Faq
SONOPEC is the cost effective solution for corrosion detection and monitoring of insulated components in the Oil & Gas and Energy sectors.
It belongs to the Eddy Current inspection method.
SONOPEC is based on the Pulsed Eddy Current principle (PEC).
Pulsed Eddy Current is Eddy Current induced by suddenly switching of a constant magnetic field, therefore Eddy Current generated in this “transitorium”.
It is designed for detection and monitoring of Corrosion Under Insulation (CUI).
Insulated, fireproofed, coated, or encrusted vessels, columns, storage tanks, spheres, pipe, ship hulls, offshore platforms and wells.
Applicable on Carbon Steel and Low Alloyed Carbon Steel. In presence of coating and/or stainless steel weather proofing cladding nominal wall thickness 2 – 70mm, stand-off/insulation 0 – 250mm, diameters 2” up to flat plates. When the weather proofing cladding is Aluminium, then the minimal detectable Average Wall thickness is approx. 3 mm at 20ºC and it is function of the temperature. When the weather proofing cladding is Ferromagnetic, then the general equipment performances and application range are halved (WT < ~35mm, LO < ~100mm).
No, at present SONOPEC is restricted to ferritic material of Carbon Steel and Low Alloyed Carbon Steel.
Yes and the limitations are the same as the primary limitations. A ferritic steel wire mesh will not affect a reading but reinforcement rods will do, therefore a minimum of 4” mesh size or pattern is required.
-100ºC to +500ºC
The insulation type need to be non-magnetic and non-electrical conductive. The weather proofing cladding/sheeting can be Aluminium, Stainless Steel or Galvanised ferrous material, for this sheeting type the general performances are halved.
There is a “dead zone” which depends on the coil minimum time of each probe. How bigger the probe size, how stronger is the received signal and how larger is its coil minimum time.
It affects the minimum detectable Average Wall Thickness (AWT).
This is corrosion mechanism dependent and the grid size may be adjusted for straight pipe to 100% coverage depending on the corrosion characteristics. Elbow’s intrados area is accessible by placing the PEC probe orthogonally to the flow.
Ice does not have an effect, as it does not influence the generated magnetic field.
No the SONOPEC equipment is powered by Battery Packs.
No this system is not explosion proof and may have the potential to cause a spark, if a connection or wire is broken.
Yes the technician has the ability to view the raw signal or data in real time and evaluate the influence of surrounding objects.
Under Laboratory condition with constant lift-off it is possible to determine whether an indication is internal or external by observing the registered signal amplitude. In field operation, insulation does not have a constant thickness and therefore it will not be possible to discriminate whether an indication is internal or external.
When non-magnetic and non-electrical conductive it will not affect the data.
Water will not affect SONOPECO until it will not penetrate inside connectors and the probes coils.
The system would see an influence from any magnetic of ferrous coatings and the application would be evaluated for prior history or if further application testing would be required.
When non-magnetic and non-electrical conductive, SONOPEC will not be sensitive to internal lining material such as: HDPE, FRP, Non-Ferrous Claddings.
No calibration block is required to perform the inspection; calibration or reference measurement is performed on the component to be tested or on a sample having the same material parameters as the object to be inspected.
SONOPEC is not designed for detection of localized pitting and holes. It is designed for generalized corrosion detection. When pitting is grouped and not localized, then it may give reliable indication.
The principal validation method is UT. SONOPEC is a relative inspection method which compares the reference data signal with all other measurement. As result it gives and Average Wall Thickness variation in the object. During validation of the findings, the Reference location and the larger deviations should be checked on the all footprint area. To be noted that within the footprint local Wall thickness could be thinner than the given Average Wall Thickness.
The footprint is the magnetized area on the inspected object. The induced Pulsed Eddy Current decay will give the Average Wall Thickness value compared to the Reference.
The general SONOPEC measurement accuracy is 5 % of the reference value and this will be valid when the local wall reduction will not exceed more than 50% of the reference WT and when the lift-off/insulation variations will be within 50% of the reference lift-off.
Detectability depends on the indication and footprint size. To be detected an indication must have a surface extension of more than a third of the footprint area and the volume deviation to the reference area must be more than 10%.
The ambient electromagnetic field could be affected during severe storms, and therefore affect the generate magnetic field and the measurement. Although the system is well sealed it is electronic equipment and in severe weather, shelter may be required for the computer and transmitter/receiver, with further sealing requirements of the sensors even to the point of requiring SONOPEC subsea probes.
Yes, all moving ferritic objects within the generated magnetic field will affect the reading. Their influence depends on the received signal strength. How stronger the received signal how weaker is the influence of vibration.