Engineers India Limited

SPECIALIST MATERIALS AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES DEPT.

6 March 2013

TIME OF FLIGHT DIFFRACTION (TOFD)

The TOFD is an effective fully computerized inspection method for the detection and assessment of flaws . This technique uses diffraction instead of reflection phenomena. TOFD technique uses a transmitter and receiver placed on equal distances of the weld focused at the same location in the weld. The transmitter sends compression waves into the material. The compression wave will propagate from the sender towards the receiver. The first signal received in the receiver is the lateral wave(waves near the surface). Because of the beamspread the wave will also bounce back from the backwall; the difference in time period will give an accurate measurement of the thickness of the element. When beam encounters an anomaly or flaw, the diffraction signals will occur on the edges of indication. The diffracted signals will be sent to the receiver, the differences in timepath will give a accurate measurement of the through wall height of the anomaly or defect.

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 Applications

- TOFD can be applied on all low or non-alloyed materials from wall thicknesses 6mm and diameter from 80mm - Application is possible even temperatures above 400 Deg C, under water sub-sea pipelines and on wall thicknesses even over 400mm. - Major application is on heavy wall thicknesses to verify the absence of cracks and lack of fusion which cant be detected by conventional radiography techniques. Advantages - Very accurate and relatively fast method. - The data is highly reproducible and can be recorded on permanent data storage. - The improved accuracy and reliability of the data makes it one of the ideal tool for in-service inspections, RBI programs and Fitness for service calculations.
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PHASED ARRAY ULTRASONIC TESTING (PAUT) Ultrasonic phased arrays use a multiple element probe whereby the output pulse from each element is time delayed in such a way so as produce constructive interference at a specific angle and a specific depth. These time delays can be incremented over a range of angles to sweep the beam over the desired angle range. For example 40 to 75 degree beam sweep would be produced by calculating the time delays to produce constructive interference at 40, 41, 42. 75 degrees. The main advantages are - ability to sweep a range of angles - ability to display the image in real time for the swept angles - ability to focus

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Phase array UT vs Manual UT - Manual UT produces single A scan at a specific angle. But PAUT displays images in real time showing the depth and location of indication relative to the probe. - Manual UT is limited to single refracted angle; PAUT simultaneously takes data from a range of angles and reconstructs an image in real time. - PAUT image is easy to comprehend as it gives a display of the ultrasound superimposed on the test piece. - Using an encoder with PAUT probe, all raw A scan data can be stored and can be retrieved; but there is no data storage facility in manual UT.

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Long Range Ultrasonic Testing (LRUT)

How it works: -Torsional or longitudinal guided waves are induced into the pipe body and propagated along the pipe segment being inspected. - When these guided waves identify a defect or an anomaly they mode convert into laminar waves and reflect back to the tools original location. - Using Laptop these signals are digitally captured and processed. The time of flight for each signature is calculated to determine the distance from the tool and the significance of the anomaly. The octants determine the position around the pipe.
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Capabilities - Pipe diameters- 1.5 to 48 can be employed. - 100 % coverage is possible. - Test range: typical 30 mtrs under very ideal conditions: 150 mtrs of length - Productivity Normally 600m per day; Even 2-3 Km under ideal conditions. - Service temperatures up to + 125 Deg C - Removal of insulation, coating/painting is not required for the execution of the test.

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Advantages - Rapid screening for in-service degradation - Reduction in cost of gaining access - No need of removal/reinstatement of insulation or coating except at the location of transducer tool. - Ability to inspect inaccessible areas. Limitations - Can be used only as initial screening before closely examining the subject area by the conventional methods. - The test range drastically reducing for painted/coated pipes.

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THANK YOU

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