Introducing The Lixi Profiler - NDTLixi profiler uses Gd153 radioisotope source on one end of C-arm and detector on the other end of the arm. When detector assembly is placed around

Introducing The Lixi Profiler

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Santhosh LukoseAdvanced inspection Specialist

Metalcare Technologies Inc.

www.metalcare.com

WELCOME TO LIXI

PROFILER PRESENTATION

PRESENTATION BY

NAME: SANTHOSH LUKOSEMETALCARE INSPECTION SERVICES Inc.TEL: (780) 715 1889

EMAIL: [email protected]

Lixi profiler uses Gd153 radioisotope source on one endof C-arm and detector on the other end of the arm.When detector assembly is placed around pipe, smallamount of focused radiation beam penetrates thediameter of the pipe. The amount of radiation receivedby detector is converted to an equivalent steel thicknessmeasurement by computer. Variation in density(thickness) are plotted on a computer screen in realtime image, which is used for identification of welds,corrosion, blockage, fouling, or variety of otherindications commonly found in piping systems.

Introduction

Pipe wall thinning

Corrosion under Insulation (CUI)

Pipe Blockages such as Bitumen, Ice, or any another foreign material

Wet Insulation

Cluster of Internal and external pittings

Wall thickness measurement on insulated or bare pipes w/ or w/o product

Wall thickness measurement on very hot pipes while in-service

Weld Identification on Insulated Piping Systems

The LIXI Profiler - Applications

The Profiler utilizes a Gadolinium – 153 isotope specifically manufactured to our high quality requirements.

The Profiler utilises proprietary software to convert gamma rays to visible light in the form of photons. The detection system measures the transmitted photons and compares the results against a calibration scale to determine actual wall thickness

A high level of accuracy is achievableAs the thickness of the material increases the radiation transmission reduces and is therefore this has an effect on the sensitivity of the system.

Above a combined thickness of 30mm wall it becomes difficult to detect smaller defects and due to excess noise.

The LIXI Profiler - Specification

The LIXI Profiler - System

The LIXI Profiler - Advantages

Corrosion – 90% of all corrosion including CUI - on the bottom of Pipe.

90% of all Insulated pipe not Examined. Usually point locations, very rarely is insulation removed totally

Lixi Profiler provides a larger area inspected.

Productivity is high compared to Profile Radiography or Ultrasonic Thickness Measurement

Provides more assurance

Easy to use, but extensive training & experience is required for interpretation and evaluation.

Immediate results. Real Time

Hand carried, easily move from location to location.

A) Remove Insulation

B) Shutdown Production

C) Remove Product (although this may affect sensitivity and for diameter of pipe above 8” )

D) Restrict access to establish Safe Working Areas

Ability to scan large volumes of piping for internal and external thinning without the need to:

The LIXI Profiler - Advantages

The LIXI Profiler - Limitations

A) Not recommended for detection of cracks and pin-holes

B) Can be used only for piping that has both side access

C) Less sensitive over 30mm equivalent steel penetration thickness

Work on rechargeable battery and no requirement for local power supaply

Work Under hot work permit.

The LIXI Profiler – Requirement

Sample of pipe section with external corrosion scale detected by the Profiler

The LIXI Profiler – Effect of Scale

Why use the Profiler?

Why use the Profiler?

6.50 mm Wall Thickness = Profiler Reading of ~ 13.00mm

How does the Lixi Profiler Work?

Add 4” Insulation = Profiler Reading of ~ 16.00mm

Add Product = Profiler Reading of ~ 21.50mm

Add Product = Profiler Reading of ~ 21.50mm

However, if a corroded area isscanned over withthe Lixi Profiler, thenthe scan will reflect a loss of density equivalent to the lossof steel.

For example, if a pit of 2.50mm is scannedover, the Profiler will show a reduction inthe graph from 21.50 mmto 19.00mm Assumingthat the insulation and product density have not changed over a short distance,the only cause for a reduction in the graph would be lossfrom the metal pipe.

Nominal Thickness

Left: Profiler oriented perpendicularly over weld. Response is single, high-amplitude peak.

Right: Profiler oriented at an angle while scanning over weld. Result –baseline thickness increases and two lower-amplitude peaks result: one when the detector crosses the top of the weld and one when the source crosses the bottom of the weld.

This slide denotes what a corroded area might look like during an initial scan.

The next slide shows a technique to determine which side of the pipe has the corrosion by orienting the Profiler 90 degrees to the initial scan direction and taking a “slice” from the bottom to the top of the pipe.

Top Chord Density

(More Dense)

Center of Pipe

Bottom Chord Density

(Less Dense)

Heat Affected Zone (HAZ) Corrosion

Weld

Thin-wall pipe

Reducer

Thick-wall pipe

Welds

Pipe Schedule Change:Sch. 40 on left; Sch. 80 on right

Weld in middle

Normal Insulated

Pipe

Water inInsulation

Ice in Insulation

Slice scan on the left is through the section of pipe devoid of debris.

The slice scan on the right is through a section of pipe having debris in it. Which direction was this scan taken (top to bottom or bottom to top)?

RadiographicProfiling

Upper images are digital radiographs of piping (20 – 30 locations per day)

Middle images are histograms (density charts) representing the thickness of the pipe along the yellow lines

The lower image is of a portable system that acquires histograms in real-time (150 – 250 locations per day)

1 13 255 9 17 21 29 T111 37 41 45 49 53 57 61 65 69 73 77 81 85 89 93 97 101 105 109 113 117

0.000

0.100

0.200

0.300

0.400

0.500

0.600

0.700

0.800

0.900

1.000

Session # 119 - T111 : 0.552

A

Weld A

Weld A

Corrosion on backside of Tee

Horizontal Pipe

Elbow

Vertical Pipe

Welds

What could this be?

Typical Extradose Erosion

Sample Report

1 7 13 19 25 31 37 43 49 55 61 67 73 79 85 91 97

4 10 16 22 28 34 40 46 52 58 64 70 76 82 88 94 100

103

106

109

112

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154

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163

T7

T8

T8

175

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190

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217

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235

5

10

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25

30

Pass 3 - Line # 17 Section 3

Sample Axial Scan GraphAxial Scan Result for 4” Pipe with 8.56mm single wall thickness (~17.12mm double wall)

The total thickness reads as 21.5mm, indicates that the pipe is not empty.

Assembly1. Computer Module

2. UniConnect Module

3. Detector Module

4. HUD

5. C-Arm

6. Source Holder

7. Battery Brick

THANK YOU

CORPORATE OFFICE (CANADA)

Metalcare Inspection Services Inc

PO Box 6549, Fort McMurray, AB T9H 5N4Tel > +1 (780) 715 1889 Fax> +1 (780) 715 1898Email> [email protected]

REGIONAL OFFICE (SINGAPORE)

Metalcare Solutions Asia Pte. Ltd.

21 Toh Guan Road East#06-12 Toh Guan Centre SINGAPORE 608 609Tel > +65 65152680 Fax> +65 65155490Email> [email protected]

References and Useful Links

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