Robotic non-destructive testing: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 14:59, 16 February 2024

Latest revision as of 07:20, 10 August 2025

(2 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)

Line 59:

=== Untethered ILI crawler overview ===

[[File:Pipetel Explorer 30-36.jpg|thumb|Pipetel Explorer untethered NDT pipeline crawler, manufactured and operated by Pipetel Technologies.]]

Untethered robotic ILI crawlers are powered by onboard batteries; these tools transmit sensor data wirelessly to the tool operator or store the data for downloading upon tool retrieval. Untethered crawlers have the following advantages over tethered crawlers:

Line 110:

[[File:GWS diagram.jpg|center|The principle of angle-beam EMAT use in pipeline girth weld assessment.]]

[[File:GWS FTM scan.jpg|thumb|upright|The frequency-time matrix for a lateral cylindrical hole in a pipe.]]

The tool merges each set of FT scans into a single frequency-time matrix scan to display weld conditions, with anomalies color-coded by severity.<ref name="GWS" /> This method of girth weld scanning is designed to detect the following [[Welding defect|weld defects]]:

Line 129:

=== Video inspection ===

[[File:Pipeline video inspection - pitting corrosion.png|thumb|A high-resolution camera image of an internal corrosion pit in a pipe wall.]]

Main article – [[Pipeline video inspection|video inspection]]

Line 139:

=== Laser profilometry ===

[[File:Laser profilometry - pitting corrosion.png|thumb|Laser profilometry assessment of the pipe wall corrosion pit shown in the previous image.]]

Main article – [[surface metrology]]

Line 178:

Natural gas pipeline operators can use tetherless robotic ILI crawlers for smaller distribution pipelines that are not located beneath critical infrastructure elements (e.g., freeway crossings).

* In 2011, [[Southern California Gas Company]] (SoCalGas) used a tetherless robotic ILI crawler manufactured by Pipetel to inspect an 8” natural gas pipeline whose product flow lacked the pressure to propel a traditional smart pig. The tool successfully inspected 2.5 miles of pipeline, including a cased segment and an area underneath a railway track.<ref>[http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pipetels-explorer-robotic-inspection-tool-used-to-inspect-socalgas-pipelines-127879588.html Pipetel’s Explorer Robotic Inspection Tool Used to Inspect SoCalGas Pipelines]. PR Newswire. August 16, 2011. Web. Accessed 15 March 2015.</ref>

* [[Southwest Gas Corporation]] used the same tool in 2013 to inspect approximately one mile of a 6” natural gas line in Las Vegas, Nevada.<ref>[http://www.nysearch.org/news-info_012114.php Southwest Gas chooses Pipetel for Unpiggable pipeline inspection as part of its commitment to safety]. Northeast Gas Association. January 2014. Web. Accessed 9 March 2016.</ref>

* [[Central Hudson Gas & Electric]] used a similar crawler in 2015 to inspect a 3000’ section of a 16” natural gas line that included a roadway crossing.<ref>Welsh, Kathy. [http://hudsonvalleynewsnetwork.com/2015/10/08/central-hudson-tests-innovative-pipeline-inspection-robot/ Central Hudson Tests Innovative Pipeline Inspection Robot]. Hudson Valley News Network. October 8, 2015. Web. Accessed 15 March 2016.</ref>

Line 266:

* [http://www.silverwingndt.com/oil-gas-testing/storage-tanks/ndt-shell-inspection-equipment Silverwing – remote-control tank shell inspection vehicle]

* PHMSA

** [httphttps://www.phmsa.dot.gov/about-phmsa/offices/office-pipeline-safety Pipeline Safety homepage]

** [https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/comm/FactSheets/FSMaterialWeldFailure.htm Weld Failure fact sheet]

* [https://www.asnt.org/MajorSiteSections/Certification American Society for Nondestructive Testing certification]

* [https://www.asme.org/ American Society of Mechanical Engineers]

* [http://www.astm.org/ American Society for Testing and Materials]

* [https://ndtcs.com/ NDT Consultancy Services Inc.]

[[Category:Robotics]]