Method and apparatus for scanning corrosion and surface defects
First Claim
1. Method for determining the life span for secure use of a pipeline comprising:
- a) defining an area for surface corrosion analysis on the pipeline;
b) providing a corrosion scanning system for scanning the defined area on the pipeline;
c) localizing and measuring corrosion on the surface of the defined area by means of the corrosion scanning system, for localizing and measuring a plurality of corrosion pits on said surface;
d) determining the wall-thickness of the pipeline at the defined area by means of the corrosion scanning system; and
e) processing the surface condition data related to corrosion at the defined area obtained in steps c) and d) to determine the life span for secure use of the pipeline.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for determining the life span for secure use of a pipeline comprising the steps of a) defining an area for surface corrosion analysis on the pipeline, b) providing a corrosion scanning system for scanning the defined area on the pipeline, c) localizing and measuring the corrosion on the surface of the defined area by means of the corrosion scanning system, d) determining the remaining wall-thickness of the pipeline at the defined area by means of the corrosion scanning system, and e) processing the surface condition data related to corrosion at the defined area obtained in steps c) and d) to determine the life span for secure use of the pipeline. In another aspect the present invention relates to a corrosion scanning system for performing for performing the method according to the invention. In another aspect the invention relates to a prediction system for predicting the secure life span of a pipeline.
108 Citations
27 Claims
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1. Method for determining the life span for secure use of a pipeline comprising:
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a) defining an area for surface corrosion analysis on the pipeline;
b) providing a corrosion scanning system for scanning the defined area on the pipeline;
c) localizing and measuring corrosion on the surface of the defined area by means of the corrosion scanning system, for localizing and measuring a plurality of corrosion pits on said surface;
d) determining the wall-thickness of the pipeline at the defined area by means of the corrosion scanning system; and
e) processing the surface condition data related to corrosion at the defined area obtained in steps c) and d) to determine the life span for secure use of the pipeline. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 25, 27)
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11. A corrosion scanning system for determining and characterizing corrosion on an area of the surface of an object defined for corrosion scanning analysis comprising
a positioning arm capable of positioning and moving at least one instrument removably connectable thereto in three dimensions over the area defined for corrosion scanning analysis, said arm comprising a base member suitable for positioning the arm on a mounting element, a first leg rotatably connected to the base member, a second leg rotatably connected to the first leg and suitable for having at least one instrument rotatably and removably mounted thereon; -
a laser instrument removably connected to the second leg of the positioning arm suitable for emitting laser light to and for detecting reflected laser light from an area of a surface to evaluate the condition thereof; and
first computer readable means connected to the laser instrument and to the positioning arm for control thereof, whereby the first computer readable means is suitable for receiving and processing the surface condition data obtainable by means of the laser instrument. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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26. (canceled)
Specification