Insulated Pipe Thickness Inspection Without Scaffold Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe inspection methods require significant work, including scaffold assembly and frequent attachment/detachment of thermal insulators, which is inefficient and limits the ability to measure pipe thickness at multiple positions.
Innovation Solution
A pipe inspection method utilizing an access tool to deploy an outside coil and camera outside the thermal insulator, along with pre-fixed ultrasonic sensors inside and outside the insulator, enabling electromagnetic induction for signal transmission, and a controller for signal processing, allowing for efficient thickness measurement and thermal insulator inspection without scaffold assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an ultrasonic sensor is fixed to the inside of the thermal insulator in advance, then the number of sensors that can be fixed is limited and it is difficult to measure thickness at multiple positions, but if the thermal insulator is removed and reattached for each measurement, then more positions can be measured but the work burden increases
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal insulator is divided into multiple detachable sections that can be separately removed and repositioned. This allows the ultrasonic sensor to access different measurement positions on the pipe without removing the entire thermal insulator, thereby increasing measurement position flexibility while reducing the work burden compared to complete removal and reattachment.
2Ease of operation
If scaffold assembly is performed for pipe inspection, then the worker can approach the pipe for inspection work, but the work time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The inspection system uses a movable robotic arm or manipulator that can dynamically position the ultrasonic sensor at different locations around the pipe. This dynamic positioning capability eliminates the need for static scaffold assembly, providing easy access to the pipe while significantly reducing the time and complexity associated with scaffold setup.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the thermal insulator is completely removed for inspection, then all positions can be accessed, but the work burden and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of completely removing the thermal insulator, the system removes only the specific section needed for the current measurement. The remaining sections stay in place, providing continuous insulation. This partial removal approach maintains adequate measurement coverage while significantly improving inspection efficiency by avoiding the labor-intensive process of complete insulator removal and reattachment.
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
Reduces work burden and time by allowing efficient pipe thickness measurement and thermal insulator inspection, with the ability to measure at multiple positions without scaffold assembly and thermal insulator detachment.
Implementation Method 1
a controller that executes input and output of signals with the first ultrasonic sensor by using electromagnetic induction between the inside coil and the outside coil
Data Source
AI summary
A pipe inspection method includes a first process of disposing an outside coil and a camera outside a thermal insulator, a second process of measuring the thickness of a pipe at a position of an ultrasonic sensor fixed in advance to an inside of the thermal insulator and to the outer surface of the pipe, by using the ultrasonic sensor, an inside coil, the outside coil, and a controller, a third process of photographing the thermal insulator with the camera, a fourth process of removing the thermal insulator from the pipe when judging an abnormality in the thickness of the pipe at the position of the ultrasonic sensor or in the appearance of the thermal insulator, a fifth process of disposing another ultrasonic sensor on the outer surface of the pipe, and a sixth process of measuring the thickness of the pipe at the position of the other ultrasonic sensor.