Guided Wave Pipe Inspection and Monitoring System

*1 Power Systems Headquarters *2 Nagasaki Research & Development Center, Technical Headquarters In recent years a very large number of UT inspections have been performed to detect wall thickness reduction of feed water pipe, etc. These inspections are accompanied by heat insulation removal and restoration work throughout the inspection range. In order to enable efficient execution of such a great number of tests, a new method of pipe damage detection and monitoring has been developed which makes it possible to inspect a long range of pipe with one sensor, using the ultrasonic characteristics of so-called "guided wave." This new technique has drastically reduces the work of heat insulation removal, scaffolding and restoration. This method has also made it possible to reduce inspection work itself. This report introduces the results of some pipe damage detection tests performed using the method described above and shows an outline of the application of the system to a thermal power plant.