JP7791577B2 - Spray corrosion tester, combined cycle tester, and method for improving the spray corrosion tester - Google Patents

Description

The disclosure in this application relates to a spray corrosion tester, a combined cycle tester, and a method for improving a spray corrosion tester.

Spray corrosion testing machines are known for conducting spray corrosion tests on samples such as equipment parts and materials. Also known is a combined cycle testing machine, which is a highly accelerated test that more closely resembles a natural environment, that combines a spray corrosion test with other tests such as a dry test, wet test, immersion test, and low-temperature test to form one cycle, and exposes test specimens to this cycle repeatedly (Patent Document 1).

The spray corrosion tester described in Patent Document 1 is equipped with a sprayer having an air nozzle and a liquid nozzle inside a test tank, and is configured so that the corrosive liquid (corrosive solution such as salt water) inside the liquid nozzle is sucked up by the Venturi effect of the compressed air sprayed from the air nozzle and is sprayed uniformly as fine particles onto a test piece placed inside the test tank.

However, when spraying the corrosive liquid using the Venturi effect, the nozzle holes of the liquid nozzle can become clogged due to deposits. For this reason, Patent Document 1 describes measuring the flow rate of the corrosive liquid using a flow sensor, and when the flow rate of the corrosive liquid supplied to the liquid nozzle falls below a specified value, the control unit stops spraying the corrosive liquid and cleans the liquid nozzle.

Patent No. 5810377

However, the inventors discovered a new problem with the invention described in Patent Document 1: because the flow sensor is located inside the test tank, spraying of the corrosive liquid could cause the flow sensor to malfunction.

The disclosure of this application has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems. After extensive research, we have newly discovered that the above-mentioned problems can be solved by placing the flow sensor outside the test tank or inside the test tank, and if the flow sensor is placed inside the test tank, by covering the flow sensor with a shielding container to prevent it from being exposed to the spray.

In other words, the purpose of the disclosure in this application is to provide a spray corrosion tester, a combined cycle tester, and an improved method for a spray corrosion tester in which the flow sensor is less likely to fail.

The disclosure of this application relates to the following spray corrosion tester, combined cycle tester, and method for improving the spray corrosion tester.

(1) A spray corrosion tester including a test tank, a spray unit, a first air supply unit, and a corrosive liquid supply unit,
The spray section is
a first nozzle having a first tip portion provided with a first opening and through which an etching liquid is supplied;
a second nozzle having a second tip end with a second opening adjacent to the first opening;
a spray tower having an interior space that accommodates the first tip and the second tip;
Including,
The corrosive solution can be sprayed into the test chamber,
the first air supply unit supplies spray forming air to the second nozzle;
The etchant supply unit is
a solution reservoir for holding an etching solution;
a pipe connecting the solution reservoir and the first nozzle;
a flow rate sensor formed in the pipe for measuring the flow rate of the etching solution supplied from the solution reservoir to the first nozzle;
Including,
The flow sensor is
It is placed outside the test chamber or inside the test chamber,
When placed in the test chamber, the flow sensor is covered with a shielding container to prevent exposure to the spray.
(2) A protrusion protruding toward the inside of the test chamber is formed on a part of the side wall of the test chamber,
The spray corrosion tester according to (1) above, wherein the flow rate sensor is disposed on an outer portion of the test tank of the convex portion.
(3) A convex portion protruding toward the inside of the test tank is formed on a part of the bottom floor of the test tank,
The spray corrosion tester according to (1) above, wherein the flow rate sensor is disposed on an outer portion of the test tank of the convex portion.
(4) The spray corrosion tester according to (1) above, further comprising a temperature adjusting unit for adjusting the temperature inside the shielding container when the flow rate sensor is disposed inside the test tank.
(5) The temperature adjustment unit
a second air supply unit that supplies cooling air to the shielding vessel; or
a cooling water supply unit for supplying cooling water to the shielding vessel;
The spray corrosion tester according to (4) above.
(6) further including a control unit;
The spray corrosion tester according to any one of (1) to (5) above, wherein the control unit outputs an alarm signal when the measurement value of the flow rate sensor deviates from a preset value.
(7) further including a control unit;
the first air supply unit includes a pressure regulator that controls the supply pressure of the spray-forming air;
The control unit controls the pressure regulator to adjust the amount of spray supplied to the test tank to a predetermined value when the measurement value of the flow rate sensor deviates from a preset value. A spray corrosion testing machine described in any one of (1) to (5) above.
(8) The first air supply unit further includes an air saturator that adjusts the temperature of the air supplied from the second nozzle;
The control unit controls the air saturator to adjust the temperature of the air supplied from the second nozzle to a predetermined temperature when the measurement value of the flow sensor deviates from a preset value. The spray corrosion testing machine described in (7) above.
(9) A combined cycle testing machine comprising the spray corrosion testing machine according to any one of (1) to (5) above, and configured to sequentially perform a spray corrosion test and one or more other tests.
(10) A method for improving a spray corrosion tester, comprising:
The spray corrosion tester includes a test tank, a spray unit, a first air supply unit, and a corrosive liquid supply unit,
The spray section is
a first nozzle having a first tip portion provided with a first opening and through which an etching liquid is supplied;
a second nozzle having a second tip end with a second opening adjacent to the first opening;
a spray tower having an interior space that accommodates the first tip and the second tip;
Including,
The corrosive solution can be sprayed into the test chamber,
the first air supply unit supplies spray forming air to the second nozzle;
The etchant supply unit is
a solution reservoir for holding an etching solution;
a pipe connecting the solution reservoir and the first nozzle;
a flow rate sensor formed in the pipe for measuring the flow rate of the etching solution supplied from the solution reservoir to the first nozzle;
Including,
The improvement method is
Removing a portion of the side wall or at least a portion of the bottom floor of the test chamber;
placing a second side wall including a convex portion or a second bottom floor having a convex portion on the removed side wall or bottom floor portion;
Including,
In the placing step, the protrusion is placed so as to protrude toward the inside of the test chamber, so that the flow sensor is placed on the protrusion which is outside the test chamber.
Improvement method.

By using the spray corrosion tester and combined cycle tester disclosed in this application, the flow sensor is less likely to malfunction, thereby reducing the rate at which tests are interrupted. Furthermore, the improved method disclosed in this application allows the flow sensor of a conventional spray corrosion tester and combined cycle tester to be placed outside the test tank, making the flow sensor less likely to malfunction.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of a spray corrosion tester 1 according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an arrangement example 1 of the flow rate sensor 55. In FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an arrangement example 2 of the flow rate sensor 55. In FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an arrangement example 3 of the flow rate sensor 55. In FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an arrangement example 4 of the flow rate sensor 55. In FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a fourth arrangement example of the flow rate sensor 55 (an example including a temperature adjustment unit 57). FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a fourth example of arrangement of the flow rate sensor 55 (another example of the temperature adjustment unit 57). FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of a combined cycle testing machine 11 according to an embodiment. Figure 9A is a schematic diagram showing another example of the arrangement of the first nozzle 33 and the second nozzle 32, and Figure 9B is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between the first opening 33a of the first nozzle 33 and the second opening 32a of the second nozzle 32 when Figure 9A is viewed in the Z direction.

Embodiments of the spray corrosion tester, combined cycle tester, and method for improving the spray corrosion tester will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that, throughout this specification, components with similar functions are designated with the same or similar reference numerals. Furthermore, repeated descriptions of components designated with the same or similar reference numerals may be omitted.

Furthermore, in order to facilitate understanding, the position, size, range, etc. of each component shown in the drawings may not represent the actual position, size, range, etc. Therefore, the disclosure in this application is not necessarily limited to the position, size, range, etc. disclosed in the drawings.

(Embodiment of spray corrosion tester 1)
An outline of a spray corrosion tester 1 according to an embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 7. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of the spray corrosion tester 1 according to an embodiment. Figures 2 to 7 are diagrams for explaining the outline of the arrangement of a flow sensor 55, etc. Note that, since Figure 1 is a diagram for showing the overall outline of the spray corrosion test 1, details such as the arrangement of the flow sensor 55, which is a feature of the disclosure of the present application, are not shown in order to avoid complicating the drawing. The arrangement of the flow sensor 55, etc. will be described in detail with reference to Figures 2 to 7.

The spray corrosion tester 1 according to the embodiment includes a test tank 2, a spray unit 3, a first air supply unit 4, and a corrosive liquid supply unit 5.

The spray corrosion tester 1 sprays a corrosive solution onto a test specimen S placed inside the test tank 2, and performs a spray corrosion test to evaluate its corrosion resistance. There are no particular restrictions on the corrosive solution, as long as it is one commonly used in the relevant technical field. Examples include a neutral salt solution containing sodium chloride, an acetic acid salt solution made by adding acetic acid to a sodium chloride solution, or a CASS solution containing sodium chloride, cupric chloride, and acetic acid (for example, if salt water is used as the corrosive solution, see JIS Z 2371, "Salt Spray Test Method").

The test tank 2 is a container that houses the test specimen S and the spray unit 3, and has a space that allows the corrosive liquid sprayed by the spray unit 3 to fall freely onto the test specimen S. The ceiling portion of the test tank 2 may be, but is not limited to, a gable roof shape to prevent the sprayed corrosive liquid that adheres to the ceiling portion from falling onto the test specimen S.

The spray unit 3 includes a spray tower 31 erected inside the test tank 2 and a sprayer 35 installed inside the spray tower 31. In the example shown in Figure 1, the spray tower 31 includes a tubular portion 31A extending substantially vertically and a direction body 31B arranged above it. The tubular portion 31A is, for example, cylindrical, and several air circulation holes (not shown) may be provided at the bottom of the tubular portion 31A. The sprayer 35 is inserted into the internal space of the tubular portion 31A from its side. Note that, although the tubular portion 31A is arranged near the side wall of the test tank 2 in the example shown in Figure 1, the tubular portion 31A may also be arranged near the center of the test tank 2.

The sprayer 35 includes a first nozzle (liquid nozzle) 33 having a first tip with a first opening and through which the corrosive liquid is supplied, and a second nozzle (air nozzle) 32 having a second tip with a second opening adjacent to the first opening. In the example shown in FIG. 1 , the second nozzle 32 is formed in a generally L-shape and is fixed to the cylindrical portion 31A so that the tip of the first nozzle 33 and the tip of the second nozzle 32 are adjacent to each other on the same plane. The second nozzle 32 and the first nozzle 33 extend in directions perpendicular to each other within the cylindrical portion 31A, and the nozzle holes (openings) at their respective tips are positioned adjacent to each other. In this embodiment, the first nozzle 33 has a tip extending horizontally, and the second nozzle 32 has a tip extending vertically. The first nozzle 33 and the second nozzle 32 are typically made of glass. The direction element 31B is approximately conical in shape and is used to adjust the spray direction and spray distance of the atomized corrosive solution sprayed by the second nozzle 32 and the first nozzle 33.

The first air supply unit 4 is not particularly limited as long as it can supply spray-forming air to the second nozzle 32 and form a spray by sucking up the corrosive liquid from the first opening of the first nozzle 33 using the Venturi effect. The first air supply unit 4 includes, for example, a compressor 41, a pressure regulator 42, an air saturator 43, an air supply pipe 46, and a conduit 49.

The operation of the first air supply unit 4 will now be described. The compressor 41 generates compressed air and sends it to the air saturator 43 via the conduit 49. The pressure regulator 42 controls the pressure of the compressed air generated by the compressor 41. The air saturator 43 converts the compressed air generated by the compressor 41, whose pressure has been adjusted by the pressure regulator 42, into saturated air (compressed air in a saturated state). It contains a predetermined amount of water (deionized water, distilled water, or other water from which impurities have been removed). The foaming tube 44 is a tube made of metal, resin, or the like, and is connected to the conduit 49 at one end. It has multiple pores in its part that allow compressed air to foam into the water inside the air saturator 43, producing saturated air. The heater 45 is located in the water inside the air saturator 43 and heats the water. The air supply pipe 46 is a pipe that sends saturated air generated in the air saturator 43 to the second nozzle 32 of the spray unit 3. One end of the air supply pipe 46 is connected to the other end (rear end) of the second nozzle 32, and the other end of the air supply pipe 46 is located in the space above the surface of the water contained inside the air saturator 43.

The first air supply unit 4 may further include a temperature sensor and a pressure sensor (not shown) within the air saturator 43. The temperature sensor and pressure sensor measure the temperature and pressure within the air saturator 43, respectively. Examples of temperature sensors include thermocouple thermometers and platinum resistance thermometers, while examples of pressure sensors include strain gauge type pressure gauges and capacitance type pressure gauges.

The corrosive liquid supply unit 5 is not particularly limited as long as it can supply corrosive liquid to the first nozzle 33 and form a spray due to the Venturi effect of the spray-forming air ejected from the second nozzle 32. The corrosive liquid supply unit 5 of the spray corrosion tester 1 according to this embodiment includes at least a solution reservoir 51 that holds the corrosive liquid, a pipe 52 that connects the solution reservoir 51 to the first nozzle 33, and a flow rate sensor 55 formed in the pipe 52 that measures the flow rate of the corrosive liquid supplied from the solution reservoir 51 to the first nozzle 33.

There are no particular limitations on the flow sensor 55, as long as it can measure the flow rate of the corrosive liquid flowing through the pipe 52 from the solution reservoir 51 toward the first nozzle 33. The flow sensor 55 may be either a non-contact type, such as an ultrasonic or electromagnetic type, or a contact type that comes into contact with the corrosive liquid in the pipe 52. Known flow sensors may be used for both non-contact and contact type flow sensors 55. If the flow sensor 55 is a non-contact type, it may simply be attached to the pipe 52. If the flow sensor 55 is a contact type, the pipe 52 may be divided and a contact type flow sensor 55 may be connected using a flange or the like.

As described above, the spray is formed by the Venturi effect. If the supply of spray-forming air ejected from the second nozzle 32 changes due to an abnormality in the second nozzle 32 or an abnormality in the compressor 41, the amount of corrosive liquid drawn up from the first nozzle 33 will change. Furthermore, even if the supply of spray-forming air ejected from the second nozzle 32 remains constant, the amount of corrosive liquid drawn up from the first nozzle 33 will also change if the first nozzle 33 becomes clogged with deposits or other materials. Therefore, by measuring the flow rate of the corrosive liquid flowing through the pipe 52, any abnormalities in the spray unit 3, first air supply unit 4, or corrosive liquid supply unit 5 that occur during continuous operation of the spray corrosion tester 1 can be detected. Then, by detecting the abnormality and resolving the abnormal condition, the test can be continued without wasting the test time or test specimens.

The example shown in FIG. 1 also optionally includes a supply tank 53 for storing replenishment corrosive liquid and a conduit 54. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the solution reservoir 51 is located directly below the spray tower 31 and is connected to the first nozzle 33 by a pipe 52. This allows the corrosive liquid held in the solution reservoir 51 to be supplied to the spray tower 31 via the first nozzle 33. The solution reservoir 51 is also connected to the supply tank 53 through the conduit 54. Therefore, if the corrosive liquid is supplied from the supply tank 53 before the corrosive liquid is consumed in the solution reservoir 51, the solution reservoir 51 can be maintained in a state where it always holds corrosive liquid, enabling continuous operation of the spray corrosion tester 1. Furthermore, the lower part of the cylindrical portion 31A of the spray tower 31 may be connected to the upper part of the solution reservoir 51. Of the mist of corrosive liquid sprayed from the first nozzle 33, corrosive liquid with small particle diameters is sprayed into the test tank 2 through the gap between the cylindrical portion 31A and the direction body 31B, but corrosive liquid with large particle diameters adheres to the inner wall of the cylindrical portion 31A of the spray tower 31 and flows down the inner wall as droplets. Therefore, only the corrosive liquid with large particle diameters that has adhered to the inner wall of the cylindrical portion 31A can be collected in the solution reservoir 51.

The spray corrosion tester 1 shown in Figure 1 is optionally equipped with a control unit 8 and a humidity generator 9. The control unit 8 utilizes a computer having a central processing unit (CPU) and memory. The control unit 8 controls the execution of the spray corrosion test by the CPU operating in accordance with a predetermined program pre-stored in the memory and based on various data such as the spray time of the corrosive solution and the temperature of the test tank 2 and the corrosive solution. The control unit 8, for example, controls the on/off operation of the heater 45. The control unit 8 may also control the saturated air using the compressor 41 and pressure regulator 42 as needed. The control unit 8 may also receive signals from a temperature sensor and a pressure sensor (neither shown) installed inside the air saturator 43. In this case, the control unit 8 transmits control signals to the heater 45 and the pressure regulator 42 to adjust the temperature and pressure of the saturated air in response to the signals from the temperature sensor and the pressure sensor. The control unit 8 may also receive signals from a flow rate sensor 55. Control when a signal from the flow rate sensor 55 is input to the control unit 8 will be described later.

The humidity generator 9 is located below the test chamber 2 and generates steam to supply into the test chamber 2. This humidity generator 9 controls the temperature inside the test chamber 2 to a predetermined value while maintaining a high humidity level inside the test chamber 2.

(Example of arrangement of flow rate sensor 55 that can be employed in spray corrosion tester 1 according to the embodiment)
The flow rate sensor 55 of the spray corrosion tester 1 according to the embodiment is disposed outside the test tank 2 or inside the test tank 2. When disposed inside the test tank 2, the flow rate sensor 55 is covered with a shielding container 56 to prevent exposure to the spray. Below, with reference to the drawings, examples of the arrangement of the flow rate sensor 55 that can be used in the spray corrosion tester 1 according to the embodiment will be described. Note that the arrangement examples shown below are merely examples. It goes without saying that the arrangement is not limited to the examples below, as long as the flow rate sensor 55 can be disposed so as not to be exposed to the spray.

(Arrangement example 1 of flow rate sensor 55)
An arrangement example 1 of the flow rate sensor 55 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Note that Fig. 2 shows only a portion of the spray corrosion tester 1 in order to mainly explain the arrangement of the flow rate sensor 55. As in Fig. 2, Figs. 3 to 7 also show only a portion of the spray corrosion tester 1.

First, referring to Figure 2, an example in which the flow sensor 55 is placed outside the test chamber 2 will be described. In the example shown in Figure 2, the flow sensor 55 is placed outside the side wall 2a of the test chamber 2. When viewed vertically from above (Z direction in Figure 2), the test chamber 2 has a roughly rectangular or square shape. In other words, it has four side walls. In the example shown in Figure 2, the flow sensor 55 and a portion of the pipe 52 are placed so that they protrude outside the test chamber 2 from any one of the side walls 2a. In the example shown in Figure 2, a through hole through which the pipe 52 passes is formed in the side wall 2a, and the connection between the through hole and the pipe 52 can be sealed using putty, a through-type joint, a rubber stopper, or the like.

Although not shown in the figures, the flow sensor 55 may be placed outside the test tank 2 from the bottom floor 2b of the test tank 2. In the example shown in Figure 2, one end of a roughly U-shaped pipe 52 is connected to the solution reservoir 51 in a roughly horizontal direction. When placing the flow sensor 55 outside the test tank 2 from the bottom floor 2b, the pipe 52 is extended vertically from the solution reservoir 51 from the bottom floor 2b to the outside of the test tank 2, and after attaching the flow sensor 55, the pipe 52 is returned into the test tank 2 and connected to the first nozzle 33.

The spray corrosion tester 1 in which the flow rate sensor 55 is arranged as described in Arrangement Example 1 has the following effects.
(1) The corrosive liquid used in the spray corrosion tester 1 is a corrosive liquid such as salt water, but the flow rate sensor 55 in Arrangement Example 1 is arranged outside the test tank 2. Therefore, the flow rate sensor 55 is not exposed to the spray, and therefore the risk of the flow rate sensor 55 failing due to corrosion is reduced compared to the flow rate sensor 55 described in Patent Document 1.
(2) Even if the flow rate sensor 55 fails, the flow rate sensor 55 is disposed outside the test chamber 2. Therefore, the flow rate sensor 55 can be replaced without opening the test chamber 2 during continuous operation.
(3) Components of the spray corrosion tester 1 may be located below the test tank 2. Therefore, when the flow rate sensor 55 is located on the outside of the side wall 2 a, the convenience of arranging and replacing the flow rate sensor 55 is improved compared to when the flow rate sensor 55 is located on the outside of the bottom floor 2 b.
(4) A display unit that displays the flow rate may be integrally configured with the flow rate sensor 55. When the flow rate sensor 55 is disposed on the outside of the side wall 2a, an operator can easily monitor the display unit of the flow rate sensor 55.
(5) The convenience of wiring the power supply line and signal line of the flow rate sensor 55 to the control unit 8 is improved.

(Layout example 2 of flow rate sensor 55)
Next, referring to Figure 3, another example in which the flow sensor 55 is arranged outside the test chamber 2 will be described. In the example shown in Figure 3, a protrusion 2c that protrudes toward the inside of the test chamber 2 is formed on part of the side wall 2a of the test chamber 2, and the flow sensor 55 is arranged on the outer part of the protrusion 2c of the test chamber 2. The example shown in Figure 3 is similar in configuration to Arrangement Example 1 except that the flow sensor 55 is arranged on the protrusion 2c formed on the side wall 2a.

(Arrangement example 3 of flow rate sensor 55)
Next, another example in which the flow sensor 55 is arranged outside the test tank 2 will be described with reference to Figure 4. In the example shown in Figure 4, a convex portion 2d that protrudes toward the inside of the test tank 2 is formed on part of the bottom floor 2b of the test tank 2, and the flow sensor 55 is arranged on the outer part of the convex portion 2d of the test tank 2. The example shown in Figure 4 has the same configuration as Arrangement Example 2, except that the convex portion 2d is formed on the bottom floor 2b.

The spray corrosion tester 1 in which the flow rate sensor 55 is arranged as described in Arrangement Example 2 or 3 has the following effects in addition to the effects achieved by Arrangement Example 1.
(6) The spray test may be performed at a temperature higher than room temperature. In this case, in the example shown in Arrangement Example 1, the flow sensor 55 and a portion of the pipe 52 are directly exposed to the external environment in which the spray corrosion tester 1 is installed. Therefore, in the case of Arrangement Example 1, if the temperature difference between the temperature inside the test tank 2 and the external environment is large, the corrosive liquid flowing through the pipe 52 arranged outside the test tank 2 may be affected by the temperature. On the other hand, in Arrangement Examples 2 and 3, the periphery of the convex portions 2c and 2d is covered with the test tank 2 except for a portion thereof, so the temperature inside the convex portions 2c and 2d (outside the test tank 2) is closer to the temperature inside the test tank 2 than the external environment. In other words, the temperature inside the convex portions 2c and 2d (outside the test tank 2) is lower than the temperature inside the test tank 2 but higher than the temperature of the external environment. Therefore, in the examples shown in Arrangement Example 2 or 3, the corrosive liquid flowing through the pipe 52 is less likely to be affected by the temperature of the external environment compared to Arrangement Example 1.
(7) Assume that the spray corrosion tester 1 is used in a combined cycle test. In the combined cycle test, the temperature inside the test tank 2 may be heated to, for example, about 70°C. The risk of failure of the flow sensor 55 increases when exposed to a high-temperature environment. On the other hand, as described in (5) above, the temperature inside the protrusions 2c and 2d (outside the test tank 2) is lower than the temperature inside the test tank 2 but higher than the temperature of the external environment. Therefore, compared to when the flow sensor 55 is placed inside the test tank 2, the risk of failure of the flow sensor 55 due to heat is reduced.
(8) To generate the desired amount of spray using the Venturi effect, it is necessary to precisely design each parameter, taking into consideration the size of the openings of the first nozzle 33 and the second nozzle 32, the length and shape of the pipe 52, the positional relationship between the solution reservoir 51 and the first nozzle 33, the flow rate of the spray-forming air ejected from the second nozzle 32, and so on. Of course, in the case of Arrangement Example 1, it is conceivable that the design may differ from that of the conventional spray corrosion tester 1, but the parameters of Arrangement Example 1 may be precisely designed. On the other hand, in the examples shown in Arrangement Examples 2 and 3, the flow sensor 55 can be placed outside the test tank 2 without changing the design of the conventional spray unit 3, first air supply unit 4, corrosive solution supply unit 5, and pipe 52. Therefore, the configuration of the conventional spray corrosion tester 1 can be used as is, except for the convex portions 2c and 2d.

(Flow sensor 55 arrangement example 4)
Next, with reference to Figures 5 to 7, a case where the flow sensor 55 is placed inside the test tank 2 will be described. In the example shown in Figure 5, the flow sensor 55 is covered with a shielding container 56 to prevent it from being exposed to the spray. There are no particular restrictions on the shielding container 56 as long as it can cover the flow sensor 55 so that it is not exposed to the spray. For example, the flow sensor 55 may be placed inside a box-shaped container made of resin, and the connection between the shielding container 56 and the pipe 52 may be sealed with putty or the like. Furthermore, although not shown, a heat insulating material or the like may be placed between the flow sensor 55 and the shielding container 56.

Furthermore, when the flow rate sensor 55 is disposed inside the test tank 2, the spray corrosion tester 1 may include a temperature adjustment unit 57 for adjusting the temperature inside the shielded container 56. Figure 6 shows an example of the temperature adjustment unit 57, in which a second air supply unit is provided to supply cooling air to the shielded container 56. In the example shown in Figure 6, the second air supply unit includes an air inlet 57a, an air outlet 57b, and a compressor (not shown), and cools the inside of the shielded container 56 by introducing air into the space inside the shielded container 56. The air may be branched from the compressor 41 shown in Figure 1, or a compressor separate from the compressor 41 may be provided. The air discharged from the shielded container 56 may be discharged outside the test tank 2. A thermometer 57c may also be disposed inside the shielded container 56. When the thermometer 57c is disposed, the inside of the shielded container 56 may be cooled when the temperature inside the shielded container 56 reaches a temperature that requires lowering. Furthermore, although not shown, an air temperature regulator may be provided to control the temperature of the air flowing into the shielding container 56. If an air temperature regulator is provided, in addition to cooling the shielding container 56, it can also quickly respond when it is necessary to raise the temperature inside the shielding container 56.

Figure 7 shows another example of the temperature adjustment unit 57, illustrating an example in which a cooling water supply unit is provided to supply cooling water to the shielding container 56. In the example shown in Figure 7, the cooling water supply unit includes a pipe 57d inserted into the shielding container 56 and a nozzle 57e formed in the pipe 57d that can spray water flowing through the pipe 57d. In the example shown in Figure 7, the inside of the shielding container 56 is cooled by allowing water to flow into the inside of the shielding container 56 through the nozzle 57e. The water may be piped so that tap water can flow in. Note that, to avoid affecting the temperature inside the test tank 2, it is preferable that the water that flows into the shielding container 56 be discharged to the outside of the test tank 2 via a discharge pipe 57f. A thermometer 57c may also be provided in the shielding container 56. When a thermometer 57c is provided, the inside of the shielding container 56 can be cooled when the temperature inside the shielding container 56 reaches a temperature that requires lowering. Furthermore, although not shown in the figures, a water temperature regulator may be provided to control the temperature of the water flowing into the shielding container 56. If a water temperature regulator is provided, in addition to cooling the shielding container 56, it can also be used to quickly respond when it is necessary to raise the temperature inside the shielding container 56.

The spray corrosion tester 1 in which the flow rate sensor 55 is arranged as described in Arrangement Example 4 has the following effects.
(9) The corrosive liquid used in the spray corrosion tester 1 is a corrosive liquid such as salt water, but the flow rate sensor 55 in Arrangement Example 4 is covered by the shielding container 56. Therefore, the flow rate sensor 55 is not exposed to the spray, and therefore the risk of the flow rate sensor 55 failing due to corrosion is reduced compared to the flow rate sensor 55 described in Patent Document 1.
(10) The spray corrosion test may be performed at a temperature higher than room temperature. By providing a heat insulating material in the shielding container 56, the flow sensor 55 can be prevented from becoming too hot, thereby reducing the risk of heat-induced breakdown of the flow sensor 55.
(11) Assume that the spray corrosion tester 1 is used in a combined cycle test. In the combined cycle test, the temperature inside the test tank 2 may be heated to, for example, about 70°C. The flow rate sensor 55 is at a higher risk of failure when exposed to a high-temperature environment. On the other hand, if the spray corrosion tester 1 includes a temperature adjustment unit 57 for adjusting the temperature inside the shielding container 56, the risk of the flow rate sensor 55 failing due to heat is lower than when a thermal insulating material is formed.

Next, if the spray corrosion tester 1 according to the embodiment optionally includes a control unit, the measurement value of the flow rate sensor 55 may be fed back to the control unit to perform the control shown below, for example. Note that in the following control examples, the control unit is given the reference numeral 8, but the control unit may be the same as the control unit 8 shown in Figure 1, or a different control unit may be newly provided.

<Control Example 1>
When the measured value of the flow rate sensor 55 deviates from a preset value, the control unit 8 may output an alarm signal. As described above, by measuring the flow rate of the corrosive liquid flowing through the pipe 52, any abnormality in the spray unit 3, the first air supply unit 4, or the corrosive liquid supply unit 5 that occurs during continuous operation of the spray corrosion tester 1 can be detected. If the measured value of the flow rate sensor 55 deviates from a preset value, it means that some abnormality has occurred in the spray corrosion tester 1. Based on the output alarm signal, the spray corrosion tester 1 may emit a warning sound or rotate a warning light. Of course, the warning sound and the rotation of the warning light may be combined. The control unit 8 notifies the user of the occurrence of the abnormality, allowing the user to quickly resolve the abnormal condition. If the abnormal condition is quickly resolved, the ongoing test can be continued as is, thereby achieving the effect of allowing the test to be continued without wasting the test time and test specimens that occurred before the abnormality occurred.

<Control Example 2>
When the measurement value of the flow sensor 55 deviates from a preset value, the control unit 8 may control the pressure regulator 42, which controls the supply pressure of the spray-forming air, to adjust the spray volume to a predetermined value. For example, consider a case in which the first nozzle 33 does not lose its function due to deposits or the like, but the opening of the first nozzle 33 narrows due to the deposits. If the opening of the first nozzle 33 narrows while the supply volume of spray-forming air remains constant, the amount of corrosive liquid drawn up through the first nozzle 33 decreases. Meanwhile, the amount of corrosive liquid drawn up through the first nozzle 33 due to the Venturi effect is proportional to the amount of spray-forming air ejected from the second nozzle. Therefore, for example, if the measurement value of the flow sensor 55 falls below a preset value, the pressure regulator 42 can be controlled to increase the amount of spray-forming air, thereby adjusting the amount of corrosive liquid sprayed into the test chamber 2 to the set amount. Of course, if the measurement value of the flow rate sensor 55 increases from the preset value due to factors such as an increase in the pressure of the spray-forming air or a misalignment between the first nozzle 33 and the second nozzle 32, the amount of corrosive liquid sprayed inside the test tank 2 can be adjusted to the set amount by controlling the pressure regulator 42 and reducing the amount of spray-forming air.

<Control Example 3>
When the control unit 8 adjusts the pressure regulator 42, the control unit 8 may further control the air saturator 43 to control the temperature of the spray-forming air ejected from the second nozzle 32 to a predetermined temperature. The temperature of the spray-forming air ejected from the second nozzle 32 is adjusted to a preset temperature, but adjusting the pressure regulator 42 changes the temperature of the spray-forming air ejected from the second nozzle 32. The pressure inside the air saturator 43 during a salt spray test is generally operated at 98 kPa. JIS Z 2371:2015 exemplifies the combinations of compressed air pressure and water temperature inside the air saturator 43 during a salt spray test as follows. The control unit 8 may control the air saturator 43 with reference to the following examples.

(Embodiment of Combined Cycle Test Machine 11)
Next, an embodiment of a combined cyclic test machine 11 will be described with reference to Fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of the combined cyclic test machine 11 according to the embodiment. Note that, since Fig. 8 is a diagram showing the overall outline of the combined cyclic test machine 11, details such as the arrangement of the flow rate sensor 55, which is a feature of the disclosure of the present application, are not shown in order to avoid complication.

The combined cyclic test machine 11 according to the embodiment includes any of the spray corrosion test machines 1 described above (Embodiments of the spray corrosion test machine 1), and is configured to sequentially perform a spray corrosion test and one or more other tests. In the example shown in Figure 8, the combined cyclic test machine 11 includes a temperature-controlled chamber 12 in addition to the spray corrosion test machine 1, and can sequentially and repeatedly perform a spray corrosion test, a dry test, and a wet test.

The temperature-controlled chamber 12 is connected to the interior of the test chamber 2 via an opening 2K provided on the side of the test chamber 2, and is equipped with a fan 13 and a temperature-controlled chamber heater 14. The fan 13 generates a circulating flow by rotating, circulating air between the test chamber 2 and the temperature-controlled chamber 12. Air introduced into the temperature-controlled chamber 12 from the test chamber 2 through the opening 2K is heated to a predetermined temperature by the temperature-controlled chamber heater 14 and supplied into the test chamber 2 by the circulating flow generated by the fan 13. By simultaneously controlling the temperature-controlled chamber 12 and the humidity generator 9, the atmosphere within the test chamber 2 can be adjusted to a predetermined temperature and humidity during each test step of the combined cycle test.

The combined cycle test machine 11 may also be equipped with a refrigerator (not shown) that generates low-temperature air below and outside the test chamber 2. This refrigerator is connected to the test chamber 2 via an opening (not shown) and introduces some of the air inside the test chamber 2 to generate low-temperature air below freezing. By sending this low-temperature air into the test chamber 2, the atmosphere inside the test chamber 2 can be controlled to a low-temperature environment, allowing low-temperature testing to be performed. Note that detailed operation of the combined cycle test machine 11 is omitted here, as it is described in Patent Document 1. The matters described in Patent Document 1 are incorporated herein by reference.

The combined cyclic test machine 11 according to the embodiment includes any of the spray corrosion test machines 1 described in the embodiment of the spray corrosion test machine 1. Therefore, the combined cyclic test machine 11 achieves the same effects as the spray corrosion test machine 1.

(Embodiment of the method for improving the spray corrosion tester 1)
Next, an embodiment of a method for improving a spray corrosion tester 1 will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 8. The spray corrosion tester 1 used in the method for improving a spray corrosion tester 1 may be any of the spray corrosion testers 1 described in the above embodiments of the spray corrosion tester 1, or may be another spray corrosion tester 1. Details of the spray corrosion tester 1 will not be described again to avoid redundancy.

The improved method includes the steps of removing a portion of the side wall 2a or at least a portion of the bottom floor 2b of the test chamber 2, and placing a second side wall including a convex portion 2c or a second bottom floor having a convex portion 2d in the removed portion of the side wall 2a or bottom floor 2b. In the placing step, the convex portions 2c and 2d are positioned so that they protrude toward the interior of the test chamber 2, thereby placing the flow sensor 55 on the convex portions 2c and 2d on the outside of the test chamber 2.

In the removal process, "removing a portion of the side wall 2a of the test chamber 2" means, for example, removing the entire side wall 2a of one of the four side walls of the test chamber 2, or removing (cutting out) a portion of one side wall 2a. Furthermore, in the removal process, "removing at least a portion of the bottom floor 2b" means removing the entire bottom floor 2b, or removing (cutting out) a portion of the bottom floor 2b. There are no particular restrictions on the size, shape, etc. of the side wall 2a or bottom floor 2b to be removed, as long as the flow sensor 55 can be placed outside the test chamber 2 from the removed portion of the side wall 2a or bottom floor 2b in the placement process described below.

In the placement process, there are no particular limitations on the method for placing the second side wall or second bottom floor, as long as the flow sensor 55 is placed on the protrusions 2c and 2d on the outside of the test chamber 2. For example, a second side wall or second bottom floor is prepared that can cover the portion removed from the test chamber 2 and that can form the protrusions 2c and 2d. Note that the second side wall or second bottom floor may be divided into parts or may have a curved shape for ease of operation. After placing the second side wall or second bottom floor so that the flow sensor 55 is on the outside of the test chamber 2, the connection portion with the test chamber 2 (if the second side wall or second bottom floor is made up of parts, the connection portion of the parts) can be glued using putty or the like.

The improved method allows the flow sensor 55 included in the conventional spray corrosion tester 1 to be positioned outside the test tank 2. Therefore, the improved method achieves the same effects as those described in (1) to (7) of the flow sensor 55 placement examples 1 to 3 above.

As described above (embodiment of combined cyclic test machine 11), the spray corrosion test machine 1 may be configured as part of the combined cyclic test machine 11. In this case, implementing the improvement method on the spray corrosion test machine 1 that is part of the combined cyclic test machine 11 essentially means implementing the improvement method on the combined cyclic test machine 11.

(Other Modifications)
The spray corrosion tester 1, combined cycle tester 11, and method for improving the spray corrosion tester 1 disclosed in the present application have been described above using several specific embodiments. However, these embodiments are not limited to these, and various modifications are possible. For example, while the spray corrosion tester 1 is configured to measure the flow rate of the corrosive solution, a spray-forming air flow sensor may be used to measure the flow rate of the spray-forming air. In this case, an abnormality in the air nozzle caused by the flow rate of the spray-forming air deviating from a specified value can be detected. Furthermore, in the examples shown in Figures 1 to 5 and 8, the first nozzle 33 and the second nozzle 32 are arranged in approximately perpendicular directions. However, the first nozzle 33 and the second nozzle 32 may be arranged in other directions as long as spray-forming air can be supplied to the second nozzle 32 and the corrosive solution can be sucked up from the first opening of the first nozzle 33 by the Venturi effect. FIG. 9A is a schematic diagram showing another example of the arrangement of the first nozzle 33 and the second nozzle 32, and FIG. 9B is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between the first opening 33a of the first nozzle 33 and the second opening 32a of the second nozzle 32 when viewed in the Z direction in FIG. 9A . In the example shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B , the substantially cylindrical first nozzle 33 is covered by the substantially cylindrical second nozzle 32. In the example shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B , spray-forming air is supplied to the second nozzle 32, and the corrosive liquid can be sucked up from the first opening 33a of the first nozzle 33 by the Venturi effect. Note that in the example shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B , the first opening 33a and the second opening 32a are arranged close to the nozzle via a wall 34. The amount of corrosive liquid sucked up by the Venturi effect can be adjusted by adjusting the thickness of the nozzle wall 34.

The spray corrosion tester 1 disclosed in this application reduces the risk of failure of the flow sensor 55, and is therefore useful to the testing machine industry.

1...spray corrosion tester, 2...test tank, 2a...side wall, 2b...bottom floor, 2c, 2d...convex portion, 3...spray portion, 31...spray tower, 31A...cylindrical portion, 31B...direction body, 32...second nozzle, 32a...second opening, 33...first nozzle, 33a...first opening, 34...nozzle wall, 35...sprayer, 4...first air supply portion, 41...compressor, 42...pressure regulator, 43...air saturator, 44...foaming tube, 45...heater, 46...air Supply pipe, 49...conduit, 5...corrosive solution supply unit, 51...solution reservoir, 52...pipe, 53...supply tank, 54...conduit, 55...flow sensor, 56...shield container, 57...temperature control unit, 57a...air inlet, 57b...air outlet, 57c...thermometer, 57d...piping, 57e...exhaust hole, 57f...exhaust pipe, 8...control unit, 9...humidity generator, 11...combined cycle tester, 12...temperature control chamber, 13...fan, 14...temperature control chamber heater

Claims (10)

A spray corrosion tester including a test tank, a spray unit, a first air supply unit, and a corrosive liquid supply unit,
The spray section is
a first nozzle having a first tip portion provided with a first opening and through which an etching liquid is supplied;
a second nozzle having a second tip end with a second opening adjacent to the first opening;
a spray tower having an interior space that accommodates the first tip and the second tip;
Including,
The corrosive solution can be sprayed into the test chamber,
the first air supply unit supplies spray forming air to the second nozzle;
The etchant supply unit is
a solution reservoir for holding an etching solution;
a pipe connecting the solution reservoir and the first nozzle;
a flow rate sensor formed in the pipe for measuring the flow rate of the etching solution supplied from the solution reservoir to the first nozzle;
Including,
The flow sensor is
It is placed outside the test chamber or inside the test chamber,
When placed in the test chamber, the flow sensor is covered with a shielding container to prevent exposure to the spray. A protrusion protruding toward the inside of the test chamber is formed on a part of the side wall of the test chamber,
The spray corrosion tester according to claim 1 , wherein the flow rate sensor is disposed on an outer portion of the test chamber at the convex portion. A convex portion that protrudes toward the inside of the test tank is formed on a part of the bottom floor of the test tank,
The spray corrosion tester according to claim 1 , wherein the flow rate sensor is disposed on an outer portion of the test chamber at the convex portion. The spray corrosion tester according to claim 1 , further comprising a temperature adjusting unit for adjusting the temperature inside the shielding vessel when the flow rate sensor is disposed inside the test tank. The temperature adjustment unit
a second air supply unit that supplies cooling air to the shielding vessel; or
a cooling water supply unit for supplying cooling water to the shielding vessel;
The spray corrosion tester according to claim 4, comprising: Further comprising a control unit,
The spray corrosion tester according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the control unit outputs an alarm signal when a measurement value of the flow rate sensor deviates from a preset value. Further comprising a control unit,
the first air supply unit includes a pressure regulator that controls the supply pressure of the spray-forming air;
The spray corrosion tester according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the control unit controls the pressure regulator to adjust the amount of spray supplied to the test tank to a predetermined value when the measurement value of the flow rate sensor deviates from a preset value. the first air supply unit further includes an air saturator that adjusts the temperature of the air supplied from the second nozzle;
The spray corrosion testing machine according to claim 7, wherein the control unit controls the air saturator to adjust the temperature of the air supplied from the second nozzle to a predetermined temperature when the measurement value of the flow rate sensor deviates from a preset value. A combined cycle test machine equipped with the spray corrosion test machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and configured to sequentially perform a spray corrosion test and one or more other tests. A method for improving a spray corrosion tester, comprising:
The spray corrosion tester includes a test tank, a spray unit, a first air supply unit, and a corrosive liquid supply unit,
The spray section is
a first nozzle having a first tip portion provided with a first opening and through which an etching liquid is supplied;
a second nozzle having a second tip end with a second opening adjacent to the first opening;
a spray tower having an interior space that accommodates the first tip and the second tip;
Including,
The corrosive solution can be sprayed into the test chamber,
the first air supply unit supplies spray forming air to the second nozzle;
The etchant supply unit is
a solution reservoir for holding an etching solution;
a pipe connecting the solution reservoir and the first nozzle;
a flow rate sensor formed in the pipe for measuring the flow rate of the etching solution supplied from the solution reservoir to the first nozzle;
Including,
The improvement method is
Removing a portion of the side wall or at least a portion of the bottom floor of the test chamber;
placing a second side wall including a convex portion or a second bottom floor having a convex portion on the removed side wall or bottom floor portion;
Including,
In the placing step, the protrusion is placed so as to protrude toward the inside of the test chamber, so that the flow sensor is placed on the protrusion which is outside the test chamber.
Improvement method.