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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Ultrasonic flaw detection of a pipe

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6413262

A method is disclosed of ultrasonic flaw detection of a pipe, for instance for a heater pipe as is used for catalytic gas reforming with steam. A transmitter probe and a receiver probe are disposed on the pipe outer surface with suitable spacing one from the other both in axial or longitudinal direction and in peripheral direction of the pipe. The transmitter probe launches ultrasonic radiation under proper angle of incidence upon the pipe outer surface at the point of entering material of the pipe, to be refracted under a particular angle of refraction so that it may then pass through the material of the pipe straight to another point upon the pipe outer surface. The receiver probe receives the ultrasonic radiation transmission echo. Flaw in the material of the pipe is detected from fluctuation of the echo, as seen upon scanning the pipe surface by moving the transmitter and receiver probes.

Assignee:
Kubota Ltd.; Osaka Gas Kabushiki Kaisha (Japan)
Patent Number(s):
US 4467654
OSTI ID:
6413262
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English