Damage sensing of a bonded composite repair
A process to detect damage to a bonded composite repair of metal equipment. The process includes the steps of monitoring electrical resistance in a direct current impressed current cathodic protection circuit having a power supply and an anode in electrical communication with metal equipment having a bonded composite repair thereto. Deterioration of the bonded composite repair is detected based on a change in the electrical resistance of the circuit.
1. A process to detect damage to a bonded composite repair of metal equipment, which process comprises:
monitoring electrical resistance in an impressed direct current cathodic protection circuit having a power supply and an anode having a negative side connected to and in electrical communication with metal pressure vessel equipment having a bonded composite repair thereto wherein said bonded composite repair includes conductive composite materials having carbon fibers; and
detecting deterioration of said bonded composite repair and detecting deterioration of contact between said composite repair and said metal pressure vessel equipment based on detection of a change in said electrical resistance.
2. The process as set forth in claim 1 wherein said change in resistance is an increase in resistance.
3. The process as set forth in claim 1 wherein said impressed direct current cathodic protection circuit is an existing cathodic protection system for said metal pressure equipment.
4. The process as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bonded composite repair includes a layer of non-conductive fiber and a layer of said conductive composite materials.
5. The process as set forth in claim 1 including the additional step of activating an alarm if said change in electrical resistance is outside of set parameters.