Key Technology and Application of Visual Inspection of Buried Polyethylene Pipeline

Author(s):  
Shaojun Wang ◽  
Xiaoying Tang ◽  
Pan Song ◽  
Bin Ren ◽  
Yaozhou Qian ◽  
...  

Responding to non-conductive, non-magnetic material characteristics of polyethylene (PE) pipe, this paper comes up with the ground penetrating radar (GPR) detection for urban PE gas pipeline visualization research in order to solve the problems of positioning difficulty, and to avoid potential safety hazards caused by undefined positioning of PE pipeline, so that it can provide some experience to the application of position detection technology to locate buried polyethylene pipeline. Responding to the special material properties and welding form and based on the analysis of traditional ultrasonic testing for polyethylene butt-fusion joint, this paper comes up with an ultrasonic phased array dynamic focusing and S scanning imaging technology, to make a testing experiment on polyethylene butt-fusion joint. Results of the phased array ultrasonic testing of cracks in polyethylene butt-fusion joints shows that the testing method is feasible, and verifies the buried polyethylene butt-fusion joints engineering. This research would provide experience to the application of ultrasonic phased array technology in buried polyethylene pipeline inspection.

Author(s):  
Paul A. Meyer

Ultrasonic testing of metal welds has been in use for many years. Scanning methods using both contact and immersion methods are often used at the time of manufacture and also during periodic in-service inspection programs. But because of a variety of component configurations and potential flaw geometries it is often necessary to perform several inspections, each with a different probe configuration to assure adequate defect delegability. It is possible that a properly designed phased array probe can perform several different inspections without changing hardware thereby reducing inspection times. This presentation reviews the design and operation of ultrasonic phased array transducers and the necessary features to achieve the desired performance. Situations in which these probes have already been implemented effectively are also discussed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiri Hodac ◽  
Pavel Mares ◽  
Jaromir Janousek ◽  
Martin Linhart

This work is designed to artificially create test specimens with flaws that behave the same way as real-function flaws when observed by nondestructive testing (NDT) technologies. Thus, the understanding of the detection limitations of NDT methods is needed. In this study, real, realistic, and artificial flaws were compared by ultrasonic phased array technology. Fatigue flaws, which belong to the most common structural issues (Ruzicka, M., Hanke, M., and Rost, M., 1987, Dynamicka Pevnost a Zivotnost, CVUT, Prague, Czech Republic, p. 75), are investigated. Measurements have revealed significant differences in the amplitude of ultrasonic echo from fatigue cracks in distinct phases of crack propagation. Studied specimens with realistic flaws have demonstrated their quality for calibration, staff training, and NDT system qualification. More realistic test specimens will increase ultrasonic test result reliability.


NDT World ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 37-41
Author(s):  
Алан Колдер ◽  
Alan Caulder

Full matrix capture and the total focusing method are considered by many NDT experts to be the next major improvement to phased array ultrasonic testing. This article showcases some advantages the new techniques offer compared to the capabilities of traditional ultrasonic phased array.


2015 ◽  
Vol 727-728 ◽  
pp. 799-803 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhi Hao Liu ◽  
Chao Lu

Ultrasonic phased array imaging detection technology combinating the focused beam and array probe movement can get powerful test information. It has been widely used in the steel butt weld detection. For making up the limitations of 2D view, in this paper,we used one-dimensional linear array probe, got 2D slice view data obtained by phased array ultrasonic S-scan, through software programming algorithm to realize 3D reconstruction of steel butt weld typical defects. Experiment shows that it can display more intuitive performance of the defects in space. Revealing a better shape, size and orientation information. Providing a reference for the final evaluation of the defect.


Author(s):  
Yutaka Matsui ◽  
Yukinori Iizuka ◽  
Masahito Suzuki ◽  
Eiichi Urahata ◽  
Tomohiro Inoue ◽  
...  

A high sensitivity ultrasonic testing system for inspection of the weld seam of ERW pipes was developed. The factors that affect the quality of the weld seam were investigated using an ultrasonic C-scan method with a focused probe and samples sliced from weld seams. As the result, it was found that a scattered-type penetrator consisting of micro oxides is a key factor in the quality of the weld seam. Absorbed energy in the Charpy impact test can be evaluated by the ultrasonic echo amplitude with the optimized focused beam size (about 1mm2) to detect the scattered-type penetrator. In order to evaluate the density of the scattered-type penetrator in weld seams with the optimum focused beam size for pipe, a point focused beam tandem method was developed by applying the ultrasonic phased array technique. The sensitivity of the developed method is 20dB higher for a standard artificial through drilled hole whose diameter is 1.6mm. A precise seam tracking system was also developed for application of the point focused beam tandem method to the actual ERW pipe manufacturing process. Since the allowance for applying the focused beam to the weld seam is very narrow, i.e., about 1mm, a circumference multi-point simultaneous receiving technique and thermal image-type seam detection technique were developed. The developed ultrasonic testing system has been in operation at the 24″ ERW mill at East Japan Works (Keihin District) of JFE Steel Corporation since March 2011. The combination of the ultrasonic testing system and an oxide control technique now contributes to production of high-performance, high-quality ERW pipe “Mighty Seam®” for use in frigid environments.


Author(s):  
Cunjian Miao ◽  
Weican Guo ◽  
Zhangwei Ling ◽  
Ping Tang

Compressed natural gas (CNG) storage well is a kind of pressure vessel buried underground. The detection of corrosion, which may be induced by the surrounding soil and different medium, is important for the safety security of the well, and protects it from CNG leakage or casing explosion. Among non-destructive examination techniques for corrosion detecting, the ultrasonic techniques are popularly utilized, in which the phased array approach can offer distinct advantages. To investigate both reliability and applicability of the phased array technique in the storage well, a complex design with a 512-element ultrasonic phased array that covered the entire cross-section was discussed, and phased array parameters were determined, including array elements, array element size, ultrasonic frequency and so on. An ultrasonic testing system was designed based on the above design, including a frame for holding phased array probes, a specific vessel for storing ultrasonic cards and other components, and an in-pipe robot designed for instruments’ moving in the storage well. The general corrosion condition described by thickness images were captured by the ultrasonic testing system with B, C and D-scan functions, in which circumferential electronic linear scanning was performed by the phased array probes and axial scanning was done by a mechanical scanning device. A method for minimizing the external pressure from water column necessary for coupling was put forward in the scanning and detection process. The sample for CNG storage well with artificial defects was built in laboratory environments and experiments were conducted to validate detection effects, and the phased array technique provided good sensitivity and efficiency, which may lead to a successful application in CNG storage well examination.


Author(s):  
Eric M. Sjerve ◽  
George F. Bryant ◽  
David C. Stewart

This paper presents an overview of current pipeline inspection techniques, and a more in depth discussion of phased array technology as it applies to the inspection of automated GMAW girth welds in big inch pipelines.


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