TPT March 2012

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Industry News
12 March 2012
Flexible pipe inspection tool in
the Swiss nuclear field
A NEW magnetic wheeled buggy from
Phoenix Inspection Systems is providing a
fast and flexible way for operators to inspect
pipework at a nuclear plant in M hleberg,
Switzerland.
BKW FMB Energy Ltd, which operates the
plant, commissioned Phoenix to produce a
scanning system suitable for operation on
straight pipes and around pipe elbows over
the full range of steel pipework.
At the core of the new system is the
MagBug, a motorised buggy originally
developed by Phoenix for blade root
inspection of generator turbine disks. The
MagBug module is one-directional and has
been supplemented with additional modules
to provide both axial and circumferential
movement.
While the MagBug drives the scanner
along the pipe, a ring attached to it allows
scans to be carried out around the pipe,
providing 360 degree surface coverage.
Due to access limitations, the profile has
been minimised to allow it to operate in
areas with clearance of just 80mm. The pipe
and elbow scanner can be used on ferritic
pipework ranging from 4" to 20" nominal
bore and with bend radii down to one and a
half times the pipe diameter.
Dr Neil Hankinson, project manager at
Phoenix, said: “BKW required an automated
scanner for use in a variety of places and on a
wide range of pipework sizes. With so many
configurations it is not possible to specify all
the pipe orientations or the obstructions they
may come across. As such they required a
modular scanner kit that gave them the
flexibility to meet the range of demands they
could encounter. The MagBug is a compact,
versatile tool which can be used on a range
of geometry that might otherwise require
multiple scanners.”
BKW is one of the major Swiss energy
companies integrated in the European
grid. In its home sales area, covering
North Western Switzerland from the Alps
to the French border, it supplies electricity
to a million people. The company also has
operations in France, Germany and Italy.
Phoenix Inspection Systems Ltd – UK
Website:
The magnetic
wheeled buggy