Bettscan and Beltman: economical way to scan pipe racks

Citation

(2001), "Bettscan and Beltman: economical way to scan pipe racks", Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Vol. 48 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/acmm.2001.12848bad.012

Bettscan and Beltman: economical way to scan pipe racks

Bettscan and Beltman: economical way to scan pipe racks

Keywords: Phoenix Inspection Systems, Scanners, Pipes

Two new scanners which are said to overcome the traditional problems associated with inspecting pipe racks have been devised by Phoenix Inspection Systems.

Beltscan and Beltman are now available to companies which need a permanent and accurate record of pipe rack inspections. Mitsui Babcock has taken delivery of one of the first units, for use in nuclear plants in the former Russian states of Estonia and Lithuania.

Racks of pipes can be difficult to inspect as the pipes are often close together, with as little as 50mm of space between each one. They are usually inspected manually because of the difficulty in creating automated scanners to fit this space – the disadvantage being that this allows no permanent record of the inspection.

According to Phoenix, where automated devices have been produced they have tended to be magnetic scanners, which cannot operate on the non-ferrous pipes used in the nuclear industry, or rely on a ring system, an inflexible metal belt which encircles the pipe racks and is difficult to fit or adjust to racks of different sizes.

Phoenix explains that, by contrast, Beltscan and Beltman are attached to the pipes by an adjustable belt which will fit pipes ranging in diameter from 80mm to 2,000mm. They travel around the circumference of the pipe by means of rubber wheels and can operate in confined spaces with a clearance of 50mm.

Beltscan, the motorised version, and Beltman, the manual version, can carry up to four probes and are thought to be ideal for TOFD applications. High temperature versions are being developed. Interchangeable magnetic wheels are also available and make the units adaptable for flat plates.

Details available from: Phoenix Inspection Systems Ltd. Tel: +44 (0)1925 826000; Fax: +44 (0)1925 838788; E-mail: sales@phoenixisl.co.uk Web site: www.phoenixisl.co.uk