Apparatus and method for monitoring the condition of pipelines
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Abstract
Apparatus for condition control of a pipeline with a fluid flow pipe for transport of a fluid, comprising a plurality of ultrasonic transducers arranged in the vicinity of the external surface of the pipeline. By emitting, receiving and analyzing ultrasonic signals by means of ultrasonic transducers it is possible to perform a characterization of the pipeline, for example a measurement of the pipeline wall thickness. Ultrasonic transducers are arranged as an integral part of at least one tape.
22 Citations
44 Claims
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1-22. -22. (canceled)
- 23. Means for condition control of a pipeline (1) incorporating a fluid flow pipe (15) for transport of a fluid, comprising a plurality of ultrasonic transducers (31-3N) arranged in the vicinity of the external surface (100) of the pipe (15), and wherein a characterization of the pipeline (1), for example a measurement of the wall thickness, may be performed based on emission, receipt and analysis of the ultrasonic signals (31-3N), characterized in that the ultrasonic transducers (31-3N) are positioned as a part of at least one tape (2), the tape (2) being provided with a channel multiplexer (11) electrically connected to several of the transducers (31-3N) by means of conducting tracks (9) on the tape (2), and wherein the channel multiplexer (11) provides a common electrical connection for said several transducers (31-3N) between the tape (2) and its surroundings.
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40. Means for condition control of a pipeline (1) with a fluid flow pipe (15) for transport of a fluid, comprising a plurality of ultrasonic transducers which are embedded in and protected by a surrounding polymer material, the polymer material functioning as protection of the exterior surface (100) of the pipe (15), and wherein emission, receipt and analysis of ultrasonic signals by means of transducers (31-3N) are used for characterization of the pipeline, for example a measurement of the thickness of the pipeline,
characterized in that the ultrasonic transducers (31-3N) are arranged as an integral part of at least one tape (2) and that the ultrasonic transducers (31-3N) are connected to an external drive, control and signal analysis unit by means of an inductive connection means, and wherein the ultrasonic transducers (31-3N) are embedded in and protected by a surrounding polymeric material, the polymeric material functioning as a protection of the exterior (100) of the pipe (15).
- 41. System for condition control of a pipeline for transport of a fluid, comprising an ultrasonic apparatus for generation of drive signals for a plurality of ultrasonic transducers emitting ultrasound, an A/D converter which also is connected to the ultrasonic transducers for converting analog signals from the ultrasonic transducers to digital data corresponding to the analog signals from the ultrasonic transducers and transmitting the digital data to a control and data analysis unit, analyzing the received signals, characterized in that a plurality of ultrasonic transducers are arranged as an integral part of one or more tapes, the tapes being permanently attached to the external surface of the pipeline wall and ply to the pipeline surface when clamped, the ultrasonic transducers (31-3N) being embedded in and protected by a surrounding polymeric material, the polymeric material functioning as a protection for the external surface (100) of the pipe (15), the properties of the pipeline, such as for example possible reduction of pipeline thickness or properties at a weld or a joint, being calculated by means of the digital data and a software module for thickness calculation as a part of the data analysis unit.
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44. Means for condition control of a pipeline (1) incorporating a fluid flow pipe (15) for transport of a fluid, comprising a plurality of ultrasonic transducers (31-3N) arranged in the vicinity of the external surface (100) of the pipe (15), and wherein a characterization of the pipeline (1), for example a measurement of the wall thickness, may be performed based on emission, receipt and analysis of the ultrasonic signals by means of ultrasonic transducers (31-3N), characterized in that the ultrasonic transducers (31-3N) are positioned as a part of at least one tape (2), the tape being embedded in and protected by a surrounding polymeric material, the polymeric material functioning as protection of the external surface (100) of the pipeline (15).
Specification