Method for Monitoring an Electrochemical Treatment Process and Electrode Arrangement Suited for Carrying Out This Method

Abstract

There is described a counter-electrode arrangement that, e.g. can be used when coating and removing coatings from turbine blades, and to a method for the operation thereof. The counter-electrode arrangement comprises a reference electrode arrangement that is connected to the counter-electrode in an electrically non-conductive manner via contact elements. During the treatment process, a balanced potential over the surface to be treated is created by adapting the reference electrode arrangement, which as individual electrodes, to a surface to be treated. In a method for operating the counter-electrode arrangement, a measuring current can be applied to this arrangement in a first step for creating a balanced potential. The individual electrodes of the reference electrode arrangement can be separately contacted in order to determine the respective local potential on the surface of the component to be treated. The counter-electrodes can be adjusted so that a balanced potential prevails on the individual electrodes. During the subsequent treatment of the workpiece, the individual electrodes are interconnected in parallel and used as a reference electrode for maintaining a required treatment potential.

1 - 5 . (canceled)  
     
     
         6 . A method for monitoring an electrochemical treatment process for treatment of a workpiece, comprising: 
 using the workpiece as a working electrode;    providing a reference electrode arrangement having a plurality of individual electrodes;    moving the individual electrodes in a non-contact manner at a plurality of locations towards a surface of the workpiece to be treated; and    maintaining a predetermined potential between the working electrode and a counter-electrode arrangement based upon a reference electrode arrangement.    
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 applying a potential, predetermined for the treatment process, to the workpiece and to the counter-electrode arrangement.    
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 monitoring the applied potential based upon the reference electrode arrangement, wherein the individual electrodes are switched electrically in parallel.    
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 evaluating measurement results of the individual electrodes.    
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein a potentiostat is used for maintaining the predetermined potential between the working electrode and a counter-electrode arrangement.  
     
     
         11 . the method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the measurement results of the individual electrodes are evaluated jointly.  
     
     
         12 . the method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the measurement results of the individual electrodes are evaluated separately.  
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein before the electrochemical treatment a voltage is applied to the workpiece and to the counter-electrode arrangement to create a small measurement current, by comparison with the treatment process, and wherein a comparison potential is determined at the individual electrodes.  
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the individual electrodes are combined in a group, wherein the determination of the comparison potential is based upon the group.  
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the comparison potentials are balanced based upon the arrangement of the counter-electrodes in relation to the workpiece.  
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the potential predetermined for the treatment process is applied to the workpiece and to the counter-electrode arrangement, wherein the reference electrodes are connected electrically in parallel.  
     
     
         17 . A counter-electrode arrangement for the electrochemical treatment of a workpiece, comprising: 
 a working electrode, wherein the workpiece is the working electrode; and    a reference electrode arrangement connected mechanically to the counter-electrode arrangement via a connection, wherein the connection is an electrical isolation between the counter-electrode arrangement and the reference electrode arrangement, and wherein the reference electrode arrangement has a number of individual electrodes with electrode tips to be moved within a treatment area of the workpiece.    
     
     
         18 . The counter-electrode arrangement as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the counter-electrode is flat and formable within the treatment area.  
     
     
         19 . The counter-electrode arrangement as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the individual electrodes are bars and fixed axially in the counter-electrode.  
     
     
         20 . The counter-electrode arrangement as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the individual electrodes are held in an electrode carrier, wherein the individual electrodes are axial displaceable.  
     
     
         21 . A method for monitoring an electrochemical treatment process of a blade of a gas turbine, comprising: 
 using the blade as a working electrode;    providing a reference electrode arrangement having a plurality of individual electrodes;    moving the individual electrodes in a non-contact manner at a plurality of locations towards a surface of the blade to be treated; and    maintaining a predetermined potential between the working electrode and a counter-electrode arrangement based upon a reference electrode arrangement.    
     
     
         22 . The method as claimed in  claim 21 , further comprising applying a potential, predetermined for the treatment process, to the blade and to the counter-electrode arrangement.  
     
     
         23 . The method as claimed in  claim 22 , further comprising monitoring the applied potential based upon the reference electrode arrangement, wherein the individual electrodes are switched electrically in parallel.  
     
     
         24 . The method as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the electrochemical treatment process is a coating process of the blade.  
     
     
         25 . The method as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the electrochemical treatment process removes a coating of the blade.