Stage 2 Phased Array Wheel Probe for In-Line Inspection

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• In-Line Inspection/Pigging
• Stress Corrosion Cracking

Main Objective

To manufacture a Stage 2 phased array wheel probe for ILI detection of stress corrosion cracking (SCC). Specifically, to build a smaller wheel probe that can be utilized as-built for In-Line Inspections.

Public Abstract

This proposal describes the developments required to make a Stage 2 wheel probe for in-line inspection of natural gas pipelines. This wheel probe uses ultrasonic phased arrays, which have high inspection speeds and considerable inspection flexibility. The advantage of the wheel probe technology is that it gives full coverage, while permitting inspection in gas pipelines without a liquid couplant. Specifically, this In-Line Inspection (ILI) device is targeted at detecting stress corrosion cracking (SCC), which can cause rapid failures in pipelines.

Previous ILI wheel probe designs did not use phased arrays, a new technology. While there are many requirements (mechanical, electronic, software etc) needed to finalize a new ILI device, this proposal is tightly focused on building a functional wheel probe; once a fully functional wheel probe has been designed and built, it is anticipated that other funding sources will be available to finalize the commercialization of this product.

GTI funded the development of a Stage 1 wheel probe (contract #8444), which proved the concept. The Stage 1 wheel probe was successful in that it could detect SCC just a few percent wall thickness high, which is well below the generally-accepted threshold of 20% wall for SCC detection. However, the Stage 1 wheel probe was too big, and suffered some problems from ultrasonic multiple reflections at the edges. The Stage 2 wheel probe will be smaller, with fewer elements and the reflections will be eliminated.

Quarterly Status Reports

Projno148-3ird-Quarterly-Report-Public

Projno148-3ird-Quarterly-Report-Public.pdf (11,770 bytes) [View] [Download/Save...]

Projno148-4thd-Quarterly-Report-Public-Oct05

Projno148-4thd-Quarterly-Report-Public-Oct05.pdf (7,134 bytes) [View] [Download/Save...]

For period ending 12/31/2004.

Projno148_1stQuarterlyReport_123104_Public.pdf (11,541 bytes) [View] [Download/Save...]