Capabilities

Many advantages of using the MsS System for rapid surveying through long-range pipe inspection and monitoring include:

• The total cross-sectional wall of the pipe is inspected.
• MsS system can inspect and monitor all pipe diameters from 0.5 to 60 inches.
• Ability to detect corrosion wall loss and cracks in aboveground, buried, and insulated pipe.
• Sensitivity can be as good as 2% loss of cross-section in ideal conditions (but is set at 5% or 10% for buried pipeline or at long distance).
• Signal-to-noise ratio of better than 50 dB is obtained with epoxy-bonded MsS probe on site. The generated signal with MsS probe is 50 dB (300 times) higher than the coherent noise of unwanted modes.
• MsS probes can be epoxy-bonded to pipeline for periodic inspection and monitoring.
• Inexpensive MsS probes can be permanently installed to pipeline at difficult-to-access location for long-term pipe monitoring.
• A pipe of up to 300°C surface temperature can be tested without taking it out of service.
• Pulse-echo operation provides information on anomaly location and severity.
• Pitch-catch operation provides information on general corrosion of high-attenuation pipeline
• Sophisticated analysis software reduces false calls and helps making inspection report.
• Phase of signal is used to differentiate defects from geometric feature if the S/N ratio of signal is high.
• Small clearance between pipes is required --- about 12 mm for monitoring and 25 mm for dry coupling.
• Narrow insulation removal along the circumference of pipe ---- about 60 mm for monitoring and inspection.

Even though the above capabilities are typical for the majority of pipe systems, there are several causes that limit these capabilities. Please see applications and inspection range for better use of MsS system.

It is important to know that MsS system is a survey tool for quickly identifying defect locations with guided wave inspection and monitoring. The defect locations may be confirmed by examining with local inspection techniques such as visual, ultrasonic, or X-ray.