Pipeline Inspection Using Variable-Diameter Remote-Field Eddy Current Technology

• US 20080042646A1
• Filed: 06/22/2007
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
• Inventors: PETERSON, Ronald, CROUCH, Alfred, TENNIS, Richard, PARVIN, Albert, BURKHARDT, Gary, GOYEN, Todd
• Granted Patent: US 7,683,611 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/240
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/82 for investigating the presence of flaws

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a device and method for pipeline inspection, The inspection device may include an exciter coil capable of providing an alternating current magnetic field and producing eddy currents. A plurality of sensors may then be provided which are capable of sensing a magnetic field produced by the eddy currents and the sensors may be engaged with a sensor shoe. The sensors may then be capable of being positioned at a first distance D₁ with respect to an inner pipe wall surface and capable of providing coupling to the magnetic field produced by the eddy currents. The sensor shoe may also be capable of retracting to a second distance D₂, wherein D₁<D₂. The sensor shoe may be connected to a sensor support arm wherein the support arm may be pivotably attached to a fixed hub and to a control arm which control arm may then be pivotably attached to a driven hub.

Claims

1. A pipeline inspection device for a pipe comprising:

an exciter coil capable of providing an alternating current magnetic field and producing eddy currents;

a plurality of sensors capable of sensing a magnetic field produced by said eddy currents, said plurality of sensors engaged with a sensor shoe;

said sensors capable of being positioned at a first distance D₁ with respect to an inner pipe wall surface and capable of providing coupling to said magnetic field produced by said eddy currents;

said sensor shoe capable of retracting to a second distance D₂, wherein D₁<

D₂.

2. The pipeline inspection device of claim 1 wherein said sensor shoe is positioned at an angle α

with respect to an axial axis of said pipe, wherein α

is about 0 degrees to about 90 degrees.

3. The pipeline inspection device of claim 1 wherein said sensor shoe is connected to a sensor support arm wherein said support arm is pivotably attached to a fixed hub and to a control arm.

4. The pipeline inspection device of claim 3 further comprising a driven hub pivotably attached to said control arm.

5. The pipeline inspection device of claim 4 further comprising a lead screw, said lead screw engaged to and capable of positioning said driven hub along an axial axis of said pipeline inspection device.

6. The pipeline inspection device of claim 5 further comprising a motor capable of turning said lead screw to adjust the position of said driven hub.

7. The pipeline inspection device of claim 3 wherein said control arm comprises a compliant strut.

8. The pipeline inspection device of claim 3 wherein said support arm is compliant.

9. The pipeline inspection device of claim 1 wherein said sensor shoe is biased against the pipe wall.

10. The pipeline inspection device of claim 1 wherein said sensor shoe comprises two or more articulating segments, each segment containing at least one sensor.

11. The pipeline inspection device of claim 1 wherein said exciter coil comprises a fixed diameter coil.

12. The pipeline inspection device of claim 1 wherein said exciter coil comprises a variable diameter coil.

13. The pipeline inspection system of claim 12 wherein said coil is capable of contracting and expanding by winding and unwinding.

14. The pipeline inspection system of claim 3 including a plurality of sensor shoes and a plurality of control arms.

15. The pipeline inspection device of claim 1 further comprising:

exciter drive electronic circuitry capable of providing an alternating current drive signal to said exciter coil;

sensor position control electronic circuitry capable of detecting and controlling said sensor position; and

sensor signal processing circuitry capable of receiving and processing a sensor signal representative of a sensed magnetic field.

16. The pipeline inspection device of claim 15 wherein said sensor signal processing circuitry further comprises a digital signal processor configured to receive said one sensor signal and a synchronization signal, to perform a lock-in amplifier function on said one sensor signal and to generate an in-phase component and a quadrature component of said one sensor signal with respect to said synchronization signal.

17. The pipeline inspection device of claim 15 wherein said exciter drive electronic circuitry further comprises a direct digital synthesizer configured to generate the alternating current exciter drive signal.

18. A pipeline inspection device for a pipe comprising:

an exciter coil capable of providing an alternating current magnetic field and producing eddy currents;

a plurality of sensors capable of sensing a magnetic field produced by said eddy currents, said plurality of sensors engaged with a sensor shoe;

said sensors capable of being positioned at a first distance D₁ with respect to an inner pipe wall surface and capable of providing coupling to said magnetic field produced by said eddy currents;

said sensor shoe capable of retracting to a second distance D₂, wherein D₁<

D₂;

wherein said sensor shoe is connected to a sensor support arm wherein said support arm is pivotably attached to a fixed hub and to a control arm wherein said control arm is pivotably attached to a driven hub.

19. The pipeline inspection device of claim 18 wherein said sensor shoe comprises two or more articulating segments, each segment containing at least one sensor.

20. The pipeline inspection device of claim 18 wherein said exciter coil comprises a variable diameter coil.

21. A method of inspecting a pipe comprising:

providing an exciter coil capable of providing an alternating current magnetic field and producing eddy currents;

providing one or a plurality of sensors capable of sensing a magnetic field produced by said eddy currents wherein said sensors are engaged with a sensor shoe;

positioning said sensor shoe at a first distance D₁ with respect to an inner pipe wall surface to provide coupling to said magnetic field produced by said eddy currents;

sensing said magnetic field produced by said eddy currents; and

retracting said sensor shoe to a second distance D₂, wherein D₁<

D₂.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said positioning of said sensor shoe at said first or second distance comprises connecting said sensor shoe to a support arm wherein said support arm is pivotably attached to a fixed hub and to a control arm wherein said control arm is pivotably attached to a driven hub.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein said sensors are positioned at an angle α

with respect to an axial axis of said pipe, wherein α

is about 0 degrees to about 90 degrees.