Patent classifications
G01N27/9073
SYSTEMS, METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR IN-SERVICE TANK INSPECTIONS
Systems, methods and apparatuses for inspecting a tank containing a flammable fluid are provided. A vehicle configured to inspect the tank can include a propeller, a battery, a control unit, an inspection device, and a ranging device. The battery provides power to the propeller, the control unit, the inspection device, and the ranging device. The control unit generates a map of the tank. The control unit determines a first position of the vehicle on the map of the tank. The propeller moves the vehicle through the flammable fluid in the tank. The inspection device determines a quality metric of a portion of the tank. The control unit causes the propeller to move the vehicle from the first position to a second position within the tank. The control unit determines the quality metric for the portion of the tank at the second position within the tank, and stores the quality metric.
SYSTEMS, METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR IN-SERVICE TANK INSPECTIONS
Systems, methods and apparatuses for inspecting a tank containing a flammable fluid are provided. The system includes a vehicle having a propeller, a latch mechanism, a pressure switch, and an inspection device. The system includes a control unit in communication with the propeller, the latch mechanism, and the inspection device, and electrically connected to the pressure switch. The control unit powers on responsive to the pressure switch detecting an ambient pressure greater than a minimum threshold. The control unit receives, from the latch mechanism, an indication of a state of the latch mechanism. The control unit determines that the cable used to lower the vehicle into the tank containing the flammable fluid is detached from the vehicle. The control unit commands the propeller to move the vehicle through the flammable fluid. The control unit determines a quality metric of a portion of the tank.
Method for in-situ calibration of electromagnetic corrosion detection tools
A calibration system for an electromagnetic (EM) tool includes a processor. The processor employs the EM tool to measure responses at each of a plurality of channels. The processor records the measured responses at each of the channels in an EM data log for the channel. The processor determines a nominal value of each of the channels, as being equal to a histogram peak of the EM data log. The processor selects one or more calibration points from the EM data log for a particular channel, based on a difference between the nominal value of the particular channel and the measured response at the calibration point being greater than a particular threshold. The processor determines a plurality of parameters by reducing a misfit between synthetic data and both the nominal values of the channels and the measured responses of the channels at the selected one or more calibration points.
Remote-field eddy current based total thickness logging
Eddy current logging enables corrosion monitoring in nested-pipe arrangements. An illustrative method of logging total thickness of the pipe walls includes acquiring measurements from an electromagnetic logging tool conveyed through the innermost bore, each measurement associated with a TRF combination (transmit antenna, receive antenna, and frequency), and further associated with a position along the bore. Multiple scale factors are applied to the measurements to determine multiple total thickness estimates for each position, each of the multiple scale factors corresponding to a subset of single-pipe defect profiles. Preferably, every possible single-pipe defect profile is included in at least one of these subsets. A total thickness log value for each position is derived from the multiple total thickness estimates for that position, and the derived total thickness log values are used to update a displayed total thickness log as the measurements are being acquired.
REMOTE-FIELD EDDY CURRENT BASED TOTAL THICKNESS LOGGING
Eddy current logging enables corrosion monitoring in nested-pipe arrangements. An illustrative method of logging total thickness of the pipe walls includes acquiring measurements from an electromagnetic logging tool conveyed through the innermost bore, each measurement associated with a TRF combination (transmit antenna, receive antenna, and frequency), and further associated with a position along the bore. Multiple scale factors are applied to the measurements to determine multiple total thickness estimates for each position, each of the multiple scale factors corresponding to a subset of single-pipe defect profiles. Preferably, every possible single-pipe defect profile is included in at least one of these subsets. A total thickness log value for each position is derived from the multiple total thickness estimates for that position, and the derived total thickness log values are used to update a displayed total thickness log as the measurements are being acquired.
METHOD FOR ACQUIRING AND STORING BIOMETRIC DATA, IN PARTICULAR DATA OF BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES, METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A BIOLOGICAL SYSTEM, APPARATUS FOR CARRYING OUT THE METHODS, AND USES
A method for acquiring and storing data of biological samples, a method for controlling a biological system and an apparatus for these methods, and uses thereof.
Method for non-destructive analysis of multiple structural parameters
A system and method for non-destructive analysis of a structure. A probe acquires a transient time based reference signal and at least one test signal. The reference signal and test signals are transformed to the frequency domain. The frequency domain test signal can be normalized using the frequency domain reference signal. Parameters of interest are evaluated at each test location by iteratively determining estimated parameter values, generating an estimated frequency domain test signal using the estimated parameter values and determining the convergence between the estimated frequency domain test signal and the normalized frequency domain test signal. The parameters values are determined as the estimated parameter values resulting in a maximized convergence between the estimated signal and the normalized test signal. The parameter values can be used to visualize and model various features of the structure.
METHOD FOR THE NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING OF THE VOLUME OF A TEST OBJECT AND TESTING DEVICE CONFIGURED FOR CARRYING OUT SUCH A METHOD
A method for the non-destructive testing of the volume of a test object, during the course of which a volume raw image of the test object is recorded by a suitable non-destructive imaging testing method. Then, those regions of the volume raw image are identified that are not to be attributed to the test object material. It is checked whether an identified region is completely embedded in regions that are to be associated with the test object material. If necessary, such a region is assimilated to those regions that are to be associated with the test object material, forming a filled volume raw image. Finally, a difference is generated between the volume raw image and the filled volume raw image, forming a first flaw image.
EDDY CURRENT INSPECTION DEVICE FOR NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING
Disclosed is an eddy current inspection device for nondestructive testing. The device includes: a bobbin-shaped coil configured to be inserted into a specimen, which is an object of nondestructive testing, and to apply induction current to an inner diameter of the specimen; a reference coil configured to be inserted into a nondestructive specimen, which is a reference of the specimen, and to apply induction current to an inner diameter of the nondestructive specimen; a cylindrical manual sensor array configured to disposed in the bobbin-shaped coil and to include lines and rows; and a control module configured to select one or more frequencies of multiple frequencies, apply AC power to the bobbin-shaped coil and the reference coil, generate a square wave signal with a varying phase difference, and perform first multiplication by an applied signal and the square wave signal. Accordingly, it is possible to accurately detect a flaw.
Systems, methods and apparatus for in-service tank inspections
Systems, methods and apparatuses for inspecting a tank containing a flammable fluid are provided. The system includes a vehicle having a propeller, a latch mechanism, a pressure switch, and an inspection device. The system includes a control unit in communication with the propeller, the latch mechanism, and the inspection device, and electrically connected to the pressure switch. The control unit powers on responsive to the pressure switch detecting an ambient pressure greater than a minimum threshold. The control unit receives, from the latch mechanism, an indication of a state of the latch mechanism. The control unit determines that the cable used to lower the vehicle into the tank containing the flammable fluid is detached from the vehicle. The control unit commands the propeller to move the vehicle through the flammable fluid. The control unit determines a quality metric of a portion of the tank.