Study of Tangential X-ray Radiography Technique for Pitting

Geometry Analysis on Outside Wall of Insulated Steel Pipe

Eko Prasetyo* and Sulistijono, Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, Faculty of Industrial
Technology, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) Surabaya

ABSTRACT the added benefit that it can be carried out in high temperature
Piping systems and pipelines that used in industry for liquid and environments [2][4]. Two techniques of radiography can be
gas transportation basically influenced by corrosion degradation implemented are TRT and DWT. In TRT, radiation passes
processes like pitting corrosion. Measurement of that pit-depth are through the sidewall thickness of the pipe and the area of the
quite complicated, this problem can be solved by NDT method radiograph, which is located below the tangential position, is
namely radiography. Radiography technique that can be used is interpreted. This method provides some advantages over
Tangential Radiography Technique (TRT), this technique can be used common methods for determination of the thickness of the
to check pitting on the wall of steel pipe without need to remove
insulation on pipe while it still operating. TRT with x-ray source was insulation, pipe and deposit as well as detecting internal and
done with various working voltages (200, 230, and 260 kV) on external corrosion [5]. This study will be focused on
stepped steel pipe specimen with various pit-depth (20, 40, and 60 %) measurement of density value and effects of radiography
from their pipe thickness. From the test results and calculation arrangement to pitting geometry in film results.
obtained density measurement using densitometer and luxmeter
shows that values almost same but measurement with luxmeter tend II. PREPARATION
to be less accurate. All of tangential side edges of specimen occurred
burn off because density beyond 3.5 4. Degree of magnification as Steel pipe was formed by CNC machine into a stepped
a consequence of midpoint arrangement of X-ray target for various steel pipe specimen. The specifications of specimen are shown
arrangement (30, 60, and 90 mm) in respectively are 1.0123, 1.0254, in Table I and cross-sections of specimen as shown in Fig. 1.
and 1.0379. The equation that made and based on condition of the
magnification is 0.000385436a + 0.038350128b + 0.000467083c = d; TABLE I
actual diameter = film diameter/d. SPECIFICATIONS OF SPECIMEN
Stepped steel pipe Outside diameter = 47.5 mm
Keywords: Tangential radiography technique, x-ray, pitting geometry, Step Pit Pit-depth Outside
density, degree of magnification. Step thickness diameter diameter of
t (mm) (mm) 0.2 t 0.4 t 0.6 t step (mm)
I. INTRODUCTION A 11 11 2.2 4.4 6.6 47.5
B 10 10 2 4 6 45.5
Piping and pipelines used in power stations and petroleum C 9 9 1.8 3.6 5.4 43.5
petrochemical and chemical plants for transportation of liquids D 8 8 1.6 3.2 4.8 41.5
and gases are substantially influenced by degradative process E 7 7 1.4 2.8 4.2 39.5
F 6 6 1.2 2.4 3.6 37.5
of corrosion. Corrosion occurs on one side or on both sides of G 5 5 1 2 3 35.5
the pipes walls and results in loss of their wall thicknesses.
Pitting is one of the most destructive and insidious forms of
corrosion because it is a localized attack that causes holes in
metal. Measurement of pits depths is complicated by the fact
that there is a statistical variation in the depths of pits that
occur under identical conditions on the walls of pipes [1].
Ultrasonic, eddy current, liquid penetrant, magnetic particle
and acoustic emission are all NDT methods that have the
ability to detect crack-like defects in industrial components
[2]. Ultrasonic and eddy current testing methods cannot be
used for corrosion inspection of insulated pipelines. Ultrasonic
and eddy current testing pigs, as inner NDT robots, have been Fig. 1. Cross-sections of specimen
developed and used in periodic inspection of corrosion on long
pipelines. However, they cannot be used for plants piping TRT was used as a radiography method for this experiment
systems because they have different diameters and too many with x-ray source in the top of tangential side of pipe
bends. In addition, it is necessary in most cases to remove specimen and middle of D step. Rigaku Radioflex as x-ray
insulating materials. The removal of insulating materials and source generator and AGFA Structurix D7 film were used for
their refixing are costly and require longer shut down times exposure. Density D obtained by Xograph densitometer and
[1], [3], [4]. Among the NDT methods, radiography has the density from light intensity Dlux obtained by Krisbow
advantage, because in the process of inspection it eliminates lightmeter. The exposure time Et of 56, 31, and 20 seconds
the need for the costly removal of the pipe insulation and also was calculated by gradient of line in that exposure chart.
 III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Comparison of density between D and Dlux are shown in
Fig. 2. Dlux was obtained from calculation refers to (1). That
figure shows that density value is affected by the working
voltage. Tendency of Dlux higher than D in all working
voltages (200, 230, and 260 kV) because detector area of
lightmeter larger than detector area of densitometer, it would
measure the light intensity from outside the exposed area with
density more than 4 and make Dlux less accurate than D. There
is intersection between D and Dlux 200 kV because its so many
scatter/penumbra in specimen and makes an error of density
interpretation.
Fig. 2. Comparison of density between D and Dlux
I
D log i (1)
It
where
D: density
Ii: light intensity incident on film (lux)
It: light intensity transmitted (lux)
Based on film results are shown in Fig. 3 occurs burn off
(too dark image or high density) at the thinnest part of
specimen. The thinnest part of specimen will cause burn off
and the thickest part of specimen a too bright image [3].
Thickness loss due to burn off in film results about 1 1.5 mm
based on measurement of vernier calipers.
Fig. 3. Location of burn off in film results
Pitting geometry especially the diameter have an
enlarged/magnified since their position are not exactly under
midpoint of x-ray source [5]. This radiography arrangement
have a magnification degree M as a consequence of midpoint
arrangement of X-ray target for various arrangement (30, 60,
and 90 mm) in respectively are 1.0123, 1.0254, and 1.0379.
Comparison between actual diameter and film diameter of
pitting are shown in Fig. 4. Film diameter of pitting in step D
is 7.99 mm, as mentioned in Table I that actual diameter of
pitting of step D is 8 mm. It shows that step D barely have an
enlarged because position of this pit is exactly under midpoint
of x-ray source. From M as mentioned before, with linear
equation for three variables can be obtained an equation refers
to (2) and (3) as a way to determine actual diameter of pitting
in pipe system or pipelines.
Fig. 4. Comparison between actual diameter and film diameter of pitting
d 0.00039a 0.03835b (0.00047c) (2)
film _ diameter (3)
actual _ diameter
d
where
a: Source to object distance SOD (mm)
b: Object to film distance OFD (mm)
c: Radiography arrangement of pitting (mm)
d: Magnification degree
IV. ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The author gratefully acknowledge the contributions of
Prof. Dr. Ir. Sulistijono, DEA. as authors supervisor for
valuable comments on this research.
V. REFERENCES
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