Ultrasonic wall thickness inspection for storage tanks ... · page 1 of 2 Ultrasonic wall thickness...
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November 2011
page 1 of 2
Ultrasonic wall thickness inspection on storage tanks - Beetle
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Ultrasonic wall thickness inspectionfor storage tanks - Beetle
Corrosion from the inside is a common cause for leaks in storage tanks. Aggressive components in stored
product can affect the tank wall. For this reason, it is necessary to measure the wall thickness in a number of
places along the tank’s contour regularly. At ground level, the results can be read from a UT device immediately.
The results are stored in a computer and added to the inspection report in the form of a diagram. This enables
the client to be certain about the condition of his tank very swiftly.
Application areas
Beetle inspection is an on-stream method for
carrying out wall thickness measurements on
storage tanks. Wall thickness inspections are
carried out regularly, in order to comply with the
requirements of authorities, inspection agencies
and insurance companies. The frequency can
be increased, if a reduction of wall thickness is
observed during a measurement. At such times, it
can also be decided to extend the inspection, for
instance by means of Mechanised Wall thickness
Mapping (find more info in the Mechanized Wall
thickness Mapping sheet).
Controllable
As the Beetle is equipped with two powerful,
individually operated electric motors, the operator
is able to steer the Beetle accurately, using a
joystick.
The results are transferred through a cable at
ground level and shown directly on the display of
the UT equipment.
November 2011
page 2 of 2
Ultrasonic wall thickness inspection on storage tanks - Beetle
w w w.ApplusRTD.com
Ultrasonic wall thickness inspection on storage tanks - Beetle
Performance
The Beetle is a crawler with four powerful magnet
wheels, with an ultrasonic probe on the underside
of the small carrier. The small carrier ‘sticks’ to
the tank wall and crawls straight upwards along
the outside of the tank. Paint layers or welding
seams are no obstacle to the Beetle. Neither do
temperatures of up to 50 °C pose any problems
for this small but powerful unit. With a speed
of 12 metres per minute, it crawls upwards and
automatically measures with a 5 mm distance
interval (every 5 mm a UT measurement is made
and recorded). These measurements can then be
reported with a distance interval of 10, 25, 50 or
100 cm.
Cost savings
In the past, you had to build high scaffolds or rent
abseiling equipment, in order to perform manual
ultrasonic measurements. This is a labour intensive
and time consuming job. The Beetle developed by
Applus RTD Benelux, will crawl upwards along the wall
and will measure the wall thickness at great speed.
You are no longer required to build scaffolds and/or
rent abseiling equipment.