Ultrasonic Pipe Thickness Inspection Using Selective Reflection Timing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultrasonic inspection methods struggle to accurately measure a wide range of thickness reduction depths in pipes due to increased changes in reception time, limiting the measurable range, especially when thickness reduction occurs on the inner surface of the pipe.
Innovation Solution
An ultrasonic inspection apparatus using two ultrasonic probes on the outer surface of the pipe, one for transmission and one for reception, computes thickness reduction depth by selectively using the reception time of ultrasonic waves reflected once and twice by the inner surface, allowing for both small and large depth measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the reception time of the ultrasonic wave reflected twice by the inner surface is used, then the measurement precision for small thickness reduction depth is improved, but the measurable range for large thickness reduction depth is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The control device dynamically selects between single-reflection and double-reflection reception times based on the measured thickness reduction depth. For small thickness reductions (0.5-3 mm), the double-reflection reception time is used to achieve higher measurement precision. For large thickness reductions (1-6 mm), the single-reflection reception time is used to maintain measurability. This dynamic selection strategy resolves the contradiction by adapting the measurement method to the specific condition being measured.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the measurement parameter from a fixed reception time method to a variable reception time method. By switching between single-reflection and double-reflection reception times based on the thickness reduction depth, the system can accurately measure both small and large thickness reductions. This parameter change enables the system to overcome the limitation of a fixed measurable range while maintaining high precision for small reductions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the reception time of the ultrasonic wave reflected once by the inner surface is used, then the measurable range for large thickness reduction depth is improved, but the measurement precision for small thickness reduction depth is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control device dynamically selects between single-reflection and double-reflection reception times based on the measured thickness reduction depth. For small thickness reductions (0.5-3 mm), the double-reflection reception time is used to achieve higher measurement precision. For large thickness reductions (1-6 mm), the single-reflection reception time is used to maintain measurability. This dynamic selection strategy resolves the contradiction by adapting the measurement method to the specific condition being measured.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the measurement parameter from a fixed reception time method to a variable reception time method. By switching between single-reflection and double-reflection reception times based on the thickness reduction depth, the system can accurately measure both small and large thickness reductions. This parameter change enables the system to overcome the limitation of a fixed measurable range while maintaining high precision for small reductions.
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
Expands the measurable range of thickness reduction depth, enabling accurate measurement of both small (0.5 to 3 mm) and large (1 to 6 mm) reductions by combining reception times of single and double reflections.
Implementation Method 1
a first ultrasonic probe that is disposed on an outer surface of an inspection object, and transmits an ultrasonic wave to an inside of the inspection object; a second ultrasonic probe that is disposed on the outer surface of the inspection object so as to be separated from the first ultrasonic probe, and receives the ultrasonic wave reflected by an inner surface of the inspection object
Implementation Method 2
the control device is configured to compute a thickness reduction depth of the inspection object between the first ultrasonic probe and the second ultrasonic probe; compute the thickness reduction depth by selectively using a reception time of the ultrasonic wave
Data Source
AI summary
An ultrasonic inspection apparatus includes a control device 12 that outputs a pulse signal for making an ultrasonic probe 11A transmit an ultrasonic wave to the ultrasonic probe 11A and that is supplied with a waveform signal obtained by converting the received ultrasonic wave from an ultrasonic probe 11B, and that computes a thickness reduction depth of a pipe 1 between the ultrasonic probe 11A and the ultrasonic probe 11B. The control device 12 computes the thickness reduction depth of the pipe 1 by selectively using a reception time of the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the ultrasonic probe 11A, reflected once by an inner surface 3 of the pipe 1, and received by the ultrasonic probe 11B, and a reception time of the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the ultrasonic probe 11A, reflected twice by the inner surface 3 of the pipe 1, and received by the ultrasonic probe 11B.