AUT/NDT weld testing and inspection system – pipeline welding
The field of Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) in weld
testing and inspection is advancing rapidly through the innovations
of Automated Ultrasonic Testing (AUT) technology.
AUT technology has replaced radiographic inspection
techniques as the NDT industry standard system for the testing and
inspection of pipeline welding. UT Scan's creators have been instrumental
in introducing AUT examination for girth welds of new construction
cross-country pipelines and UT Scan is the industry leader in AUT
in terms of its design, efficiency and high level of detection.
Background of Automated Ultrasonic Technology
Using ultrasonic technology to test pipeline
welds has increased significantly worldwide since ultrasonic equipment
became available in the 1980s. This was due to considerable improvements
made in the development of ultrasonic technology as well as a desire
to explore the safety and environmental benefits created by reducing
the use of radiation from traditional radiographic methods. As AUT
Technology has evolved, it has created an industry desire for its
more reliable, time-effective, cost-lessening and better weld defect
detecting results.
Currently Automated Ultasonic Testing (AUT)
is recognized as the most reliable and beneficial weld testing method.
The preliminary AUT systems used probes to focus ultrasonic beams
onto weld fusion line zones. These would then detect reflected energy
from any areas lacking fusion.
Eventually more probes were used to determine
the volume of welds, as well as to supply diffracted data and transverse
defect detection. The complexity of the ensuing systems has led
to a necessary demand for highly reliable methods of interpreting
and managing the acquired data.
The phased arrays used in AUT systems such as UT
Scan offer additional improvements over conventional multiprobe
ultrasonics and radiography, both for onshore and offshore use.
AUT offers the important advantage of process control, as welds
can be inspected much more quickly and data feedback is also supplied
in this manner. UT Scan's Pipeline Weld Testing Tool, "Plus
Weld," automatically collects all AUT process parameters and
weld testing results at the conclusion of the pipeline weld inspection.
AUT has proven itself as a successful tool
for NDT weld soundness verification and AUT systems such as UT Scan
provide a permanent record for each inspected weld joint whereas
radiographic film can only be saved for ten to fifteen years. With
its compact size, UT Scan can also be used on any project for which
a client requires a permanent record of critical weld quality.
AUT also saves on overall construction costs
by process control and the use of Engineering Critical Assessment
to minimize the reject rate.
Other advantages of UT Scan include its ability
to detect depth of flaws which radiography is not able to and it
can be used at night without the safety hazards associated with
radiographic testing methods. Furthermore, the AUT system of UT
Scan maximizes POD (Point Of Detection), allows for on-site inspection
without disrupting production and is able to easily create customized
reports on demand.
UT Scan is adaptable for inspection of a wide variety
of weld profiles, geometries and wall thicknesses. UT Scan is also
the only AUT system on the market which is not susceptible to the
problems caused by Radio Frequency interference noise resulting
in much improved accuracy of the defect measurements and clearer
pictures and improved interpretation of testing results.
UT Scan - An innovative approach to Automated Ultrasonic Testing
(AUT) for your Onshore and Offshore Pipeline Welding projects around
the world.
|
