A new technology has recently been developed that utilizes a real-time portable imaging device, known as the Acoustocamâ„¢, it has distinct advantages in finding internal corrosion.
The system allows minimally-trained technicians to scan areas of suspected internal corrosion from the exterior and produce C-scan images along with thickness readings.
In essence, it is a camcorder for ultrasonic testing.
The corrosion problem
Ensuring the integrity of pipelines and storage tanks is crucial.
Unscheduled plant and pipeline shutdowns caused by corrosion costs oil, gas and petrochemical companies enormous sums of money annually in product losses, production downtime, and environmental clean-up efforts and fines.
Accordingly, the industry invests heavily in inspection personnel and equipment to detect and monitor corrosion.
In spite of these efforts, the United States National Society of Corrosion Engineers estimates that these costs can be reduced by up to 25 per cent by implementing best practices and by taking advantage of new technologies.
Traditional solutions
When inspecting pipes and tanks, non-destructive testing (NDT) technicians often use ultrasonic testing (UT) devices to detect and measure internal corrosion, pits and laminar indications such as blistering and delaminations.
Traditional UT on steel structures can be tedious and prone to human error.
Moreover, traditional point UT thickness readings merely quantify thinning at the point of the reading and are not comprehensive enough to find all areas affected by corrosion; yet more advanced techniques such as traditional Automated UT (AUT) are expensive and require extensive training.
AUT also has time-consuming, multi-step setup and analysis processes, often requiring both a skilled examiner and a highly-trained and experienced inspector when attempting to detect corrosion and other subsurface defects over large areas.
Considering the shortage of qualified NDT inspectors and the length of down time required, the end result can often be high inspection costs.
A new technology
After years of ultrasonics and digital imaging research, Imperium Inc. has developed and patented a technology called Digital Acoustic Video (DAVâ„¢), which allows the capture of high-resolution ultrasound C-scan images.
This innovative technology has been packaged as the Acoustocamâ„¢, a device with a camera probe that makes intimate contact with the metal being tested and a touch screen controller that shows real-time C and A-scans.
This technology first caught on in the aerospace industry, identifying and sizing in-service carbon fibre composite delaminations and disbonds on Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner aeroplane.
Over the years, the technology has been improved for steel and now provides a useful and cost-effective option for detecting, sizing, and monitoring corrosion on equipment in the oil, gas and petrochemical industries.
For more information on the AcoustocamTM and other testing equipment visit NDT Equipment Sales at www.ndt.com.au, email ndt@ndt.com.au or contact David Morphett on (02) 9524 0558.