Study on design and fabrication of a prototype equipment used for corrosion inspection on petrochemical tank bottom by magnetic flux leakage method

Thu Dau Mot University Journal of Science Volume 2 Issue 3-2020  
Study on design and fabrication of a prototype equipment  
used for corrosion inspection on petrochemical tank bottom  
by magnetic flux leakage method  
by Dang Quoc Trieu, Vuong Duc Phung, Bui Trong Duy, Tran Minh Tien,  
Lai Viet Hai, Tran Trong Hieu (Centre for Applications of Nuclear Technique  
in Industry - CANTI)  
Article Info: Received Aug. 10th, 2020, Accepted Sep. 20th,2020, Available online Sep. 15th,2020  
Corresponding author: dangquoctrieu@gmail.com (Dang Quoc Trieu, MA.)  
ABSTRACT  
Corrosion of the bottom of the petroleum tank may lead to a product leak that  
could cause a fire or explosion resulting in damage to people and the environment,  
therefore the test of tank bottom corrosion is necessary to be conducted  
periodically to prevent the occurrence of the above problems. In non-destructive  
inspection, the Magnetic Flux Leakage (MFL) method relies on the variation of  
fluxes caused by defects on the surface of materials to detect corrosion, pitting, or  
imperfections, which is proved quite effectively with low cost. The project was  
implemented to develop a prototype of the MFL bottom detection device based on  
the research results in the world to improve corrosion survey capacity in  
industrial equipment, as well as to improve the expertise in the Research Team of  
electronics and automation in the fields of magnetic fields and sensors. As a result,  
an MFL model using permanent magnets and Hall sensors were fabricated.  
Survey experiments showed that the machine could detect corrosion defects up to  
20% of steel wall thickness in the scanning speed range from 500 mm/s to 1130  
mm/s. However, to meet the actual survey needs, the team must continue to  
improve the device in terms of sensitivity, scanning speed, the ability to operate  
automatically or semi-automatically, and register for a fire safety inspection.  
Keyword: Magnetic Flux Leakage, MFL.  
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1. Introduction  
Petroleum tanks are one of the important functional systems in petrochemical refineries,  
petrochemical plants, petrol and oil storage facilities, etc., which safely receive and  
store petroleum products.  
Among NDT inspection technologies, MFL inspection technology is one of the most  
effective non-destructive inspection tools for checking the bottom condition of tank bottom  
of industries such as oil and gas, heat, electricity, nuclear power [1]... This technology has  
been widely used and currently continues to be developed in advanced countries with many  
modern techniques combined with ultrasonic technology (UT). Currently, MFL tool is one  
of the key NDT tools in checking and maintaining the bottom of petroleum tanks in  
petrochemical refineries. NDT inspection technology by MFL for the bottom of a  
petroleum tank has the advantage of being able to quickly screen, detect the bottom of the  
petroleum tank with high sensitivity, field results, and low cost.  
Because of the practical needs of the world and Vietnam's industry, the implementation of  
the project "Study on design and fabrication of prototype equipment used for corrosion  
inspection on petrochemical tank bottom by magnetic flux leakage method" is practical.  
The purpose of the project is to localize a new inspection technology that meets the needs  
of inspecting, assessing the situation, and forecasting the failure of tanks in the key  
industry of Vietnam. On the other hand, the results of the project contribute to the  
improvement of capacities to research and manufacture highly sophisticated equipment in  
the country. The main objectives of the project are as follows:  
Fabrication of a prototype equipment used for corrosion inspection on  
petrochemical tank bottom by magnetic flux leakage method;  
Enhancement to the capacity of researching and manufacturing equipment in the  
magnetic flux leakage to investigate industrial equipment defects.  
2. Design, fabrication of MFL system  
Design of MFL system  
The first-generation MFL instrument configuration is designed to be a simple and  
common configuration used in the detection of defects in the steel petroleum tank  
bottom [2,3,7]. The device uses permanent magnets magnetizing carbon steel plate to  
saturation state. The magnetic flux passing through carbon steel will be bent and the  
deformation flux will form in the defect area [4,5,8]. Using Hall sensors [6] to detect  
deformation flux, the signal from the sensor to the Arduino circuit analyzes and  
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evaluates defect information through high pass filter floors, amplifiers ADC circuits.  
The signal is then displayed on the LCD and stored data via the external SD card.  
Figure 1. Diagram of the MFL system  
Fabrication of MFL system  
After a number of MFL device configurations in the world were studied, a number of  
structures were reviewed and adjusted in accordance with the project framework. The  
device has some main components as follows:  
1. Control box and display  
2. Bridge magnet  
3. Hall sensor bar  
4. Encoder  
Based on the main components of the equipment mentioned above, the MFL device  
model was designed and manufactured as shown below:  
Figure 2. The MFL system  
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Self-designed control software  
The software for measuring system includes 4 parts: Recording and signal processing,  
controlling, displaying via the LCD screen, and saving data to external memory cards  
during measurement. The software interface is illustrated in Figure 3.  
Figure 3. Schematic of processing, displaying and saving MFL system data  
3. Results and discussion  
After being developed, the measurement system was surveyed for stability, sensitivity,  
and speed at the Electromechanics Laboratory of Center for application of the nuclear  
technique in the industry.  
To survey and evaluate the stability of the MFL device, the experiments were arranged  
as Figure 4. Circular magnets (10x10x2 mm) were used and placed at a constant  
distance. The inspections of 24 Hall sensors on the MFL device were conducted. The  
output signal from the Hall sensor was measured with Tek DPO 3052 oscilloscope and  
Data saved to the external SD card.  
The experimental conditions included:  
Temperature T = 25.50 C and humidity H = 65%.  
Power supply measuring system: 12 VDC - 6 Ah.  
Current consumption: 500mAh.  
The experimental results of the stability survey of 24 sensors with magnets showed that  
the sensors worked stably, and the fluctuation of data was at a distance of ± 2 mV from  
the sensor channel. The corresponding output voltage was at 24 channels of 510 ± 2 mV.  
Assessing the speed and size of defects affecting the sensitivity of the measurement  
system, on two plates of carbon steel with a thickness of 5mm and 15mm (Figure 5, 6)  
defects of point format (cylindrical, flat bottom) were manufactured with size range of  
20%, 40%, 60% and 80% carbon steel plate thickness (Table 1). Experimental 1 and  
experimental 2 (Figure 7) were conducted to select the speed measurement system  
suitable for measuring equipment MFL.  
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(b)  
(a)  
Figure 4. Surveying stability of measuring system; (a) Survey diagram, (b) Survey results.  
Figure 5. Designing and manufacturing defective on 15mm carbon steel plate  
TABLE 1. Classification of defects on carbon steel plate  
Symbol  
Defects (Pit)  
Width (mm) Depth (mm) Defective thickness (%)  
a
b
c
d
e
f
Flat bottom hole  
Flat bottom hole  
Flat bottom hole  
Flat bottom hole  
Flat bottom hole  
Flat bottom hole  
Flat bottom hole  
Flat bottom hole  
10  
10  
10  
10  
10  
10  
10  
10  
3
6
8
20  
40  
60  
80  
20  
40  
60  
80  
12  
1
2
g
h
3
4
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Dang Quoc Trieu, Vuong Duc Phung… Volume 2 Issue 3-2020, p. 280-288  
Figure 6. Designing and manufacturing defective on 5mm carbon steel plate  
Figure 7. Experimental survey of MFL equipment on carbon steel plate  
Figure 8. Inspection MFL of 15 mm carbon steel plate, 20%, 40%, 60% and 80% defect  
at channel 13 (defect position).  
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Thu Dau Mot University Journal of Science Volume 2 Issue 3-2020  
Figure 9. Inspection MFL of 5mm carbon steel plate, 20%, 40%, 60% and 80% defect  
at channel 13 (defect position)  
The experimental results showed that the sensitivity measurement system to detect significant  
disability 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80% carbon steel plate thickness 5mm and 15mm.  
The experimental results showed that the change in MFL device speed affected the  
ability to detect defects. The defects of size 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% had different signal  
amplitudes at different speeds.  
At the speeds of 1130mm/s, 750mm/s, and 500mm/s, disability signals were reliable;  
whereas at the speed of 320mm/s, the location of the defect was not detected. Therefore,  
the speed of the MFL device was chosen from approximately 500mm/s to 1130mm/s.  
4. Conclusion  
Model MFL device is capable of detecting defect position on a carbon steel plate with a  
thickness of 5mm and 15mm. The device speed is measured by Encoder. The defect size  
information cannot be accurately evaluated and displayed according to the defect loss  
but it can only be displayed by the voltage level due to the lack of phase information.  
The test experiments all reliably detected the defects (20%, 40%, 60%, and 80%)  
fabricated on carbon steel plates, with the moving speed of the MFL device from  
500mm/s to 1130mm/s. The MFL device sensitivity limit is up to 20% of 5mm and  
15mm carbon steel plate thickness. Defect accuracy is affected by the MFL device  
movement speed. Appropriate speed of MFL device to detect defects from 500mm/s to  
1130mm/s.  
From the results of the study on design and experimental survey, the project was  
fabrication a prototype inspection on petrochemical tank bottom by magnetic flux  
leakage method to meet the following requirements :  
The Thickness of scan 5mm to 15mm;  
Scan width: 10 mm;  
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Dang Quoc Trieu, Vuong Duc Phung… Volume 2 Issue 3-2020, p. 280-288  
Optimal measurement speed: from 500mm/s to 1130mm/s;  
Sensitivity: ≥20% of scan thickness;  
Operating time of 8 hours  
The MFL device is made with LCD display compared to the MFL Handscan device of  
the Silverwing NDT and MFE Enterprises in the world, but the sensitivity is lower than  
the two world models. As this is an initial approach to MFL technology, further research  
is needed to complete the MFL device in terms of sensitivity as well as the ability to  
process and display the map of MFL equipment defects.  
The method used for corrosion inspection on petrochemical tank bottom by magnetic flux  
leakage method (MFL) has been widely applied in Vietnam. Currently, Vietnam has no  
separate studies on MFL methodology (only hire or purchase foreign equipment). It is  
suggested to develop separate Vietnamese studies on MFL methodology to be put into  
practical application. Because the MFL method of tank bottom inspection (petroleum) is a  
complex technique, the coordination of many science and technology fields such as  
electromagnetic fields, automation electronics, math, and software programming is required.  
Although the main product of this project meets the quality requirements, there are  
certain limitations in experiments conducted with mfl equipment due to limited funding.  
With the initial product, the MFL Handscan device model, the research and  
improvement directions are proposed as follows to improve the efficiency and expand  
the application scope of the device model.  
In terms of the hardware, firstly, it is necessary to further design and manufacture a  
process to display numerical results with the 24-channel parallel signal receiver. This  
improvement will save time and provide accurate information about the disability.  
Secondly, it is suggested to design and manufacture automatic control parts. This  
improvement will reduce noise caused by sudden speed changes, give more accurate  
measurement results, improve the sensitivity, and limit the detection of the device.  
Regarding software, researching, and developing a 3D rendering algorithm is needed to  
give accurate information about defects such as width, depth, and magnitude of defects.  
This is one of the most important improvements affecting the accuracy, measurement  
time, and visualization of the defect.  
References  
Espina-Hernandez, J.W.; Hallen, J.M. (2010) Influence of Remanent Magnetization on  
Pitting Corrosion in Pipeline Steel. In Proceedings of the 8th International Pipeline  
Conference, Calgary, AL, Canada, pp. 565572.  
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Thu Dau Mot University Journal of Science Volume 2 Issue 3-2020  
Feng, J.; Zhang, J.F.; Lu, S.X.; Wang, H.Y.; Ma, R.Z. (2013) Three-axis magnetic flux  
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Gloriaa, N.S.; Areiza, M.L. (2009) Development of a magnetic sensor for detection and  
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