METHOD OF ESTIMATING TECHNICAL CONDITION OF INSULATING COATING OF UNDERGROUND PIPELINE Russian patent published in 2017 - IPC F16L58/00 C23F13/00 

FIELD: measuring equipment.

SUBSTANCE: in controlled pipeline section bounded by the drain points of two adjacent active cathodic protection stations (CPS), the natural pipe-ground potential difference is determined, the bias of the pipeline potential is measured, the CPS current strengths required for such a potential bias are determined. Thereinafter, the transition resistance of the coating is calculated, by which the technical condition of the insulation coating is judged. The curent strength value in the controlled section, required for the potential bias, is defined as the sum of the values of the current strengths in the corresponding CPS arm, acting on this section. The current strengths in the corresponding CPS arm are determined from the polarizing current density values measured at two or more points of the pipeline section on each protection arm in the current operation modes of the CPS, while switching off adjacent CPSs for the measurement period.

EFFECT: expanding the arsenal of remote methods of determining the technical condition of the insulating coating of an underground pipeline while maintaining the necessary accuracy and reliability.

1 dwg, 1 tbl