This project will develop a real-time radiography imaging system for the in-service detection and precise measurement of very small corrosion pits and crevices in the insulated and bare pipe lines that are often used in the oil and chemical industries. The real-time, in-service detection and measurement of small pit corrosion will reduce failures and allow the replacement of suspect piping components during planned shut downs. The imaging system will precisely measure the intensity of the radiation passing through the walls of the pipe, compute wall material loss, and form a radiographic image. Because it is a non-contact method, it will be applicable for real-time, in-service situations even for high temperature and insulated pipes. Phase I will prove the feasibility of the high resolution solid state detector technology that will be used to achieve the high resolution corrosion measurements in this application. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by awardee: The imaging system will be used in conjunction with an already proven method of detecting corrosion in piping. This imaging system will then be applied to the area of known corrosion for precise measurement of pit size and depth, leading to an accurate prediction of pipe life.
