein relates generally to cathodic protection systems and, more particularly, to cathodic protection systems for reinforced concrete structures utilizing constant current rectifiers with voltage limiters.

In order to protect reinforced concrete structures, such as the balconies of apartment units, from cracking, various cathodic protection systems have been utilized. In all such systems, an anode or a string of anodes is laid on or embedded within the concrete. The anode is connected in a circuit comprising a rectifier and a reinforcing bar. The current from the rectifier is sent to the anode through the circuit wiring, where it passes through the concrete itself to the reinforcing bars and from there through the negative return cable to the rectifier.

One type of cathodic protection system is sometimes referred to as a cover system. The system involves placing a plurality of flexibly interconnected anodes on a concrete deck or foundation to be protected and bonding them in place. The system basically comprises applying the electrically conductive coating completely on the surface of the concrete layer containing the reinforcing bars. Thereafter, a series of small diameter platinum wires were attached to the concrete paint layer using self-adhesive fiberglass mesh strips. Then, the mesh is covered with a conductive paint layer. The anode system was completed and covered the entire concrete surface (within a small radius around the metal, not counted); typically 2 inches in diameter and 1 inch apart. An aesthetic acrylic coating may then be applied over the conductive coating. The anodes are connected to the rectifier controller by connector cables.

The need to provide a constant, individualized current to each apartment balcony has proven necessary for various reasons. The conventional method using a typical cathode protection rectifier consumes the designed amount of protection current supplied to all combined cell areas. In a residential apartment containing many dedicated usage units, the cathodic protection rectifier approach may be: the protection current is over-supplied to some dedicated balcony units, under-supplied to other dedicated balcony units, or not supplied to many balcony units.

There is no way to identify whether all unit balconies are receiving design current or any protection current. Excessive supply of current can cause anode burn-off, resulting in separation of the anode from the concrete-resulting in little ongoing protection. Insufficient or no current can be supplied to continue corrosion. In view of these issues, there is a need for customizable current protection without destructive testing. The disclosed invention achieves this goal by having an adjustable rectifier installed in each apartment socket area, where the supplied direct current varies according to the specific requirements of each unique unit.

Disclosure of Invention

Briefly, a cathodic protection system utilizing a small constant current rectifier is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the system includes a power supply, an electronic board converter, a connector cable, an anode wire, and a conductive coating.

The small constant current rectifier preferably includes a power supply, an electronic circuit board that converts residential AC 120V to direct current, and an electronic circuit board that regulates the output of the direct current and limits the voltage.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a rebar mat in a concrete balcony slab.

Fig. 2 is a front view of a rebar mat in a concrete balcony slab.

Fig. 3 shows the arrangement of the AC power supply, rectifier, junction cable and anode lead.

Fig. 4 shows an arrangement of adhesive fibre mats which are fixed in place over the anode wire to paint the concrete slab, anode wire and tape.

Fig. 5 shows the system drawn without electrical wiring.

Fig. 6 is a flow diagram of an overall cathode system according to an embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a flow diagram of a small constant current rectifier according to an embodiment.

Detailed Description

The following detailed description illustrates the claimed invention by way of example and not by way of limitation. This description clearly enables one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives, and uses of the claimed invention, including what is presently believed to be the best mode of carrying out the claimed invention. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the claimed invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The claimed invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description.

As shown in fig. 1-6, the cathodic protection system 100 of the present invention is specifically designed to provide customizable constant current to individualized balcony apartment 10. The system utilizes state-of-the-art small constant current rectifiers (see fig. 7) to ensure complete coverage.

Referring to the embodiment shown in fig. 3-5, the rebar 4 is placed approximately below the surface of the concrete 6 in the rebar pad 20³/₄"at. The anode lead wire 8 is placed for aesthetic reasons in a groove 12 of 1/16 "cut into the concrete 6, or directly on the concrete surfaceOn top of the face. An adhesive fibrous mat 14 is placed over the anode lead 8 to hold the lead in place so that conductive paint 16 can be added.

The power supply 18 includes a junction cable 22 that supplies direct current.

Referring to fig. 7, in the embodiment depicted therein, a Miniature Constant Current Rectifier (MCCR)30 operates from component block a32, an AC wall power supply (85 VAC to 265VAC at 50Hz or 60Hz, european or U.S. power). Component block B is an AC-DC converter 34 with sufficient power capacity to deliver the appropriate power (voltage and current) to the component block C constant current control circuit 36.

Component block B34 typically uses, but is not limited to, common AC-DC conversion topologies such as Switched Mode Power Supplies (SMPS), AC offline switches, buck converters, flyback, forward, continuous conduction, discontinuous conduction, buck transformation, and full or half bridge rectifiers, AC-DC wall adapter types. For safety reasons, the component block B is typically a transformer isolated from the low voltage DC output. For consumer safety, the component block B typically outputs an insulated low voltage DC electrical power (such as 3.3V, 5V, 9V, 12V, 15V, 24V), but it is not limited to a low voltage DC electrical power.

The component block C constant current control circuit 36 is responsible for accepting input power (typically low voltage DC electrical power) and providing a constant protection current to the component block D cathodic protection assembly. In the event that component block B is providing power other than low voltage DC, component block C can convert such power back to current, such as via an adjustable current potentiometer. From a circuit perspective, the component block D cathodic protection assembly 40 exhibits a variable electrical resistance based on the chemical reaction between the steel reinforcement, concrete and the coating. The constant current control circuit will keep the same current flowing as the electrical impedance/resistance in block D changes over time. The voltage will adjust accordingly as the electrical impedance/resistance of the block D changes. Voltage regulation acts as a limiter to fail-safe current flow. The adjustable voltage limiter is set to a value of about 20-30% higher than the operating voltage. The operating voltage is determined by the voltage required to maintain the desired current.

The specific implementation of the constant current control circuit may be varied (e.g., DC-DC converter, buck, boost-buck, CUK, linear current regulation, current mirror, etc.) as long as the device supplies a constant (stable) current at a desired level, even if the impedance of the cathodic protection component varies. Variations can occur due to a number of factors, including: environmental temperature changes, salt erosion, rain, dry season, wet season, wind direction, concrete chemical changes, and the like. The constant current control circuit can manually adjust the current to accommodate the various cathodic protection components to be protected (e.g., in concrete mats with steel reinforcement, the current requirements may be in the range of about 0.5mA to 2mA per square foot). As a protection feature, the constant current control circuit has an adjustable maximum voltage output. As the concrete hardens, the resistance/resistance changes, typically decreasing over time; the rebar potential changes and generally requires less current flow for protection. Once the maximum (limit) voltage is reached, the constant current control circuit will automatically switch from constant current regulation to constant voltage regulation as an over-protection device.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.