Condition Assessment of Exposed PCCP Pipelines
Introduction:
PipeScanner™ is the first and only condition assessment tool that works from the outer surface of a prestressed concrete cylinder pipe (PCCP) using Remote Field Transformer Coupling (RFTC) technology. The system provides accurate condition assessment of critical infrastructure, specifically detecting prestressing wire breaks that could lead to pipe ruptures. Compared to alternative methods of condition assessment, the PipeScanner™ solution offers a significant cost savings as the pipeline can be examined from the outer surface, eliminating the need for de-watering.
How it Works:
The PipeScanner™ is a wheeled device that is rolled over the outer surface of an exposed PCCP pipeline by a field technician. The onboard RFTC technology functions much in the same way as a radio transmitter and receiver. The “transmitter” produces an electromagnetic field. The prestressing wires in the pipe amplify the signal that is recorded by the “receiver”. If there are broken wires, the signal is distorted. A measurement of the distortion quantifies the number of broken wires.
PipeScanner™ offers superior wire break detection accuracy on exposed PCCP since the inspection signal is not attenuated or distorted by penetrating through the steel cylinder of the pipe. Because of its high accuracy, PipeScanner™ can be used in refining wire break estimates gathered from other pipeline inspection methods. This refinement is perfect for applications such as non-shorting strap pipe where precision is a known challenge. Once specific pipes are identified, PipeScanner™ can be used to refine the number of wire breaks and help determine if a repair is truly needed at that time.
PipeScanner™ Advantage:
- Dewatering is not required, reducing overall inspection costs.
- No access points required as the inspection is done externally.
- Safer than manned inspections because it eliminates the associated risks of confined space entry.
- Accurate results that pinpoint areas of wire distress to help optimize rehabilitation investments.
- Minimize the risk of pipeline ruptures that can result in public safety issues, property damage, and service interruption.
- Confirm excavated pipe identification prior to rehabilitation.
- Refine wire break estimates that were gathered with other inspection tools that produced difficult to interpret signals.
- Simple design allows it to be easily customized for all pipe diameters.
PipeScanner™ Applications:
- Exposed prestressed concrete cylinder (PCCP) pipelines
- Pipe diameters from 16” to 252”
- Water and wastewater pipeline inspection
Complementing Services:
- Sahara® leak inspection to confirm that there are no leaks causing erosion of the soil around the pipe or corrosion of the pipe.
- Acoustic Emission Testing (AET) to monitor distressed PCCP pipe assets over a short or long-term.
- PPIC pipeline GIS software to store and quickly display condition assessment results to help optimize asset management.
- Remote Transient Pressure Monitoring (RTPM) to record the variation of pressures within a pipeline caused by sudden changes in velocity of the liquid, known as a "surge" or "water hammer".