FirstMap Corrosion Mapping System
Webinar July 18, 2013
Bob Lasser, President
Imperium, Inc.
Beltsville, MD
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Agenda
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Introduction to FirstMap Corrosion Mapping
Technology Description
Application Scope
Product Demonstration
Recent Study
Q&A
About Imperium
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Founded in 1996
Sole provider of ultrasound camera technology
Patented technology
Systems in petrochemical, aerospace, medical
fields
Why Industry Needs A New NDT
Device
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Lack of trained NDT personnel
Lack of confidence in thickness readings, missed
corrosion
Need higher POD, faster device
Need areas where AUT can’t reach
Advances in imaging technology
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A picture is worth 1000 words
Time and cost pressures – Need to do more with
less
FirstMap Advantages
• Images are easier to interpret
• FirstMap provides an actual image of the defect including
thicknesses
• Very fast
• High resolution
• Higher confidence than single thickness readings
• Not effected by beam dispersion
• Built in delay line
• No extensive training required; less trained technician
• Real time
B-scan to C-scan
Defect
Defect
Pulse Echo – 50/50 Beamsplitter
Sound
Transmitter
Array
Subsurface
fault
Video
Water
Lens
Acoustic
beamsplitter
Target
Pulse echo
image of quarter
Imperium’s Patented Architecture
Applies optical imaging techniques to ultrasound
Optical Architecture:
Flash
Lens
Optical Sensor (CCD)
(2) F1 Acoustic Lens
Ultrasonic Sensor
Ultrasonic Architecture:
Acoustic Flashlight
Note: CCD means Charged Coupled Device
Imaging Array – 100 micron pixels
120 rows x 120 columns = 14,400 pixels
FirstMap
• Made up of control unit, camera
probe
• 3” pipes down to flat
• Images through coatings
• Equipped with pulse echo or
dual element transducer for
thickness readings
• Battery powered
• Rugged
Calibration Procedure
Dual element mounted
to camera head
Remove transducer
Place on thin section of Place on thick section of
wedge– Note thickness wedge– Note thickness
Workflow
Power up
Calibrate
Scan
Analyze/Review
FirstMap Scanning Speed
8” Rough Pipe Section
Top of pipe with very
rough surface
Holes on bottom of
same pipe
C-scan image through
rough top surface
Mapping on 8” Pipe
Mapping on 8” Pipe
Pipeline Corrosion Mapping
Storage Tank Bottoms
Compare FirstMap’s
easy to interpret readout
Microbiological Induced Corrosion
Black areas indicate MIC, note the veins of MIC also
Benefits to NDT Industry
• Broad application base
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• Pipelines, storage tanks, pressure vessels
Find smaller amounts of corrosion faster
Does not sacrifice any current data quality
Provide better information to end customer
Better tool to provide comparisons
Use Level 2 thickness inspector to generate
images, not just readings
• Get to areas where current tools can’t go
• Cover more area faster while capturing
better data
Advanced Corrosion Technologies
“The probability of detection is far superior to
standard thickness readings. FirstMap™ is a
diagnostic tool that can instantly detect subsurface
corrosion down to 1 mm pits. We are now able to
quickly and easily identify problem areas that could
potentially lead to much bigger issues.”
-Josh Fontenot,
Director of Technologies, ACTT
FirstMap Demonstration
About Study
• Wanted to compare Imperium’s FirstMap Corrosion
Imaging system to Phased Array UT (PAUT)
• Investigated resolution
• Other factors included ease of use, cost, training
requirements
• Joint study between Imperium, Inc. (Beltsville, MD)
and Advanced Corrosion Technologies & Testing
(Sulphur, LA)
B-scan vs. C-scan
Phased Array
FirstMap
Resolution Study:
FirstMap vs Phased Array
• Investigated axial, lateral, and elevation
resolution
• Used Omniscan MX2
• Both systems working at 5 MHz
• Did mathematical study, then took data to
compare expected results
Omniscan
PAUT System Test Settings:
Probe:
5L64-NW1 (5 MHz)
Wedge:
SN1-0L5L64
Mode:
Phased array
Focal Depth:
0.1”
Focal Law:
Linear sector with overlap
Skew Direction:
900 (straight down mode)
Scan Offset:
0
Index Offset:
0
Element Quantity:
8
First Element:
1
Last Element:
64
Thickness:
0.25”
Surface:
Flat plate
FirstMap System
Frequency:
Number of Pulses:
Gate start:
Gate width:
5 MHz
1
0.1”
0.5”
Phased Array Theoretical
Resolution
Lateral (X):
ΔD = (0.44 x V) / (F x sin (θ/2))
Axial (Z):
ΔZ = V x T/2
Elevation (Y):
Defined by the length of the array elements,
and will be on the order of several millimeters
Source: Olympus NDT Manual
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Resolution Summary
INSPECTION
SYSTEM
AXIAL
RESOLUTION
LATERAL
RESOLUTION
ELEVATION
RESOLUTION
FirstMap™
1.5 mm
0.1 mm
0.1 mm
PAUT
0.3 mm
0.34 mm
> 1.0 mm
FirstMap
Omniscan: Amplitude
Omniscan: TOF
Comparative Study:
FirstMap, X-ray, Phased Array
Reviewed different techniques for corrosion
mapping
 Used common standards
 Recorded image quality
 Recorded time of setup, scan, training cost
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Targets Studied
Stepped standard
Corrosion piece
8” diameter pipe
section
Stepped Standard
FirstMap
Phased Array
X-ray 192 iridium
0.25” Corroded Steel Panel
FirstMap
Phased Array
X-ray 192 iridium
8” Diameter Pipe Section
FirstMap
Phased Array
X-ray 192 iridium
Questions?
Corrosion Mapping Comparison
FirstMap™
Phased Array
with Scanner
Iridium-192
Radiography
Equipment &
Related Costs
$45K
$70K
$100K
Daily Cost
~$800
~$1200
~$2000
5 minutes
15 minutes
30 minutes
Required
Training
16 hours
160 hours
400 hours
Required
Experience
Level I or
Level II
Level II NDT
Advanced
Availability of
Technicians
Available
Limited
Very limited
1
1-2
2
NDT Method
Inspection time
per square foot
(includes setup)
Required
Technicians
Thank you for your time.
Bob Lasser
301-431-2900 x 111
blasser@imperiuminc.com
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