METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INSPECTION OF CORROSION AND OTHER DEFECTS THROUGH INSULATION

摘要

Detection of corrosion and other defects in piping is needed to prevent catastrophic pipeline failure. Sensors, systems and methods are provided to enable detection of such defects. These apparatus and methods are configured to characterize pipe protected by insulation and conductive weather protection. The sensors may utilize inductive and/or solid state sensing element arrays operated in a magnetic field generated in part by a drive winding of the sensor. Multiple excitation frequencies are used to generate the magnetic field and record corresponding sensing element responses. Relatively high excitation frequencies may be used to estimate the properties of the weather protection and sensor lift-off while lower frequencies may be used to detect internal and external pipe damage. Linear arrays may be moved to generate damage images of the pipe providing size and location information for defects. Two dimensional sensor arrays may be used to provide imaging without moving the sensor.

主权项

1. A sensor for small-footprint scanning comprising:
at least one electrical connector for connecting instrumentation to the sensor; an array of sensing elements; and a conducting drive loop comprising
a primary segment a first distance from the array,a return segment located outside a surface defined by the array and primary segment and at a second distance, at least three times the first, from the primary segment,a connecting segment connecting an end of the primary segment to an end of the return segment, andlead segments for connecting ends of the loop to the electrical connector.