Objetivo
Develop an automatic ultrasonic inspection system complete with "decision making" assistance module for both hyperbaric welding inspection in the habitat (complementary to radiography) and for diver or ROV deployed IRM tasks.
The system comprises the following main components :
* the orbital scanner,
* the underwater module,
* the instrumentation package (surface).
The scanner is a 3 axis manipulator which provides circumferential, transverse and angular transducer(s) displacements. The scanner uses a rapid fit flexible track to travel around the pipe.
The underwater module features the Micropulse 2 programmable digital inspection controller. It provides control of the scanner, up to 16 ultrasonic transducers and the communication with the surface control station via a two-way digital communication link based on an IEEE 488 to coaxial cable data translator.
The instrumentation package provides power supply, controls the inspection, manipulates, stores the results and edits the inspection report.
The main advantages of the system are :
* a very simple handling phase by the diver, requiring no ultrasonic knowledge,
* a short inspection time,
* a real time interpretation possibility,
* the storage of theinspection data for further offline analysis,
* the edition of one inspection report.
Extensive tests were carried out in simulated hyberbaric environment down to 300 m water depth. The system has been certified "fit for purpose" by the LLOYD'S REGISTER OF SHIPPING and has been successfully deployed and tested in the North-Sea at 136 m water depth.
Manual ultrasonics is used either as a complement to or as a replacement for radiographic inspection of hyperbaric welds. Manual ultrasonics suffers from a number of major drawbacks, slow, costly, dependent on the diver for the reliability and reproductibility of the test results.
Project consisted of developing an automatic ultrasonic system, inspired by onshore units, designed for rapid and simple deployment underwater by non-specialist inspection divers but which allowing advanced processing of the results on the surface (image treatment, hard copying...).
Tema(s)
Convocatoria de propuestas
Data not availableRégimen de financiación
DEM - Demonstration contractsCoordinador
13321 MARSEILLE
Francia