TPT March 2024

TUBE 2024

ERW and SAW pipe inspection using NDT solutions

06 B23

FOR almost 40 years Sofratest has been engineering ultrasonic non-destructive testing (NDT) machinery for the ERW and SAW pipe manufacturing industry. Sofratest is dedicated to incorporating increased automation, enhanced quality features and additional safety options. Sofratest has been part of Controle Mesure Systems Group since 2021. All Sofratest solutions are adaptable according to the customer’s specific needs and meet the requirements of European and international standards such as ASME Section V, ISO 10893-11, API5L 46th, ASTM435M, ASTMA 578. The variety of NDT systems enables Sofratest to offer solutions in a wide range of situations. Strip UT Inspection: the strip inspection involves the detection of lamination defects within the strip. The entire mechanism seamlessly adapts to inspect both edges of the strip. The quantity of ultrasonic transducers is determined based on the width of the inspected strip, ensuring 100 per cent coverage. This equipment is often installed at the beginning of an in-line station. A calibration table is positioned next to the system allowing dynamic calibration. During this process, all settings can be monitored and adjusted at any time, guaranteeing a high-quality inspection. This system is versatile and can be applied to a wide range of pipes. After the strip inspection, Sofratest offers Ultrasonic inspection solutions for in-line and off-line weld inspection of ERW and SAW pipes. Many types of defects are detected: internal, external and mid-wall longitudinal and transverse defects in the weld (different transducer patterns are available, such as I, K, and X); lamination defects in the heat affected zone (HAZ) of the weld: and lamination defects in the pipe body. Whether conducting in-line or off-line inspections, the Sofratest ultrasonic head adjusts its design to accommodate the various curvatures and diameters of pipes, tailored to the specific defects targeted for identification. The flexibility extends to integrating phased array sensors into the Sofratest systems and several distinctive mechanical features that differentiate between online and offline solutions. For ERW pipe in-line inspection, a scarfing monitoring process (also called IOP process) can be performed. This system analyses the inner and outer profiles of the weld while simultaneously performing thickness measurements. The IOP process is designed to be placed directly after the welding occurs. It notably verifies that the weld has been scarfed properly. This serves as a quality assurance measure, ensuring that defects, openings and non-conformities are detected early in the manufacturing process to minimise waste as much as possible. In addition to designing the mechanics and the electronics of the systems, Sofratest also develops its own ultrasonic transducers for the detection of lamination, longitudinal and transverse defects. These transducers are custom-made in Sofratest’s in-house laboratory in France to match the needs of its customers. The transducers are designed based on the type of defects to be detected and specifications of the product to be inspected (diameter, wall thickness and type of weld). With Sofratest’s robust and user-friendly

Strip lamination ultrasonic inspection 34 channels

software dedicated to each ultrasonic application, inspection results are displayed in real-time. Traceability is ensured by the production software that creates customisable and comprehensive inspection reports. The Sofratest team will be at the tube and wire exhibitions in Dusseldorf, Germany and will be located at booth 06 B23 in the tube pavilion. Visitors will be able to see the latest turnkey solution, featuring a fully automated SAW ultrasonic inspection system.

Sofratest

www.sofratest.com

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MARCH 2024