Acoustic Wave Tube Screening
IRISNDT applies Acoustic Wave tube screening to efficiently pre-screen tubes/pipe to identify:
- Partial or full blockages
- Holes and leaks
- Stuck pigs
- Furnace tube blockages
- Blockages, restrictions, or holes in exchanger tubes
- If valves are closed, partially or fully open
IRISNDT applies this technology for the petrochemical, refinery and power generation industries.
ADVANTAGES
The Acoustic Wave tube screening pulses:
- Detect and locates troublesome blockages or leaks quickly and accurately.
- Travel around bends and are not affected by directional changes.
- Can be used to examine lengths of up to 300 m (1000 ft) of pipe/tubing.
- Are used to inspect pipe of diameters ranging from 26.7 mm (¾ inch) to over 1.2 m (48 inch). The larger the diameter the further sound travels.
- Are more efficient for identifying problem areas than localized ‘hit and miss’ inspections.
LIMITATIONS
The Acoustic Wave tube screening pulses:
- Must have a continuous run; tee’s or branches can disrupt the acoustic flow.
- May be disrupted by excessive ambient noise.
- Are a prescreening inspection method. Once located, the problem should be confirmed and assessed by more conventional inspections such as radiography.
AR 5000 FUNDAMENTALS
In a similar fashion to ultrasonic equipment, the AR 5000 uses a pulsar and receiver to send and receive acoustic signals. The pulsar (a speaker) sends a series of short low frequency pulses down the inside diameter of a pipe or tube. The sonic wave runs along the inside of the pipe/tube, following it around bends and even complex spirals. The receiver detects any returning signals that have reflected by a blockage, reduction or from sound exiting through a break in the pipe or a leak.