US 12,092,613 B2
Smart plug for fin fan tubes on-line corrosion monitoring
Saad A. Al-Jabr, Udhailiyah (SA)
Assigned to Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran (SA)
Filed by Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran (SA)
Filed on Aug. 18, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/890,631.
Prior Publication US 2024/0060937 A1, Feb. 22, 2024
Int. Cl. F28F 27/00 (2006.01); G01N 29/04 (2006.01); G01N 29/22 (2006.01); G01N 29/24 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 29/223 (2013.01) [F28F 27/00 (2013.01); G01N 29/04 (2013.01); G01N 29/2406 (2013.01); G01N 2291/0234 (2013.01); G01N 2291/02854 (2013.01)] 6 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for measuring corrosion comprising the steps of:
positioning a smart plug in a plug of a plug sheet of a side plate of a heat exchanger, wherein the plug sheet forms an external wall of the side plate and a tube sheet forms an internal wall of the side plate and a space between the plug sheet and the tube sheet is operable to receive a fluid, wherein the smart plug comprises a wireless transmitter and an ultrasonic sensor, wherein the wireless transmitter portion of the smart plug is external to the heat exchanger, wherein the smart plug extends through the side plate such that the ultrasonic sensor contacts a tube positioned in the tube sheet,
emitting sound waves from the ultrasonic sensor such that sound waves travel down the tube contacted by the ultrasonic sensor;
measuring wall thickness in the tube to produce wall thickness measurement data, wherein the sound waves return to the ultrasonic sensor in the presence of corrosion; and
transmitting the wall thickness measurement data from the wireless transmitter of the smart plug.