AUTOMATED PHASED ARRAY OF 9Ni LNG STORAGE TANKS:

Development of a new Phased Array Ultrasonic technique to inspect 100% of horizontal and vertical seam butt welds for inner tank during initial fabrication process as per the requirements of API 620.  Inspection to be fully automated using robotic scanner scanning from internal surface only utilizing a combination of 2 – Dual Matrix Array (DMA) probes one set mount on either side of weld to allow inspection to be completed in a single pass with a minimum number of probes improving quality of inspection and efficiency of overall process for evaluation of this ultrasonic data.  Inspection is to be performed using Olympus Omniscan MX2 (32-128 PR); this module allows for 32 independent ultrasonic channels to be used in any single time slot and multiples up to 128 by means of multiplexing.  The data will be captured by 2 Olympus DMA probes (4DM16x2A27) using transmit receive longitudinal (TRL) mode of propagation mounted on SA25 N55L F15 IHC Wedges connected to robotic scanner with magnetic wheels traveling at approximately 30mm per second performing a full volume weld & HAZ inspection in a single line scan.  This data is digitally stored and reviewed immediately upon completion of individual scans, typically one “Shell Course Plate” (12.4m) section or Vertical Seam.

LNG Storage Tank

LNG Inner Tank

LNG Inner Tank Inspection