The present aim of the project is to use glass fibres to communicate between equipment at an open pipe end with an ispection vehicle carrying an array of ultrasonic probes. The intention is to measure presence of corrosion or cracks in liquid filled pipelines to distances of 5000 metres. Communication of control signals, measurement signals and power will be done by the cable in which the glass fibre technology is incorporated.
A considerable amount of electronic design and experiments were done in the year that the project is in hands of RTD. A summary of achievements is :
- Cable electronics
With purchased and RTD designed electronics it was shown that a conventional copper cable of normally up to 500 metres can be replaced by a glass fibre of 15000 metres |
- Crawler
A basic concept exists to design a crawler for 16" which can negotiate 3 D bends. This includes space for on board electronics and power supply of the drive motor.
- High frequency ultrasonics
To measure wall thickness reduction to 3 mm a new pulser-amplifier circuitry was designed which allows operation by glass fible cables. These electronics will be used to construct a 32 channel measuring instrument "Sonolog".
- High frequency ultrasonic probes
A vacuum centrifuge has been designed and built to make the special high frequency probes in conjunction with item 5. 3.
- Control box and mixer
All control signals vice versa are digital. Theultrasonic signal is analogue. The mixer takes care that control box and Sonolog signal are synchronized.
- Preliminary test
This showed that all essential parts work well and further design can go on.
-Cable
The specification for the cable has been completed including the optical rotary contact (= slip ring) necessary because the cable will be on a large reel.
An utltrasonic pipeline inspection crawler has been designed for diameters of 16" and larger.
The articulated tool can pass 3D bends and climb 2D" uphill.
Its maximum range is 6000 metres. The aim of the project was to use glass fibres to communicate between electronic equipment at an open pipe end with an inspection vehicle carrying an array of ultrasonic probes. The intention is to measure presence of corrosion in liquid filled pipelines. Communication of control signals, measurement signals, and power is done by a cable in which the glass fibre optic technology is incorporated. The project obtained the name FlexiPIT (Flexible PIpeline Inspection Tool). Specification of the FLexiPIT :
Pipe diameter : 16"
Suitable to pass : 3D bends
2D" up-hill slopes
Drive : 4 wheels
Speed : 0-150 mm/sec
Reverse speed : 0-1 m/sec
Net pull traction : 2400 N
Cable length : 6000m
Tensile strength (rescue) : 50 kN
Cable diameter : 30 mm