Patent Description:
Power equipment is constructed using metallic materials in some cases. Such power equipment includes, for example, transformers using steel, zinc plating, aluminum, or the like, steel towers, bridges, electrical wires, and the like. A steel tower supports transmission lines and the like. Such power equipment may be provided, for example, outdoors, and may be provided over a wide area.

It is very important to evaluate a corrosion rate of a metal material from which power equipment is constructed and to maintain the power equipment appropriately and efficiently. Recently, an atmospheric environment has been monitored and a corrosion rate has been evaluated by an atmospheric corrosion monitor (ACM) sensor which can quantitatively evaluate a corrosion rate in a convenient manner within a short period of time as compared to an exposure test.

As an example, Patent Literature <NUM> discloses a corrosion rate evaluation method and the like which, in performing a multiple regression analysis having a corrosion rate of a metal material as an objective variable and an environmental factor and a topography factor that affect the corrosion rate as explanatory variables, include at least a virtual wetting time weighted according to the relative humidity as one of explanatory variables, obtain a corrosion rate estimation formula using a multiple regression analysis method based on a measured corrosion rate of a metal material, and obtain a corrosion rate of the metal material in a non-measurement area by estimating it on the basis of an obtained corrosion rate estimation formula (refer to claims <NUM> and the like of Patent Literature <NUM>).

As another example, Patent Literature <NUM> discloses a corrosion rate estimation method for a structure using an ACM sensor, which has a process (<NUM>) of obtaining the amount of electricity on the basis of time-lapse output current data of a reference ACM sensor installed for a fixed period of time so that time-lapse data of an output current can be measured on a surface portion of an actual structure, a process (<NUM>) of placing an evaluation ACM sensor installed for a fixed period of time while allowing conduction between an anode and a cathode on the surface of the real structure under constant-temperature and constant-humidity conditions along with the reference ACM sensor, and measuring each output current, a process (<NUM>) of obtaining the amount of electricity of the evaluation ACM sensor on the basis of a relationship between the output current of the reference ACM sensor and the output current of the evaluation ACM sensor in the process (<NUM>) and the amount of electricity of the reference ACM sensor, and a process (<NUM>) of obtaining an estimated corrosion rate of the real structure on the basis of a relationship between the amount of electricity of the evaluation ACM sensor obtained in the process (<NUM>), and the amount of electricity and a corrosion rate set in advance (refer to claims <NUM> and the like of Patent Literature <NUM>). As a result, corrosiveness of a structure at a predetermined point is, for example, evaluated on the basis of an output current value and an exposure time of the reference ACM sensor stored in a data logger.

Patent Literature <NUM> discloses to estimate a corrosion rate at an arbitrary point with a high degree of accuracy. A function application part identifies an optimal parameter with a minimum error between an observed corrosion rate measured at an observational point and an estimated corrosion rate, as a parameter, by applying temperature, precipitation, and the number of dew condensation days at the observational point that are obtained by calculating a weighted average of the temperature, the precipitation, and the number of dew condensation days at a first observation point on the basis of distance between the observational point and the first observation point, a sea salt particle amount at the observational point and the observed corrosion rate to an analytical function for calculating the estimated corrosion rate at an arbitrary point. A corrosion rate estimation part calculates the corrosion rate at an estimation point, on the basis of the analytical function using the optimal parameter, from: the temperature, the precipitation, and the number of dew condensation days at the estimation point that are obtained by calculating the weighted average of the temperature, the precipitation, and the number of dew condensation days at a second observation point on the basis of the distance between the estimation point and the second observation point; and the sea salt particle amount at the estimation point.

Patent Literature <NUM> discloses to obtain an estimated value of a corrosion speed, etc., at an arbitrary point through extremely simple operation. A learning part previously calculates and stores a parameter used for an analysis function for analyzing the extent of metal corrosion on the basis of meteorological data obtained by making an observation at an observation point, measured data obtained by measuring the extent of metal corrosion at a measurement point, and position data on the measurement point and observation point, an analysis control part specifies an analysis point for analyzing the extent of metal corrosion through selecting operation on screen-displayed map data, and acquires the parameter used for the analysis from the learning part, and an analysis part analyzes and displays the extent of metal corrosion at the analysis point on a screen on the basis of the meteorological data observed at the observation point at the periphery of the analysis point, the position data on the analysis point and observation point, and the analysis function using the parameter.

Patent Literature <NUM> discloses to provide a method for diagnosing deterioration due to corrosion of a wiring fitting for power transmission capable of grasping a highly precise corrosion situation with little sampling data. When determining a prediction formula for estimating the corrosion situation of the wiring fitting from the sampling data, an altitude, a seashore distance and a wet time are used as influence factors. The wet time is a continuation time of state with the humidity of <NUM>% or higher and the temperature of <NUM> or higher. The corrosion situation is grasped as a corrosion rate, and the remaining life of a specific wiring fitting is estimated from the corrosion rate. The estimated remaining life is displayed on a map screen where a power transmission facility is displayed.

However, when a corrosion rate of a metal material at a point (non-measurement point) on which such measurement is not performed is estimated on the basis of data obtained by measuring the corrosion rate of the metal material, accuracy of the estimation may be degraded in some cases if the non-measurement point has a special corrosive environment. That is, if measurement is performed by an ACM sensor at a point having a special corrosive environment, a singular value may be measured, which may deviate from the results of the estimation.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method of evaluating corrosion which can perform evaluation of corrosion with good accuracy, in estimating information on corrosion of a metal material at a point (non-measurement point) on which such measurement is not performed, even when the non-measurement point has a special corrosive environment.

According to one aspect, a method of evaluating corrosion in which evaluation for corrosion is performed on the basis of a result of measurement performed on the corrosion of a metal material according to claim <NUM> is provided.

In the aspect, in the method of evaluating corrosion, the evaluation for corrosion is performed on an area including the first measurement points, the second measurement points, and the estimation point on the basis of the first measurement result, the second measurement results, and the estimation result.

According to an evaluation method of corrosion, it is possible to evaluate corrosion with high accuracy.

In the drawings used for the following description of the embodiments, for convenience of description, there are parts in which a size of each component or a size ratio between a plurality of components is different from actual ones.

<FIG> is a view (front view) which shows a schematic configuration of an ACM sensor <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view (A-A cross-sectional view) which shows a schematic configuration of the ACM sensor <NUM>.

<FIG> is an A-A cross-sectional view with respect to (the front view) of <FIG>.

<FIG> and <FIG> show an XYZ orthogonal coordinate system for convenience of description.

The ACM sensor <NUM> can measure a corrosion rate of a metal material as information on corrosion of the metal material.

In general, in the ACM sensor <NUM>, two dissimilar metals are embedded in a resin in a mutually isolated state, both ends are exposed to an environment, and a corrosion current that flows when a water film is connected between the two metals is measured to measure a corrosion rate of a metal. The ACM sensor <NUM> is used, for example, to quantitatively evaluate the corrosiveness of an atmospheric environment.

The ACM sensor <NUM> includes a steel substrate <NUM>, a conductive member <NUM>, an insulating member <NUM>, conductors <NUM> and <NUM>, and a current measuring instrument <NUM>.

The insulating member <NUM> and the conductive member <NUM> are laminated on a surface of the steel substrate <NUM>.

One end of the conductor <NUM> is connected to a predetermined place (a connecting place <NUM>) provided in the steel substrate <NUM>, and one end of the conductor <NUM> is connected to a predetermined place (a connecting place <NUM>) provided in the conductive member <NUM>. The other end of the conductor <NUM> and the other end of the conductor <NUM> are connected to the current measuring instrument <NUM>.

Note that the conductive members <NUM> shown in <FIG> are shown as conductive members 22a and 22b, and the insulating members <NUM> shown in <FIG> are shown as insulating members 23a and 23b in <FIG>.

In addition, a water film <NUM> is shown in an example of <FIG>.

Moreover, the steel substrate <NUM> is made of, for example, iron (Fe), and the conductive member <NUM> is made of, for example, silver (Ag).

Here, when an environment at a position (point) at which the ACM sensor <NUM> is installed is dry and nothing is deposited on a surface of the ACM sensor <NUM>, the insulating member <NUM> insulates the steel substrate <NUM> from the conductive member <NUM>. At this time, no potential is generated between the steel substrate <NUM> and conductive member <NUM>, and a current is not measured by the current measuring instrument <NUM>.

On the other hand, the water film <NUM> may be formed by rain or dew at a portion in which the steel substrate <NUM> and the conductive member <NUM> are insulated from each other and disposed on the surface of the ACM sensor <NUM> (in this example, the surface shown in <FIG>). At this time, the steel substrate <NUM> and the conductive member <NUM> are electrically connected by the water film <NUM>, a potential difference occurs between these metals, and a current (galvanic current) is generated by the potential difference. Generally, since there is a correlation to the amount of corrosion of a steel material or a zinc material, it is possible to measure the Galvanic current using the current measuring instrument <NUM>, and to quantitatively evaluate a corrosion rate.

Note that factors that affect the corrosiveness of metals include, for example, temperature, humidity, rainfall, airborne sea salt, corrosive gases (Sox), or the like. The ACM sensor <NUM> can directly measure a corrosion current of steel electrochemically generated due to these complicated environmental factors. For this reason, it is possible to directly and quantitatively evaluate the corrosiveness of an environment by analyzing an output current value of the ACM sensor <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view which shows a schematic configuration of an attachment of an ACM sensor <NUM>. In the example of <FIG>, six ACM sensors <NUM> to <NUM> and <NUM> to <NUM> (examples of the ACM sensor <NUM>, respectively) are attached to a steel tower <NUM>. Note that the respective ACM sensors <NUM> to <NUM> and <NUM> to <NUM> are attached together to a temperature and humidity sensor (not shown) in the present embodiment.

In addition, an ACM sensor <NUM> using aluminum (Al), an ACM sensor <NUM> using zinc (Zn), and an ACM sensor <NUM> using iron (Fe) are provided in order from the high side to the low side of the steel tower <NUM> on the outside of the steel tower <NUM>. As a result, for example, it is possible to reduce (for example, minimize) effects of attachment to the lower ACM sensor after corrosion products drop out of the upper ACM sensor, and good sensitivity of the sensors can be achieved.

Moreover, an ACM sensor <NUM> using aluminum (Al), an ACM sensor <NUM> using zinc (Zn), and an ACM sensor <NUM> using iron (Fe) are provided in order from the high side to the low side of the steel tower <NUM> in the inside of the steel tower <NUM>. As a result, for example, it is possible to reduce (for example, minimize) effects of attachment to the lower ACM sensor after corrosion products drop out of the upper ACM sensor, and good sensitivity of the sensors can be achieved.

Note that the ACM sensors <NUM> to <NUM> provided on the outside of the steel tower <NUM>, and the ACM sensors <NUM> to <NUM> provided in the inside of the steel tower <NUM> are in independent environments, respectively, and a disposition relationship between the ACM sensors <NUM> to <NUM> on the outside of the steel tower <NUM> and the ACM sensors <NUM> to <NUM> on the inside of the steel tower <NUM> is arbitrary. For example, three ACM sensors (one set) on any side may be provided at higher positions than three ACM sensors (one set) on the other side among the ACM sensors <NUM> to <NUM> on the outside of the steel tower <NUM> and the ACM sensors <NUM> to <NUM> on the inside of the steel tower <NUM>, or the ACM sensors <NUM> to <NUM> on the outside of the steel tower <NUM> and the ACM sensors <NUM> to <NUM> on the inside of the steel tower <NUM> may also be disposed to be alternately arranged one at a time from the high side to the low side.

A device (a data logger <NUM>) for storing data is provided at or in the vicinity of the steel tower <NUM>.

Respective ACM sensors <NUM> to <NUM> and <NUM> to <NUM> include cables <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> provided with connectors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

The data logger <NUM> includes cables <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> provided with connectors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> for respective ACM sensors <NUM> to <NUM> and <NUM> to <NUM>.

Then, the connectors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> on sides of respective ACM sensors <NUM> to <NUM> and <NUM> to <NUM> are connected to respective connectors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> on a side of the data logger <NUM> in a communicative manner. As a result, respective ACM sensors <NUM> to <NUM> and <NUM> to <NUM> transmit data of a result of measuring an output current per a predetermined time to the data logger <NUM>, and the data logger <NUM> receives and stores the data.

It is possible to evaluate corrosiveness in an atmospheric environment according to human work or device processing on the basis of data stored in the data logger <NUM>.

Note that, a configuration in which the ACM sensors <NUM> to <NUM> and <NUM> to <NUM> are provided at a high place on the steel tower <NUM> is shown in the example of <FIG>, but the ACM sensors <NUM> to <NUM> and <NUM> to <NUM> may be provided at a leg portion or the like of the steel tower <NUM> as another configuration example.

In addition, an ACM sensor may also be provided in power equipment other than the steel tower <NUM>.

In addition, since the ACM sensors <NUM> to <NUM> and <NUM> to <NUM> corrode and deteriorate due to exposure, it is preferable that periodical exchange be performed to acquire appropriate data. As an example, exchange of the ACM sensors <NUM> to <NUM> and <NUM> to <NUM> and exchange of a battery of the data logger <NUM> may be performed at predetermined intervals, and thereby the data stored in the data logger <NUM> may be collected. Examination or the like of an attachment object may be performed by the collected ACM sensors <NUM> to <NUM> and <NUM> to <NUM>.

Moreover, a configuration in which one common data logger <NUM> is provided for six ACM sensors <NUM> to <NUM> and <NUM> to <NUM> in the example of <FIG>, but, as another configuration example, different data loggers may be provided for each of the ACM sensors <NUM> to <NUM> and <NUM> to <NUM>.

In addition, a configuration in which six ACM sensors <NUM> to <NUM> and <NUM> to <NUM> are provided at one place serving as a measurement point is shown in the example of <FIG>, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and, for example, any number (one or more) of ACM sensors may also be provided at one place serving as a measurement point.

In addition, for example, a waterproof protective tape may be wound around portions of the connectors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, it is shown that three ACM sensors (the ACM sensors <NUM> to <NUM>, or the ACM sensors <NUM> to <NUM>) are disposed as one set in each of the outside and the inside of the steel tower <NUM>, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and any number (one or more) of ACM sensors may also be provided. In addition, as a material of the ACM sensor, any material (for example, aluminum, zinc, iron, or the like) may be used. Furthermore, in a case in which a plurality of ACM sensors are disposed, when respective ACM sensors have different materials, an arbitrary order may be used as an arrangement order (disposition) of the plurality of these ACM sensors.

Note that, for example, only one of the outside and the inside of the steel tower <NUM> may be provided with ACM sensors. As a specific example, in a steel tower and the like using an angle-shaped material (for example, cone-shaped) such as an L material, an ACM sensor may be provided on both the outside and the inside of the steel tower and measurement may be performed.

Hereinafter, processing for evaluation for a corrosion rate will be described. Note that a procedure of processing shown below is an example, and any other processing and order may be used.

First, a range for generating a corrosion rate map is determined, and the number of ACM sensors <NUM> to be installed in the range, and the like are determined. Note that such determinations may be made, for example, on the basis of a result of an on-site examination.

In a conventional method, when a corrosion rate map is created, if an area (region) is a circle with a radius of about <NUM> [km], about five to eight places will be determined as a point (reference point) at which the data logger and the ACM sensor are installed, and it is necessary to perform measurement using the ACM sensor <NUM> at each reference point. However, in such a conventional method, there has been a heavy burden of installation of data loggers and wiring, and the like.

On the other hand, in an improved method (as an example, the method described in Patent Literature <NUM>), for example, when a corrosion rate map of a circular area with a radius of about <NUM> [km] is generated, one place may be determined as a point (reference point) at which a data logger and an ACM sensor are installed, and about four to six places may be determined as a point (surrounding point) at which only an ACM sensor is installed without a data logger.

In such an improved method, it is possible to evaluate a corrosion rate by installing only an ACM sensor at a surrounding point and bringing the ACM sensor back after a predetermined period of time has elapsed.

Furthermore, when a corrosion rate map of a wider area is generated, for example, it is possible to use a method of increasing a measurement group in a case of a circular area with a radius of about <NUM> [km].

As a specific example, in a case of a circular area with a radius of about <NUM> [km], five places may be determined as a point at which a data logger and an ACM sensor are installed, and about <NUM> places may be determined as a point at which only an ACM sensor is installed. That is, the entire circular area with a radius of about <NUM> [km] may be covered with an image in which four measurement groups in the case of the circular area with a radius of about <NUM> [km] are installed, and a data logger and an ACM sensor are installed at a center position of a circle with a radius of about <NUM> [km].

A singular point in a range for generating a corrosion rate map is extracted (determined).

For example, in a case of generating a corrosion rate map of a wide area, it may be difficult (or practically impossible) to measure a corrosion rate for all points.

Therefore, a point to measure a corrosion rate is selected (determined) from the wide area. In this selection, it is necessary to exclude a point (singular point) having a special corrosive environment from the wide area.

Here, a special corrosive environment includes, for example, a vicinity of a river, a river crossing place, an industrial waste disposal site, or a vicinity of an incinerator, a place at which snow melting salt has been scattered on a main road, a place at which fog or sea fog occurs for a long time, and the like. Note that a condition for determining a special corrosive environment may be, for example, arbitrarily set in view of an implementation situation such as for measurement or evaluation.

As an example, a vicinity of a river or a river crossing place may be set as a special corrosion environment because there the relative humidity may be high, the frequency of rainfall may be high, or rainfall times may be long.

As another example, an industrial waste disposal site or a vicinity of an incinerator may be set as a special corrosion environment because many gas components containing chlorine or sulfur that affect corrosion are emitted there.

As still another example, a place at which snow melting salt is scattered on a main road may be set as a special corrosion environment because calcium chloride and magnesium chloride or sodium chloride that greatly affect corrosion are contained in snow melting salt.

As still another example, a place at which fog or sea fog occurs for a long time may be set as a special corrosion environment because a corrosion rate is higher when equipment is wet for a longer time.

A point to be measured by an ACM sensor is determined among points excluding a singular point within a scope of generating a corrosion rate map. In this case, for example, even if that a disposition of a plurality of measurement points is often not a uniform disposition because the plurality of measurement points excluding a singular point are disposed is taken into account, a uniform disposition may also be used. Here, any method may be used as a method of determining a measurement point.

As an example, in the case of a circular area with a radius of about <NUM> [km], the data logger <NUM> and the ACM sensor <NUM> may be installed at a point of one place, and the ACM sensor <NUM> (without the data logger) may be installed at points of four places.

As another example, in the case of a circular area with a radius of about <NUM> [km], the data logger <NUM> and the ACM sensor <NUM> may be installed at points of five places, and the ACM sensor <NUM> (without the data logger) may be installed at points of <NUM> places.

A corrosion rate of a metal material at a singular point is measured. As this measurement method, a method of performing measurement using the ACM sensor <NUM> may be used as an example, but a method of performing measurement using an exposure test piece may also be used as another example.

For example, since the corrosiveness of the special corrosive environment is severe, in the ACM sensor which is a self-consumption sensor that draws a current while being corroded itself, a replacement cycle may be shortened, and a burden of replacement work may be increased.

On the other hand, in the case of measurement (measurement by an exposure test) using an exposure test piece, in a normal general environment (an environment that is not a special corrosive environment), it is necessary to continuously perform measurement for <NUM> to <NUM> years, and for <NUM> years in some cases. However, since the corrosiveness of the special corrosive environment is severe, it is considered possible to estimate a corrosion rate if the exposure test is performed over about one year in the special corrosive environment.

As described above, at a singular point (a point of the special corrosive environment), as a preferable example, evaluation of a corrosion rate is performed by installing an exposure test piece for one year (or that level), and then taking back the exposure test piece. As the method of evaluating a corrosion rate, any method may be used, and, for example, a method of calculating an amount of decrease in weight on the basis of a measurement result of weight at the beginning (before exposure) and a measurement result of weight after exposure and after rusting, and evaluating a corrosion rate on the basis of a result of the calculation may also be used.

Map information (corrosion rate map) which represents a distribution of a corrosion rate is generated on the basis of data regarding a corrosion rate obtained by setting a point of a general corrosive environment (also referred to as a "general point" for convenience of description) which is a point other than a singular point as a measurement point and data regarding a corrosion rate obtained by setting a singular point as a measurement point. In this case, for example, when the singular point is considered, accuracy of a corrosion rate map is improved as compared to when the singular point is not considered.

Here, for example, in principle, a corrosion rate map is generated by a multiple regression analysis using corrosion rate data of a general point, a weather factor, and a topography factor. In this manner, when a corrosion rate map is generated on the basis of the corrosion rate data of a general point, as a method of estimating a corrosion rate at a point (non-measurement point) other than a measurement point, any method may also be used. As an example, the method described in Patent Literature <NUM> may be used.

As another example, as the method of estimating a corrosion rate at a non-measurement point, a method of interpolating a value of a corrosion rate at a non-measurement point using a value of corrosion rate data at measurement points may be used. As this interpolation method, a method of using an average value (for example, an average value based on a spatial position) or a weighted average value at a non-measurement point for values of corrosion rate data of a plurality of measurement points may be used, or a method of using a value of corrosion rate data of a measurement point which is the closest distance to a non-measurement point (as it is), and the like may also be used.

As an example, with respect to position data (for example, data of latitude and longitude) of a singular point, the same position data in a corrosion rate map estimated from the corrosion rate data of a general point is detected. Then, corrosion rate data (corrosion rate data of the singular point) in the position data of the singular point is compared with corrosion rate data (corrosion rate data estimated from a general point) in the same position data in the corrosion rate map estimated from the corrosion rate data of the general point, and, when it is determined that a corrosion rate of the singular point is higher than a corrosion rate estimated from the general point, the corrosion rate map is rewritten to adopt the corrosion rate data of the singular point for the position data. On the contrary, when it is determined that the corrosion rate of the singular point is lower than the corrosion rate estimated from the general point, for example, for the position data, the corrosion rate data estimated from the general point may be adopted, or the corrosion rate map may be rewritten to adopt the corrosion rate data of the singular point.

Here, when the corrosion rate data of the singular point is reflected in the corrosion rate map based on the corrosion rate data estimated form the general point, it is conceivable that each point of a single place, which is a singular point, becomes smaller on the map (the corrosion rate map), and a situation in which it is difficult for a person to visually confirm may occur. Such a situation may also depend on a resolution of the map (the corrosion rate map), or the like. As such a situation, for example, when the corrosion rate map is displayed on a screen and the like, a situation in which a point of one place (a singular point of one place) becomes a small point such as one dot to several dots is conceivable.

In such a case, for example, a configuration in which information on singular points is individually managed may be used. As an example, a table (for example, list data) in which position data and corrosion rate data of all measurement points (general points and singular points) are associated with each other may be stored in a storage unit, and a correspondence between position data and corrosion rate data of each singular point may be supplementarily added to the table to be easily understood.

In addition, when the corrosion rate data of a singular point is not reflected in the corrosion rate map based on the corrosion rate data estimated from the general point, or the like, for example, a configuration in which the information on singular points is individually managed may be used.

As an example, a table (for example, list data) in which position data and corrosion rate data of all measurement points (general points) are associated with each other may be stored in a storage unit, and a correspondence between position data and corrosion rate data of each singular point may be supplementarily added to the table to be easily understood.

As another example, a configuration in which a table in which position data and corrosion rate data of a singular point (only) are associated with each other may be stored in a storage unit, and the table is individually managed may be used. In this configuration, for example, a table in which position data and corrosion rate data of a general point (only) are associated with each other and a table in which position data and corrosion rate data of a singular point (only) are associated with each other may be provided as separate tables.

Note that the number of singular points is assumed to be usually smaller than the number of general points.

<FIG> is a diagram which shows an example of a flow of processing for estimating corrosion rate data at a non-measurement point from corrosion rate data at a measurement point. In addition, a procedure of processing shown in <FIG> is an example, and any other processing and its order may also be used.

Measurement of a corrosion rate at a measurement point of a general point is performed.

An estimation formula of a corrosion rate which also extends to an area of a point (non-measurement point) other than a measurement point is generated on the basis of a result of measuring a corrosion rate at the measurement point of a general point.

A corrosion rate at a non-measurement point is estimated on the basis of the generated estimation formula of corrosion rate.

A corrosion rate at a measurement point of a singular point is estimated.

Here, the measurement at a measurement point of a general point in step S <NUM> and the measurement at a measurement point of a singular point in step S4 may be performed in the same period of time (the same start timing and the same end timing), may be performed in substantially the same period of time, or may be performed in different periods of time. For example, when a measurement result at the measurement point of a general point and a measurement result at the measurement point of a specific point are combined, it is preferable that these results be related to each other (that is, a measurement status and the like are related).

A corrosion rate map is generated by combining a measurement result at the measurement point of a general point, an estimation result at the non-measurement point, and a measurement result at the measurement point of a specific point.

<FIG> is a diagram which shows an example of a flow of processing for estimating a corrosion rate in accordance with a measurement result of an evaluation ACM sensor from a measurement result of a reference ACM sensor.

Note that a case of using the method described in Patent Literature <NUM> is shown in the example of <FIG>, but any other method may also be used.

In addition, a procedure of the processing shown in <FIG> is an example, and any other processing and its order may also be used.

Moreover, for example, any one of the processing as shown in <FIG> and the processing as shown in <FIG> may be used, or both may be combined and used.

Here, a reference ACM sensor is the ACM sensor <NUM> which is provided together with the data logger <NUM>, and data of a measurement result of the reference ACM sensor is stored in the data logger <NUM>.

In addition, an evaluation ACM sensor is an ACM sensor <NUM> which is not provided together with a data logger, and data of a measurement result of the evaluation ACM sensor is not stored in a data logger.

The reference ACM sensor performs measurement.

The amount of electricity is calculated on the basis of a result of the measurement in step S21.

The reference ACM sensor and the evaluation ACM sensor perform measurement under constant-temperature and constant-humidity conditions.

An output current is calculated on the basis of a result of the measurement in step S23.

Here, with respect to, for example, the processing of steps S21 and S22, the processing of steps S23 and S24 may be performed in advance, may be performed thereafter, or may be performed at another timing.

The amount of electricity of the evaluation ACM sensor is calculated on the basis of a result of the calculation in step S22 and a result of the calculation in step S24.

A corrosion rate at a position (measurement point) of the evaluation ACM sensor is estimated on the basis of a result of the calculation in step S25.

Here, various types of evaluation may be performed as evaluation based on a result of the measurement by the ACM sensor <NUM>. As such evaluation, for example, evaluation for a corrosion rate in a predetermined period (for example, a predetermined number of months, a predetermined number of years, or the like) may be performed at a plurality of measurement points and non-measurement points. In addition, a type, concentration, or the like of an attachment object to the ACM sensor <NUM> may be measured to evaluate a corrosion factor.

In addition, for example, a map (corrosion rate map) in which information indicating values of corrosion rate is described at positions corresponding to the plurality of measurement points and non-measurement points may be generated. As the information, for example, numerical values may be used, or colors, patterns, or the like may also be used.

Moreover, for example, a table in which information such as a corrosion rate is listed for each measurement target (for example, steel tower) may be generated.

Technical contents disclosed in <CIT> (Patent Literature corresponding to Patent Literature <NUM>) are shown. Some or all of the technical contents may be used in the present embodiment.

As an example, there is a corrosion rate evaluation method which, in performing a multiple regression analysis having a corrosion rate of a metal material as an objective variable and an environmental factor and a topography factor that affect the corrosion rate as explanatory variables, includes at least one virtual wetting time weighted according to a relative humidity of <NUM>% to <NUM>% as one of explanatory variables, in which this virtual wetting time is obtained by calculating a sum of multiplication values obtained by multiplying a time corresponding to a changing relative humidity by a weighting factor varying with the changing relative humidity, obtains a corrosion rate estimation formula using a multiple regression analysis method based on a measured corrosion rate of a metal material, and obtains a corrosion rate of the metal material in a non-measurement area by estimating it on the basis of an obtained corrosion rate estimation formula, in which weighting of the virtual wetting time is performed by considering at least one of the amount of an attachment object to a metal material of a corresponding target area, a type of an attachment object, an environmental condition, a weather condition, and a terrain condition for each target area to estimate the corrosion rate.

As another example, in the corrosion rate evaluation method, the weighting of the virtual wetting time is performed on the basis of a corrosion rate of a metal material detected by the ACM sensor, a corrosion rate of a metal material obtained by an exposure test, or a corrosion rate obtained from a corrosion status of a metal material that constitutes an actual member.

As still another example, in the corrosion rate evaluation method, a corrosion rate map of a metal material in a wide range of regions is created on the basis of the estimated and obtained corrosion rate of the metal material.

As an example, there is a method of estimating a corrosion rate of a structure using an ACM sensor which has a process (<NUM>) of connecting a data logger to a surface area of a real structure such that time-lapse data of an output current can be measured, obtaining the amount of electricity on the basis of the time-lapse output current data of a reference ACM sensor installed for a fixed period of time, and installing an evaluation ACM sensor in a different surface area of the real structure for a fixed period of time in a state in which the anode and the cathode are conducted instead of connecting a data logger, a process (<NUM>) of placing the evaluation ACM sensor together with the reference ACM sensor under constant-temperature and constant-humidity conditions, and measuring each output current, a process (<NUM>) of obtaining the amount of electricity of the evaluation ACM sensor on the basis of a relationship between the output current of the reference ACM sensor and the output current of the evaluation ACM sensor in the process (<NUM>), and the amount of electricity of the reference ACM sensor, and a process (<NUM>) of obtaining an estimated corrosion rate of the real structure on the basis of the amount of electricity of the evaluation ACM sensor obtained in the process (<NUM>), and a relationship between the amount of electricity and a corrosion rate set in advance.

As another example, in the method of estimating a corrosion rate of a structure using an ACM sensor, a process (<NUM>-<NUM>) of analyzing an attachment object on the surface of the evaluation ACM sensor and obtaining an analyzed current value, and a process (<NUM>-<NUM>) of correcting an measured output current value of the evaluation ACM sensor based on a correlation between the measured output current value of the evaluation ACM sensor under the constant-temperature and constant-humidity conditions and the analyzed current value.

As still another example, an analysis of an attachment object analyzes a type and an amount of attached ions in the method of estimating a corrosion rate of a structure using an ACM sensor.

As still another example, in the method of estimating a corrosion rate of a structure using an ACM sensor, the evaluation ACM sensor is divided into a group with a large amount of chlorine ions and the other group in advance on the basis of analyzed data of the attachment object, and an analyzed current value for each group is obtained.

As still another example, in the method of estimating a corrosion rate of a structure using an ACM sensor, the group division is performed when an abnormal value is recognized as a measured current value measured in the process (<NUM>).

As still another example, in the method of estimating a corrosion rate of a structure using an ACM sensor, a material constituting the structure is steel, zinc, or aluminum.

As still another example, in the method of estimating a corrosion rate of a structure using an ACM sensor, the amount of electricity is the integrated amount of electricity (C) or the daily average amount of electricity (C/day).

In the estimation of information on corrosion in a place in which a measurement result on corrosion is not obtained on the basis of a measurement result on corrosion, it is possible to improve accuracy of a map regarding corrosion by separately measuring the general point and the singular point.

As described above, estimation of information on corrosion of a metal material at a point (non-measurement point) on which such measurement is not performed on the basis of data obtained by performing measurement on the corrosion of a metal material, it is possible to perform evaluation (for example, evaluation and the like of a corrosion rate) regarding corrosion with high accuracy even when the non-measurement point has a special corrosive environment.

In addition, in the method of evaluating corrosion for example, when information on a wide range of corrosion is estimated, significant reduction in labor cost and material cost can be achieved.

Here, a configuration in which a corrosion rate of a metal material is measured using an ACM sensor at a measurement point of a general point is shown in the present embodiment, and a configuration in which the corrosion rate of a metal material is obtained in an exposure test, a configuration in which the corrosion status of a metal material is obtained based on the corrosion rate of an actual metal material, or the like may be used as another configuration example. Moreover, in the same manner, any method may be used as a method of measuring the corrosion rate of a metal material even at a measurement point of the singular point.

Note that the present embodiment may be applied to, for example, fields other than power equipment.

As one configuration example, a method of evaluating corrosion in which evaluation for corrosion is performed on the basis of a result of measurement performed on the corrosion of a metal material (for example, a component such as a steel tower) using a detector (for example, an ACM sensor <NUM> or an exposure test piece) includes acquiring a first measurement result performed by a first detector installed at a first measurement point (for example, a measurement point of a general point), acquiring a second measurement result performed by a second detector installed at a second measurement point (for example, a measurement point that is a singular point) that is different from the first measurement point, and acquiring an estimation result (for example, estimation information corresponding to a measurement result of a detector) in which information on a measurement result at an estimation point (a point to be estimated) that is different from the first measurement point and the second measurement point is estimated on the basis of the first measurement result.

As one configuration example, in the method of evaluating corrosion, the evaluation for corrosion is performed on an area including the first measurement point, the second measurement point, and the estimation point on the basis of the first measurement result, the second measurement result, and the estimation result.

As one configuration example, in the method of evaluating corrosion, a map (for example, map of a corrosion rate or the like) regarding the corrosion of the area including the first measurement point, the second measurement point, and the estimation point is generated on the basis of the first measurement result, the second measurement result, and the estimation result.

As one configuration example, in the method of evaluating corrosion, evaluation for a corrosion rate is performed as the evaluation for corrosion.

As one configuration example, in the method of evaluating corrosion, a plurality of the detectors are disposed (for example, an example of <FIG>).

As one configuration example, in the method of evaluating corrosion, a plurality of the detectors are disposed outside and inside of a steel tower (for example, the example of <FIG>).

As one configuration example, in the method of evaluating corrosion, the detector is an ACM sensor, and the ACM sensor using aluminum, the ACM sensor using zinc, and the ACM sensor using iron are disposed in this order from the top to the bottom (for example, the example of <FIG>).

As one configuration example, in the method of evaluating corrosion, the detector is an ACM sensor or an exposure test piece.

As one configuration example, in the method of evaluating corrosion, the second measurement point is set to a region having a special corrosive environment different from corrosiveness at the first measurement point. Note that the first measurement point is set to a region having a normal general corrosive environment.

As one configuration example, in the method of evaluating corrosion, the number of second measurement points is smaller than the number of first measurement points.

A configuration in which a part or all of processing in the method of evaluating corrosion is executed by a device (corrosion evaluation device) including a computer and the like may be used. The corrosion evaluation device may include, for example, a function of executing processing in accordance with an operation performed by a person (user), include, for example, a function of executing processing on the basis of information (for example, a program or a parameter) set in advance, or include both of these functions in combination.

A program for realizing the function of a device (for example, a corrosion evaluation device) is recorded in a computer-readable recording medium, and a computer system is caused to read and execute the program recorded in this recording medium, and thereby processing may be performed. Note that "computer system" mentioned herein may include hardware such as an operating system (OS) or hardware such as peripheral devices. In addition, "computer-readable recording medium" refers to a portable media such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disc, a read only memory (ROM), a writable non-volatile memory such as a flash memory, or a digital versatile disk (DVD), and a storage device such as a hard disk built in a computer system. Furthermore, the "computer-readable recording medium" includes a volatile memory (for example, a dynamic random access memory (DRAM)) inside a computer system made of a server or a client when a program is transmitted via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line, which holds a program for a fixed period of time.

In addition, the program may be transmitted from a computer system in which this program is stored in a storage device or the like to another computer system via a transmission medium or a transmission wave in the transmission medium. Here, "transmission medium" for transmitting a program refers to a medium having a function of transmitting information, such as a network (communication network) such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line.

Claim 1:
A method of evaluating corrosion in which evaluation for corrosion is performed on the basis of a result of measurement performed on the corrosion of a metal material, comprising:
acquiring (S <NUM>) a first measurement result performed by a plurality of first detectors (<NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>), each of the first detectors (<NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>) being installed at a respective measuring point of a plurality of first measurement points;
acquiring (S4) second measurement results performed by one or more second detectors (<NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>), each of the second detectors (<NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>) being installed at a respective measuring point of one or more second measurement points that are different from the first measurement points;
acquiring (S3) an estimation result in which information on a measurement result at an estimation point that is different from the first measurement points and the one or more second measurement points is estimated; and
performing the evaluation for corrosion on an area including the first measurement points, the second measurement points, and the estimation point on the basis of the first measurement result, the second measurement results, and the estimation result,
characterized in that
the evaluation for corrosion is performed on the basis of the result of measurement performed on the corrosion of the metal material using the plurality of first detectors (<NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>) and the one or more second detectors (<NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>), the plurality of first detectors (<NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>) being used to estimate information on the measurement result at the estimation point, and the one or more second detectors (<NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>) not being used to estimate the information on the measurement result at the estimation point,
wherein each of the one or more second measurement points is a point on a region having a special corrosiveness in the area, the region being any one of a vicinity of a river, a river crossing place, an industrial waste disposal site, or a vicinity of an incinerator, a place at which snow melting salt has been scattered on a main road, a place at which fog or sea fog occurs for a long time.