PET Scanner

At the core of the PET scanner is a motorised single-axis magnetic crawler to traverse along the length of a pipe and a trailer module provides the motorised circumferential drive. A ring segment is driven by the trailer module, rotating through 180°. Utilising two transducers; mounting one at each end of the ring segment, provides 360° surface coverage in a single movement. On pipe elbows, where only the outer surface requires inspection, a single transducer is mounted in the centre of the ring segment to provide a single scan of the extrados area.

The height profile of the inspection ring and transducer holder has been minimised to allow the PET scanner to operate in areas with clearance of just 80mm.

The PET scanner is capable of inspection on all pipe sizes using conventional or phased array probes. The transducer holder is spring loaded and conformable to keep the transducer aligned and in contact with the pipe whilst scanning over the changing geometry.

The transducers mount centrally within the holder and can be manufactured to suit the pipe thickness. Profiled magnetic wheels to suit the pipe diameter ensure accurate tracking around the pipe.