EMAT Sensor for Small Diameter and Unpiggable Pipes; Prototype and Testing

The objective of this project is to build and test an Electro-Magnetic Acoustic Transducer (EMAT) sensor prototype to detect and quantify wall loss and longitudinal cracks in metallic pipes. The sensor will be used to assess small-diameter and unpiggable pipes containing fittings and other restricting features. The initial target pipe diameter is 8 inches, however the commercial goal is to build tools that can navigate in 6- to 12-inch pipes. These sizes are typically used in unpiggable natural gas transmission and distribution systems. Other sizes will be considered based on industry needs. A laboratory assembly (bench-scale unit) has been successfully completed and tested in Phase-1. The work tasks in this proposal build on the results from Phase-1 and include: 1) Build a prototype of the unit with the data management system and a pull-out mechanism for internal testing of pipe sections with controlled and natural cracks and flaws; and 2) Establish the performance criteria and assess the minimum flaw sizes to be reliably detected by the device.

• Record URL:
  http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/matrix/prjHome.rdm?prj=653

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $591777
• Contract Numbers:

  DTPH5615T00018

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

  U.S. Department of Transportation
  East Building, 2nd Floor 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

  U.S. Department of Transportation
  East Building, 2nd Floor 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Project Managers:

  Merritt, James

• Performing Organizations:

  Operations Technology Development NFP

  1700 South Mount Prospect Road
  Des Plaines, IL  United States  60018
• Principal Investigators:

  Droessler, Maureen

• Start Date: 20150930
• Expected Completion Date: 20170929
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: Pipeline Safety Research
• Subprogram: Pipeline Safety

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cracking; Flaw detection; Pipelines; Prototype tests; Prototypes; Sensors
• Subject Areas: Maintenance and Preservation; Pipelines;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01674990
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Department of Transportation
• Contract Numbers: DTPH5615T00018
• Files: RIP, USDOT
• Created Date: Jul 13 2018 1:48PM