Design, Construction and testing of a segmented MFL sensor for use in the inspection of unpiggable pipelines

Fast Facts
Technology and Commercialization
Research Entity:	Northeast Gas Association 1515 Broadway, 43rd Floor New York, NY 10036 New York, NY 10036-8901
COTR:	Robert Smith, Robert.W.Smith @ dot.gov, 202-366-3814
Contract #:	DTRS56-05-T-0002
Project #:	160
Contact Info:	Dr. George Vradis, 212-354-4790, ext. 217; 212-764-7014 fax, 516-298-8427 cell, gvradis @ northeastgas.org
Partners:	Poul Laursen, InvoDane Engineering, 416-443-8049, laursen @ invodane.com
Peer Review	Very Effective (PHP-1-2006, Feb 7-9, 2006)
Peer Review	Very Effective (PHP-2-2007, Mar 27-29, 2007)
Technology Demonstrated?	TBD
Commercialized (in whole/part)?	TBD
Financial and Status Data
Project Status:	Active
Start Fiscal Year:	2005 (12/08/2004)
End Fiscal Year:	2010 (08/31/2010)
PHMSA $$ Budgeted:	$1,666,793.00
$$ Co-Funded:	$1,691,157.00
Total Project Cost:	$3,357,950.00

Project Categories

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Main Objective

The objective of the proposed project (part of a three project Consolidated Program) is to develop a segmented Magnetic Flux Leakage (MFL) sensor and respective module for integration in a robotic platform (TIGRE; being developed through a parallel project, which is part of this Consolidated Program) that will allow the inspection of presently unpiggable transmission pipelines. The sensor will cover only a portion of the pipe's internal surface but should be able to provide the same level of sensitivity and accuracy as a state of the art MFL sensor used in smart pigs. Through multiple passes of the pipe, or through rotation and translation of the sensor down the pipe, the entire surface of the pipe will be inspected.

Public Abstract

This proposed project (part of a three project Consolidated R&D Program), in the research area of "Other Pipeline Safety Improvements; In-Line Inspection for Damage and Defects", will design, construct and test a segmented Magnetic Flux Leakage (MFL) sensor to be integrated onto a robotic platform for the inspection of unpiggable pipelines. The segmented sensor will cover only a portion of the inspected pipe's circumference, as necessitated by the need that the sensor and sensor module is able to pass through plug valves and other obstacles encountered in many unpiggable pipelines. While MFL is a rather mature technology, the segmented sensor needed in this application does not exist today and poses significant design and engineering challenges. Once built and tested, the sensor will be integrated into the robotic platform being developed as part of a parallel project of this consolidated program. A follow-up phase will be needed to field demonstrate the MFL sensor and robotic platform. This work will be conducted by a team consisting of NYSEARCH and InvoDane Engineering with funding from NYSEARCH, SoCalGas, OTD, and the US Department of Transportation, and is part of a Consolidated R&D Program related to pipeline safety. See Project No 159 and Project 161.

Quarterly Status Reports

This the public page for the quarterly progress report submitted (sept thru Nov. 2007