PROCEDURE DIAGNOSING AND TESTING QUALITY OF MATERIAL OF PIPE- LINE Russian patent published in 2002 - IPC

FIELD: diagnostics of condition of metal of trunk and filed pipe-lines. SUBSTANCE: timeliness and increased reliability of test of metal of pipe-line are obtained thanks to installation of measuring and recording equipment fitted with power supply source in working position relative to pipe-line, thanks to excitation and detection of pulses of ultrasonic oscillations passed through material of pipe-line, thanks to primary processing and measurement of their parameters, thanks to collection of information on measured parameters later processed with the use of computer. Pipe-line is divided into 500-2000 m sections. Measuring and recording equipment fitted with power supply source is positioned stationary on outer surface of each section of pipe-line. Pulses with oscillation frequency of 10⁴-10⁶ Hz are excited and received correspondingly at start and finish of each section mentioned-above. Direct pulses passed through material of pipe-line are received. Primary processing of received pulses of ultrasonic oscillations, measurement of their parameters and transmission of information for subsequent processing into computer installed at mobile control center are carried out per each section of pipe-line. Information transmission is conducted right in the course of test. Information on each test transmitted from each section in process of each test is collected for the entire test period and is stored in computer. Signals to switch on and off measuring and recording equipment on each section of pipe-line are transmitted by radio engineering means from helicopter or aircraft. State of quality of material of pipe-line is evaluated by results of joint processing and comparison of information on measured parameters of pulses of ultrasonic oscillations at moment of present test and of information on mentioned parameters accumulated in computer storage for the whole previous period of test. Service telephone line laid along pipe-line is employed in the capacity of power supply source and communication network for communication with mobile control center. EFFECT: timeliness and increased reliability of test of metal of pipeline. 3 cl, 3 dwg