Ultrasonic weld inspection device comprising a support belt, and associated method
The support belt system with ultrasonic transducers and elastic links addresses the challenges of complex assembly and incomplete inspection in pipe welds by enabling quick, safe, and complete weld assessment, even around bends, thus enhancing safety and efficiency.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-09-30
- Publication Date
- 2026-04-03
AI Technical Summary
Existing ultrasonic welding inspection devices for pipes, particularly in nuclear reactors and petrochemical installations, face challenges such as complex assembly, prolonged exposure to radiation, and incomplete inspection due to difficulty in mounting hoops around bends, leading to potential safety hazards and incomplete weld assessment.
A support belt system comprising a series of ultrasonic transducers and elastic links that easily encircle the pipe circumference, allowing for safe and complete inspection by attaching supports with complementary interfaces and pins, enabling quick and adaptable mounting around bends.
Facilitates rapid, comprehensive, and safe ultrasonic inspection of pipe welds, reducing operator exposure and ensuring full circumference coverage without the need for complex hoop mounting, even near bends.
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Ultrasonic weld inspection device comprising a support belt, and associated method
[0001] The present invention relates to an ultrasonic welding control device for pipes, more particularly for a nuclear reactor, for example pressurized water reactor, or petrochemical installation.
[0002] The use of a set of translators mounted on a hoop around the pipe near the weld is known.
[0003] The set of translators are moved 360° around the periphery of the pipe, so as to inspect the entire circumference of the weld.
[0004] However, mounting the hoop may be complicated depending on the environment of the weld to be inspected, particularly if the weld is difficult to access.
[0005] Thus, the assembly is likely to take a significant amount of time, which can result in a potentially substantial dose for the operator performing the check.
[0006] In addition, near a bend in the pipe, the hoop may not be able to be mounted properly, and thus may not allow inspection around the entire periphery.
[0007] The aim of the invention is therefore to provide an ultrasonic control device allowing the entire circumference of the weld to be inspected safely.
[0008] For this purpose, the invention relates to an ultrasonic control device for a pipe weld, more particularly for a nuclear reactor, for example pressurized water, or petrochemical installation, the control device comprising a plurality of supports and a plurality of ultrasonic transducers, the supports being attached one after the other, so as to form a belt adapted to surround the pipe over its entire circumference, a single transducer being mounted on each of the supports.
[0009] Such a support belt is suitable for being easily mounted around the circumference of the pipe, including near any bends.
[0010] According to other advantageous aspects of the invention, the control device comprises one or more of the following features, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations:
[0011] - each support comprises a link, each link having an interface front and a rear interface, the front interface of each link being arranged opposite or cooperating with the rear interface of a respective following link;
[0012] - each front interface has at least one front opening, and each interface rear has at least one rear opening, the at least one front opening of a front interface of each link being respectively aligned with the at least one rear opening of the respective next link when the front interface of said link is arranged opposite or cooperates with the rear interface of the respective next link;
[0013] - the control device comprises a plurality of pins, a pin extending into each of at least one front opening of a front interface of a corresponding link and into at least one rear opening of the respective following link;
[0014] - each link is elastic;
[0015] - each transducer is a single-element transducer;
[0016] - each support has a surface adapted to extend against the pipe, each transducer being capable of emitting an ultrasonic beam having a central axis forming an angle between 45° and 70° with said surface; and / or
[0017] - each transducer is capable of emitting a divergent ultrasonic beam with respect to to a direction perpendicular to a direction of belt extension.
[0018] The invention also relates to a method for installing an ultrasonic testing device for a pipe weld, comprising the following steps:
[0019] - provision of a control device as described above, the belt being open between a first support and a last support,
[0020] - installation of the belt on the steering wheel, so that the belt encircles the driving on a circumference, and
[0021] - attachment of the first support and the last support to each other, so that the belt surrounds the entire circumference of the pipe.
[0022] According to other advantageous aspects of the invention, the method comprises one or more of the following features, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations:
[0023] - the method includes a step of tightening the first support and the last support between them, after the seatbelt was put on the steering wheel.
[0024] The invention will become clearer upon reading the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the drawings in which:
[0025] [Fig-1] [Fig.1] is a schematic three-dimensional representation of a device according to an embodiment of the invention, installed on a pipe,
[0026] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a schematic top view of a link and a pin according to one embodiment of the invention,
[0027] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a schematic side view of the link and pin of [Fig.2], a transducer being housed in the link,
[0028] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a schematic cross-sectional view of a pipe having a weld provided with the device according to the invention, and
[0029] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] is a schematic top view of a pipe having a weld provided with the device according to the invention.
[0030] An ultrasonic control device 10 of a weld 12 of a pipe 14, more particularly of a pressurized water nuclear reactor, according to an example of the invention is shown in [Fig.1].
[0031] The control device 10 comprises a plurality of assemblies 16, each assembly comprising a support 18 and an ultrasonic transducer 20.
[0032] The control device 10 comprises as many transducers 20 as supports 18.
[0033] The control device 10 comprises, for example, between 32 and 256 supports and between 32 and 256 transducers.
[0034] The number chosen depends in particular on the minimum size of the defects that one wishes to detect.
[0035] The supports 18 are attached one after the other, so as to form a belt suitable for encircling the pipe over its entire circumference.
[0036] Here, at least two adjacent supports among the supports 18 are reversibly attached to each other.
[0037] More specifically here, each support is attached to the two supports adjacent to it in a reversible manner.
[0038] An example of assembly 16 and support 18 according to an embodiment of the invention is shown in figures 2 and 3.
[0039] Each support 18 has a surface 21 adapted to extend opposite or against the pipe 14, more particularly here opposite the pipe 14.
[0040] The surface 21 has, for example, the shape of an arc of a circle or has, for example, two curvatures around a respective plane, the two planes being, for example, perpendicular to each other.
[0041] The arc of a circle corresponds to the arc of a circle having, for example, as its diameter the outer diameter of the pipe on which the device is intended to be mounted, within 5%. This diameter depends in particular on the nature of the support 18, and especially on its elasticity.
[0042] Alternatively, the surface 21 is flat.
[0043] In particular, the curvature of the pipe is, for example, locally negligible.
[0044] Each support 18 includes, more particularly, a link 22.
[0045] Each support 18, more particularly each link 22, is elastic.
[0046] Each support 18, more particularly each link 22, is, for example, made with a so-called flexible material, having a hardness between 30 and 80 Shore A, preferably between 40 and 60 Shore A, preferably equal to 50 Shore A.
[0047] Each support 18, more particularly each link 22, is, for example, made of elastomer, for example polyurethane elastomer or silicone.
[0048] This is particularly advantageous for compensating for variations in diameters, applying a clamping force of the transducers described below on the pipe, and contributes to an equi-angular distribution of the transducers over the entire periphery.
[0049] Alternatively, each support 18, more particularly each link 22, is not stretchable.
[0050] Each support 18, more particularly each link 22, is, for example, made of thermosetting resin or thermoplastic material, for example Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), or even of metal, for example aluminium.
[0051] The links 22 of the supports are, for example, identical to each other.
[0052] The surface 21 includes, more particularly, a so-called lower surface of the link 22.
[0053] Each support 18, more particularly each link 22, has a receiving housing 23 for the corresponding transducer 20.
[0054] Each link 22 is here made from a single piece.
[0055] Each link 22 has a front edge 24 and a rear edge 26, the front edge 24 and the rear edge 26 being opposite along an extension direction D of the support 18, here of the link 22.
[0056] Each link 22 has a front interface 28 and a rear interface 30.
[0057] The front interface 28 includes the front edge 24, and the rear interface 30 includes the rear edge 26.
[0058] The receiving housing 23 extends between the front edge 24 and the rear edge 26, more particularly between the front interface 28 and the rear interface 30.
[0059] The reception housing 23 opens into the surface 21.
[0060] The receiving housing 23 is here an orifice passing through the link 22 along its entire length the thickness of the link 22, the thickness being considered perpendicular to the surface 21.
[0061] The receiving housing 23 here has a rectangular prism shape.
[0062] Each front interface 28 has a complementary shape to the rear interface 30 of the link intended to be the next link, as defined below.
[0063] Here, each front interface 28 is complementary to the rear interfaces 30.
[0064] The rear edge 26 has a cutout that complements the front edge 24.
[0065] For example, each front interface 28 is such that the front edge 24 has a crenellated shape, the rear interfaces 30 being such that the rear edge 26 has a complementary crenellated shape.
[0066] Here, the front interface 28 has an outgrowth 32 along the extension direction D. The front interface 28 includes, more particularly, a straight edge 34 perpendicular to the extension direction D, the outgrowth 32 extending outward from the straight edge 34.
[0067] Each front interface 28 has at least one front opening 40.
[0068] The at least one opening before 40 extends, for example, in a direction perpendicular to the direction of extension.
[0069] At least one opening before 40 extends, for example, parallel to the surface 21.
[0070] Here, at least one opening before 40, here the opening before 40, crosses the protrusion 32.
[0071] More particularly, the protrusion 32 has two edges delimiting the protrusion in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction D. At least one front opening 40 passes through the protrusion and opens into each of the two edges of the protrusion.
[0072] The rear interface 30 has a concavity 36 complementary to the protrusion 32. The rear interface 30 includes, more particularly, a straight edge 38 perpendicular to the extension direction D, the concavity 36 extending back from the straight edge 38.
[0073] The rear interface 30 thus defines two branches 39, on either side of the concavity 36.
[0074] Each rear interface 30 has at least one rear opening 42.
[0075] At least one rear opening 42 extends, for example, parallel to the surface 21.
[0076] Here, at least one rear opening 42, here the two rear openings 42, passes through at least one of the branches 39 of the rear interface 30, for example the two branches 39 of the rear interface 30.
[0077] The front interface 28 of each link 22 is designed to be arranged opposite or to cooperate with the rear interface 30 of an adjacent link, called the next link, in particular thanks to their complementary shape.
[0078] In particular, in the belt, the front interface 28 of each link 22 is arranged opposite or cooperates with the rear interface 30 of the next link, so as to form the series of supports, and thus the belt.
[0079] Here, the protrusion 32 of the front interface 28 of each link 22 extends into the concavity 36 of the rear interface 30 of the next link.
[0080] The belt extension direction is defined locally as the extension direction D of the support 18.
[0081] At least one front opening 40 of a front interface 28 of one of the links and at least one rear opening 42 of the next adjacent link are arranged so as to be aligned, when the front interface 28 of each link 22 is arranged opposite or cooperates with the rear interface 30 of the next link.
[0082] The control device 10 here comprises a plurality of pins 44.
[0083] More specifically, the control device includes as many pins as supports 18.
[0084] Each pin 44 extends into at least one front opening 40 of a front interface 28 of a corresponding respective link and into at least one rear opening 42 of the next link.
[0085] In [Fig.2], the pin 44 is shown extending only in at least one opening before 40, the following link not being shown.
[0086] The pins 44 thus serve to secure the supports together in pairs, and thus the belt.
[0087] Alternatively, the pins are, for example, replaced by any part capable of performing this function of joining the supports two by two, for example a solid shaft or a screw.
[0088] A single transducer 20 is mounted on each of the supports 18.
[0089] Each transducer 20 is partially received in the receiving housing 23.
[0090] Each transducer 20, more particularly at least the active surface of the transducer 20, here protrudes from the surface 21 of the corresponding support 18, more particularly by a distance of at least one millimeter.
[0091] More particularly here, each transducer 20 comprises an emission surface 19.
[0092] The emission surface 19 forms a so-called lower surface of the transducer 20.
[0093] The emission surface 19 here protrudes from the surface 21 of the corresponding support 18. More specifically, the emission surface 19 forms the end of the transducer which protrudes from the surface 21.
[0094] Each transducer 20 is fixed to the corresponding support 18.
[0095] More particularly here, the transducer 20 is suitable for being clipped into the receiving housing 23 of the corresponding support.
[0096] Each transducer 20 has, for example, here an indexing element 25.
[0097] The indexing element 25 is, for example, at least one groove, cutout or shoulder.
[0098] The indexing element is arranged where the transducer 20 is received in the receiving housing 23, when mounted on the corresponding support.
[0099] In the example shown, the indexing element 25 includes at least one groove, here a groove on either side of the transducer, arranged on the lateral walls of the transducer 20.
[0100] The indexing element 25 is spaced from the emission surface 19 of the transducer 20 by a distance substantially equal to the planned overhang distance of the transducer 20 relative to the surface 21.
[0101] The section of the transducer perpendicular to the direction of insertion of the transducer in the receiving housing 23, outside the indexing element, is here strictly greater than the passage section of the receiving housing 23.
[0102] The section of the transducer perpendicular to the direction of insertion of the transducer into the receiving housing 23 at the level of the indexing element is here strictly less than the section of the transducer outside the indexing element.
[0103] Here, the corresponding transducer is inserted into the receiving housing 23, until it reaches the indexing element 25, here the grooves, by deformation of the support 18 to allow the passage of the transducer through the receiving housing 23.
[0104] When the indexing element 25 reaches the receiving housing 23, the support 18 returns to its initial shape or its deformation is reduced.
[0105] The transducer 20 is then held in the receiving housing 23 by cooperation of the indexing element 25 with the edges of the receiving housing 23.
[0106] Alternatively, the support 18 and / or the transducer 20 has, for example, at least one indexing element or deformable tab for clipping.
[0107] Alternatively, the transducer 20 is attached to the corresponding support 18 differently.
[0108] Alternatively, the transducer 20 is mounted differently on the corresponding support 18.
[0109] In particular, for a non-stretchable link, the link 22 is, for example, mounted directly around the transducer 20.
[0110] For example, the transducer 20 does not have an indexing element 25 and is inserted through the support 18 until it cooperates with the receiving housing 23 at the desired location. The transducer 20 is then fixed to the support 18 in any suitable manner.
[0111] Alternatively, link 22, for example, is then composed of at least two parts which are mounted together during assembly around the transducer 20, for example, in the case of the presence of an indexing element 25, at the level of the indexing element.
[0112] Alternatively, the link 22 and the transducer 20 are joined and / or form a single piece. The link 22 is, for example, then non-extendable.
[0113] Each transducer 20 is, for example, a single-element transducer.
[0114] Each transducer 20 is capable of emitting an ultrasonic beam 50.
[0115] Each transducer 20 is, for example, connected to a control electronics via a cable bundle. Alternatively, each transducer has, for example, its own electronics directly integrated into the sensor. This simplifies the wiring.
[0116] The ultrasonic beam 50 has, for example, a central axis forming an angle between 45° and 70° with the surface 21, as seen in [Fig.4].
[0117] The ultrasonic beam 50 is thus directed towards the weld 12, while the belt is arranged around a circumference of the pipe 14 outside the weld 12 at a given distance from the weld.
[0118] The ultrasonic beam 50 is, for example, divergent with respect to a direction ô perpendicular to the extension direction D of the belt, considered locally at the level of the transducer 20.
[0119] The ultrasonic beam 50 is, for example, emitted along a median direction corresponding to the direction ô.
[0120] The ultrasonic beam 50 diverges, for example, from the direction ô by an angle between 10° and 35°.
[0121] This allows in particular that the beam reflected 52 by a possible defect 54 is received by a transducer adjacent to the emitting transducer.
[0122] Alternatively, the transducer 20 is, for example, a multi-element, linear or matrix transducer, with a number of elements, for example, between 16 and 512. Such a transducer allows, for example, acquisitions in imaging mode and thus produce a tomographic representation of the weld.
[0123] Each multi-element transducer is then, for example, connected to a control electronics unit by a cable harness. Alternatively, each multi-element transducer may, for example, have its own electronics directly integrated into the sensor. This simplifies the wiring.
[0124] In an alternative embodiment, not all links are identical to each other.
[0125] There is, for example, an order of placement of the supports within the belt.
[0126] The front and rear interfaces are therefore not all complementary to each other.
[0127] Each front interface is complementary to the rear interface of the link intended to be the next link.
[0128] Thus, the interfaces intended to cooperate or extend in relation to each other are complementary.
[0129] A method for ultrasonic testing of a weld 12 of a pipe 14 will now be described.
[0130] The process comprises the following steps:
[0131] - supply of a control device as described above,
[0132] - fitting the seat belt on the steering wheel, and
[0133] - attachment of the first support and the last support to each other.
[0134] During the supply step, the belt is opened between two supports, called first support and last support, more particularly only between these two supports.
[0135] The term "open" means that all the supports are attached one after the other, except for the location(s) where the belt is said to be open.
[0136] More particularly, in the context of the embodiment described above, the front interface of the link of the first support does not cooperate or is not maintained with respect to the rear interface of the link of the last support of the belt.
[0137] Here, no pin 44 is inserted between the front interface of the link of the first support and the rear interface of the link of the last support, so that they are not held together.
[0138] Thus, the first support and the last support are not attached directly to each other.
[0139] The belt has a length corresponding to its extension measured along successive extension directions D, more particularly, when open, between the first support and the last support.
[0140] The length of the belt without any applied force is, for example, strictly less than its length once mounted around the pipe 14, so that the emitting surface 19 of the transducers mounted on the supports rests on the outer diameter of the pipe 14, in the case of elastic links. Its length in the absence of applied force is such that, after stretching, it allows the belt to close around said pipe.
[0141] In the case of non-stretchable links, the length of the belt without application of force on the belt is such that the belt surrounds the pipe, the emission surface 19 of the transducers mounted on the supports 18 being in contact with the external diameter of the pipe 14.
[0142] When the belt is being fitted onto the pipe, the previously opened belt is arranged on the pipe 14, so that the belt surrounds the pipe 14 on a circumference, in particular at a given distance from a plane of the weld.
[0143] The first link and the last link are then arranged opposite each other.
[0144] In a particular embodiment, especially when the length of the belt is smaller than the outside diameter of the pipe, the process includes a step of clamping the first support and the last support together, after the belt has been placed on the pipe, for example using a vise.
[0145] The first support and the last support are, for example, clamped until the interfaces cooperate or, here, until at least one front opening 40 of the first support and at least one rear opening 42 of the last support are aligned.
[0146] The first support and the last support are attached to each other after the belt has been put in place, and where applicable, after tightening.
[0147] More particularly, the front interface of the link of the first support and the rear interface of the link of the last support extend opposite each other, more particularly here at least one front opening 40 of the first support and at least one rear opening 42 of the last support are aligned.
[0148] A pin 44 is then inserted into at least one front opening 40 of the first support and at least one rear opening 42 of the last support, so as to secure the first support and the last support.
[0149] The belt then surrounds the entire circumference of the pipe.
[0150] The belt then exhibits, for example, a symmetry by discrete rotation of 360° divided by the number of supports 18.
[0151] The belt is easily put in place around the pipe, then closed.
[0152] Here, each pin 44 forms, for example, a pivot joint between the two links correspondents.
[0153] This allows, in particular, the shape of the belt to adapt to the geometry of the ride during its installation.
[0154] Alternatively, each pin does not form a pivot joint or the connection between the supports is made in any other way, for example, by clipping.
[0155] In addition, the fact that the belt has a length slightly less than the outside diameter of the pipe allows the belt, and thus the transducers, to be particularly pressed against the pipe.
[0156] An operator can mount a control device on a pipe particularly easily and quickly, simply by encircling the pipe with the belt and then attaching the first support and the last support together.
[0157] In addition, the pipe mounting does not require a large space, so the control device can, for example, be easily mounted near possible bends or close to a wall.
[0158] The control device may also be mounted near at least one other similar control device. For example, a plurality of belts may be mounted one after the other, for instance to increase coverage of the inspected area, particularly at the weld toe. Alternatively, two belts may be mounted, each belt being mounted on a respective side of the weld.
[0159] Furthermore, since the transducers surround the pipe around its entire circumference, it is not necessary to move them to take a measurement around that entire circumference. It is sufficient to activate the different transducers successively to perform the measurement around the whole circumference.
[0160] Finally, the belt is, for example, capable of being adapted by adding or removing supports (or links) to adjust the length of the belt, in particular to the diameter of the pipe on which the control is to be carried out.
[0161] -
Claims
Demands
1. Ultrasonic control device (10) for a weld (12) of a pipe (14), more particularly of a nuclear reactor, for example pressurized water, or of a petrochemical installation, the control device (10) comprising a plurality of supports (18) and a plurality of ultrasonic transducers (20), the supports (18) being attached one after the other, so as to form a belt suitable to surround the pipe (14) over its entire circumference, a single transducer (20) being mounted on each of the supports (18).
2. Control device according to claim 1, wherein each support (18) comprises a link (22), each link (22) having a front interface (28) and a rear interface (30), the front interface (28) of each link (22) being arranged opposite or cooperating with the rear interface (30) of a respective subsequent link.
3. Control device according to claim 2, wherein each front interface (28) has at least one front opening (40), and each rear interface (30) has at least one rear opening (42), the at least one front opening (40) of a front interface (28) of each link (22) being respectively aligned with the at least one rear opening (42) of the respective next link when the front interface (28) of said link (22) is arranged opposite or cooperates with the rear interface (30) of the respective next link.
4. Control device according to claim 3, comprising a plurality of pins (44), one pin (44) extending into each of at least one front opening (40) of a front interface (28) of a corresponding link and into at least one rear opening (42) of the respective next link.
5. Control device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein each link (22) is elastic.
6. Control device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein each transducer (20) is a single-element transducer.
7. A control device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein each support (18) has a surface (21) adapted to extend against the conduit (14), each transducer (20) being capable of emitting an ultrasonic beam (50) having a central axis forming an angle between 45° and 70° with said surface (21).
8. Control device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein each transducer (20) is capable of emitting an ultrasonic beam (50) diverging with respect to a direction (o) perpendicular to an extension direction (D) of the belt.
9. Method of installing an ultrasonic inspection device (10) of a pipe weld (12) (14), comprising the following steps: - providing an inspection device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, the belt being open between a first support and a last support, - installing the belt on the pipe (14), so that the belt surrounds the pipe (14) on a circumference, and - attaching the first support and the last support together, so that the belt surrounds the entire circumference of the pipe (14).
10. Method of setting up a control device (10) according to claim 9, comprising a step of tightening the first support and the last support together, after the belt has been placed on the pipe (14).
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