Assessment of Long-Range Guided-Wave Active Testing of Storage Tanks

This study presents a feasibility of using guided waves for a long-range inspection of pipe through investigation of mode conversion and scattering pattern from edge and wall-thinning in a steel pipe. Phase and group velocity dispersion curves for reference modes of pipes are illustrated for theoretical analyses. Predicted modes could be successfully generated by controlling frequency, receiver angle and wavelength. The dispersive characteristics of the modes from and edge wall-thinning are compared and analyzed respectively. The mode conversion characteristics are distinct depending on dispersive pattern of modes. Experimental feasibility study on the guided waves was carried out to explore wall thinning part in pipe for data calibration of a long range pipe monitoring by comb transducer and laser.

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Long-range guided wave inspection of pipe using magnetostrictive sensor technology: the feasibility of defect characterization

10.1117/12.302530 ◽

1998 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Hegeon Kwun ◽

Chris P. Dynes

Keyword(s):

Long Range ◽

Guided Wave ◽

Sensor Technology ◽

Defect Characterization ◽

Magnetostrictive Sensor

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Ultrasonic Guided Wave for Pipeline and Storage Tank Corrosion Defect Inspection

Volume 1: Upstream Pipelines; Project Management; Design and Construction; Environment; Facilities Integrity Management; Operations and Maintenance; Pipeline Automation and Measurement ◽

10.1115/ipc2012-90032 ◽

2012 ◽

Author(s):

Weibin Wang ◽

Haolin Tong ◽

Hongjun Dong ◽

Muyang Ai ◽

Kai Wu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Long Range ◽

Storage Tank ◽

Gas Storage ◽

Guided Wave ◽

Wave System ◽

Defect Inspection ◽

Corrosion Defect ◽

Ultrasonic Guided Wave ◽

Integrity Management ◽

And Storage

Pipeline and storage tank corrosion defect inspection is one of the most important concerns for integrity management of oil & gas storage and transportation industry. Besides the internal inspection for pipeline, tri-axis high-resolution magnetic leakage inspection technique which is applied for trunk line inspection, long range ultrasonic guided wave technique based on Lamb wave is adopted for inaccessible part inspection in technique package for pipeline inspection in PetroChina. Corrosion in the tank floor and wall is a serious threat for environmental and economic safety. Owing to the capabilities of ultrasonic guided wave which are long-range, in-plane propagation, in-service storage tank floor/wall inspection becomes possible by employing an array of SH wave transducers mounting on the edge of the outer storage tank floor. At this point, ultrasonic guided wave shows its capability for pipeline and storage tank corrosion defect inspection. With the advancement of high-performance transducer, its capability will be boosted for even longer and remoter detection. Currently, ultrasonic guided wave system for pipeline could detect defect 200 m away in ideal case while 3∼6 m for storage tank floor in practical case. The complexity of the application of ultrasonic guided wave in tank floor inspection lies in the object containing multiple lap joint welds along the large diameter of the tank (up to 100 m) and the complicated reconstruction of the two-dimensional defect distribution information. The prototype of ultrasonic guided wave system for storage tank is able to detect defects along the edge of storage tank floor. Once the propagation mechanism at overlap joint welds is broken through, the system capability is believed to be greatly improved. The main scope of the paper is to introduce the ultrasonic guided wave principles and the system design of the inspection systems for pipeline and storage tank, respectively, including the system electrical module, hardware program and the module of data acquisition, analysis and processing. Besides, the field application study cases are included to show the capability of both systems and their potential for integrity management in oil & gas storage and transportation field.

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Natural Focusing for the Detection of Defects Beyond Elbows

Ultrasonic Nondestructive Evaluation for Material Science and Industries ◽

10.1115/pvp2003-1845 ◽

2003 ◽

Author(s):

Joseph L. Rose ◽

Michael J. Avioli ◽

Peter J. Mudge

Keyword(s):

Long Range ◽

Guided Wave ◽

Pipe Elbow ◽

Profile Variation ◽

Axisymmetric Wave ◽

Ultrasonic Guided Wave ◽

Special Circumstances ◽

Detection Of Defects

Long range ultrasonic guided wave inspection is advancing rapidly and is commonplace today. Benefits of using longitudinal or torsional modes are being established in special circumstances of improved sensitivity, resolution, or penetration power. The possibility of inspection under insulation, coatings, or with water filled pipes or around elbows is possible. Detection of defects beyond a pipe elbow is difficult for axisymmetric wave impingement onto the elbow. For non-axisymmetric input to the elbow region, however, via partial loading around the circumference, allows natural focusing to occur because of angular profile variation around the circumference of the pipe. An experiment is reported here to demonstrate this process.

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