Collapsible In-Pipe Magnetic Sensing for Flaw Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for inspecting metallic pipes, especially water and wastewater pipelines, face challenges due to the lack of convenient access points and the presence of valves and structures that prevent full-diameter inspection tools from traversing, leading to inaccurate signal recordings and difficulty in detecting flaws.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible apparatus with sensors mounted around the inner circumference of the pipe, driven by fluid flow, which maintains stability and accuracy by avoiding contact with the pipe wall, using a combination of magnetic field sensors to detect flaws without direct contact, improving signal accuracy and navigating through pipe features like bends and valves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sensors contact the pipe wall during inspection, then measurement sensitivity is improved, but spurious noise is created on recorded signals
Solution Approach 1:
A non-contacting intermediary medium (fluid) is introduced between the sensor and the pipe wall, allowing the sensor to detect magnetic field signals from the pipe wall through the fluid without direct contact. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining measurement sensitivity while eliminating spurious noise caused by sensor movement on the pipe surface.
2Reliability
If full-diameter inspection tools are used, then comprehensive pipe inspection is achieved, but traversal is prevented by valves and other structures
Solution Approach 1:
The inspection tool is designed with a collapsible structure that can dynamically change its diameter. The tool can expand to full diameter for comprehensive inspection and collapse to pass through valves and other pipe structures, resolving the contradiction between inspection completeness and traversal capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The inspection tool is divided into multiple collapsible segments that can be independently moved. This segmentation allows the tool to compress and expand as needed, enabling it to navigate through restricted areas while maintaining the ability to perform comprehensive inspection when fully expanded.
3Ease of operation
If access points are provided through launchers and receivers, then internal pipe inspection is enabled, but convenient access is unavailable in water and wastewater pipelines
Solution Approach 1:
The inspection tool utilizes the existing fluid flow within the pipe as its driving force, eliminating the need for external launchers and receivers. The tool is self-propelled by the fluid flow, making it suitable for water and wastewater pipelines where conventional access points are not available, thus resolving the contradiction between access availability and inspection feasibility.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient and accurate detection of flaws in metallic pipes by maintaining sensor stability and accuracy, allowing for continuous circumference sensing and reducing noise, thus improving the identification of defects within the pipe.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of sensors for sensing magnetic field signal from the metallic pipe
Implementation Method 2
driving the apparatus within the pipe by fluid flow
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and method for detecting flaws in a wall of a metallic pipe containing a fluid are disclosed. The apparatus includes: a plurality of sensors distributed around an inner circumference of the metallic pipe, for sensing magnetic field signals from the metallic pipe; a collapsible supporting structure, including a plurality of supporting petals, at a front side of the plurality of sensors for supporting the apparatus; a sail mounted on and extended from bottom ends of the plurality of supporting petals, when the plurality of supporting petals are in an extended state, the sail is expanded to form a shape capable for containing the fluid; a processing module receiving sensed data from the plurality of sensors; and one or more battery modules for electrically powering the plurality of sensors and the processing module.