Feasibility of In-Line Stress Measurement by Continuous Barkhausen Method

Project Categories

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• In-Line Inspection/Pigging
• Remote Sensing
• Internal Corrosion
• External Corrosion

Main Objective

This project will demonstrate the use of modified MFL ILI tools to inspect mechanical damage, cracks, wrinkles and corrosion.

Public Abstract

This project will demonstrate the use of modified MFL ILI tools to inspect mechanical damage, cracks, wrinkles and corrosion. Stress measurement will be tested using the continuous Barkhausen method. The purpose of this research is to determine optimum location and sensor design. This will be accomplished via lab/pull-rig tests as well as a full scale test in either a flow loop or an operating pipeline. Total project proposal = $160,000.00.

Status History

Project initiated April 2003. 18 month project duration.

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Status - June 2003.

The primary activity in June was continued preparation for the upcoming pull tests to be held at the Rosen Inspection site in Houston during the week of July 7. Pipe specimens were acquired and a complement of defects were installed. Two 20-foot pipe lengths were bought with 0.188-inch wall thickness and 0.375-inch wall thickness. Each pipe had six defects installed in it. There were four internal defects; two were peened areas created by a needle scaler on the inside surface. The two other defects were quench spots made by heating the pipe to 1500 degrees F and cooling with a water blast down to 400 deg. F (or lower) in less than one second. All internal defects were 2 inches axial by 10 inches circumferential. The circumferential extent is to make it easier for the sensor to hit the defect in case the pig experiences some roll movement during the pull. In addition to the internal defects, there were two external defects in each pipe. The external defects were one peened area and one quenched area. Size of the external defects is 3-inches in diameter.

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Defects were hand-scanned using nonlinear harmonic (NLH) sensing technology to verify that there were stress anomalies at the defect locations. NLH was used because there were no magnet-sensor Barkhausen systems on hand that could go inside the pipe. Sensors and electronics were designed and built to provide one internal sensor attached to the pig and several external sensors placed on the external defects. In addition, external sensors will be placed on nominal pipe to record baseline data as the pig passes. A Labview program was written to acquire data using a 12-bit A/D on hand from another project. The system control was to be provided by a Toshiba notebook computer. Concurrent with this work, Rosen was preparing the test pig and the transition pipes that were to launch and trap the pig.

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Problems: No new problems were encountered in June.

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Plans for July: Activity in July will include the pig pull tests and analysis of the resulting data. A brief test report will be written and attached in the next status update.

Final Report

Final Report includes Guidelines for Commercial Development.

ProjNo_108_Final_Report_June04_Guidelines.pdf (1,675,496 bytes) [View] [Download/Save...]

Quarterly Status Reports

ProjNo 108 1stQtrRpt 01062004 Public

ProjNo_108_1stQtrRpt_01062004_Public.pdf (14,629 bytes) [View] [Download/Save...]

ProjNo 108 2ndQtr Public

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ProjNo 108 3rdQtrRpt Public

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ProjNo 108 4thQtrRpt Public

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ProjNo 108 5thQtrRpt Public

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