Circumferential positioning and depth sizing of stress corrosion cracking in pipelines using eddy current array (ECA)
Tracks
Energy
| Wednesday, October 23, 2024 |
| 1:30 PM - 2:00 PM |
| 207/208 - Technical Session |
Details
Recent field trials have shown that eddy current array (ECA) compares favorably against magnetic particle inspection (MPI) for the detection of stress corrosion cracking (SCC) on the external surface of carbon steel pipelines. Despite MPI being economical and easy to deploy, it remains time consuming and highly user dependent. On the other hand, ECA offers an impressive scan speed combined with a high probability of detection for small cracks. Besides detection, ECA has also proven its reliability and accuracy for SCC characterization on real colonies in both lab and field environments. Comparisons with metallography sections, grinding measurements and X-ray computed tomography (XCT) have contributed to optimize the depth sizing performance of this solution, providing accurate SCC depth readings within less than a minute of inspection.
The most recent development of this technology involves the use of a circumferential encoder to track the precise position of SCC colonies around the pipeline’s surface. Based on digital accelerometers embedded into the ECA scanner, it allows to record and report both the axial and circumferential position of each individual indication within a precision of 1 degree. The results show that the main advantages of ECA reside in the short amount of time required to locate, size, and report the deepest crack within a colony of SCC, in addition to being more user-friendly and less operator dependent than alternative methods.
The most recent development of this technology involves the use of a circumferential encoder to track the precise position of SCC colonies around the pipeline’s surface. Based on digital accelerometers embedded into the ECA scanner, it allows to record and report both the axial and circumferential position of each individual indication within a precision of 1 degree. The results show that the main advantages of ECA reside in the short amount of time required to locate, size, and report the deepest crack within a colony of SCC, in addition to being more user-friendly and less operator dependent than alternative methods.
Speaker
Michael Sirois
Eddyfi Technologies
Circumferential positioning and depth sizing of stress corrosion cracking in pipelines using eddy current array (ECA)
Presentation Description
Recent field trials have shown that eddy current array (ECA) compares favorably against magnetic particle inspection (MPI) for the detection of stress corrosion cracking (SCC) on the external surface of carbon steel pipelines. Despite MPI being economical and easy to deploy, it remains time consuming and highly user dependent. On the other hand, ECA offers an impressive scan speed combined with a high probability of detection for small cracks. Besides detection, ECA has also proven its reliability and accuracy for SCC characterization on real colonies in both lab and field environments. Comparisons with metallography sections, grinding measurements and X-ray computed tomography (XCT) have contributed to optimize the depth sizing performance of this solution, providing accurate SCC depth readings within less than a minute of inspection.
The most recent development of this technology involves the use of a circumferential encoder to track the precise position of SCC colonies around the pipeline’s surface. Based on digital accelerometers embedded into the ECA scanner, it allows to record and report both the axial and circumferential position of each individual indication within a precision of 1 degree. The results show that the main advantages of ECA reside in the short amount of time required to locate, size, and report the deepest crack within a colony of SCC, in addition to being more user-friendly and less operator dependent than alternative methods.
The most recent development of this technology involves the use of a circumferential encoder to track the precise position of SCC colonies around the pipeline’s surface. Based on digital accelerometers embedded into the ECA scanner, it allows to record and report both the axial and circumferential position of each individual indication within a precision of 1 degree. The results show that the main advantages of ECA reside in the short amount of time required to locate, size, and report the deepest crack within a colony of SCC, in addition to being more user-friendly and less operator dependent than alternative methods.
Biography
Co-founder of Eddyfi Technologies, Michael has over 25 years of experience in the field of eddy current inspection. He has been involved in the development of advanced inspection solutions for a wide variety of industries including aerospace, aviation, power generation, oil & gas, manufacturing, and mining. He holds a physics engineering and materials degree. Along the past 15 years with Eddyfi Technologies, he acted, among others, as Technology Director, Business Development Manager and now, as Solution Development Expert.
