Model 2512 Ethernet -Mini Pipe Profiling Sonar for Liquid-Filled Pipe Inspection
The Model 2512 Pipe Profiling Sonar provides an efficient acoustic solution for profiling the interiors of liquid-filled pipes or boreholes without the need to drain them, unlike traditional camera surveys. The system includes an underwater Scanning Unit, which may be mounted in various configurations such as skid, float, tractor, or ROV, and a compact Ethernet Interface Unit. This setup requires a Windows PC with an Ethernet port to operate the 2512E system software. The Scanning Unit is robustly constructed with a stainless steel body and a pressure-balanced Peek transducer housing, capable of operating at depths up to 100 meters. For portability, it can be powered by two lead-acid batteries along with a notebook PC. The system features internal Pitch and Roll sensors to display its orientation in the pipe. The Ethernet Interface Unit connects to the host PC, supporting cable payout encoders for precise distance measurement. It operates on AC power, providing electrical isolation from the underwater system. Capable of real-time 360-degree scanning, it offers quick, high-resolution image capture and seamless integration with third-party 3D modeling software.
The Model 2512 Pipe Profiling Sonar provides an acoustic method for profiling the interiors of liquid filled pipes or boreholes. This method does not require draining of the pipes as with camera surveys and provides accurate quantified data which can not be obtained from a camera display alone.
The equipment comprises of an underwater Scanning Unit (which may be skid, float, tractor or ROV mounted) and a compact Ethernet interface Unit. To complete the system a "Windows" P.C. with an Ethernet port is required to run the 2512E system software.
The Scanning Unit is a rugged stainless steel cylinder with a pressure balanced Peek transducer housing at one end, and the umbilical cable connector at the other. The standard Scanning Unit is rated at 100m operational depth. Two lead-acid batteries could be used to power the Scanning Unit together with a notebook P.C. for a completely portable solution. Internal Pitch and Roll sensors display, in analogue and digital form, the orientation of the sonar in the pipe.
The Ethernet Interface Unit connects to the host P.C. running under the "Windows" operating system (XP upwards is supported). The Ethernet Interface has inputs for a cable payout encoder so that the distance travelled may be displayed to 0.1m resolution allowing accurate determination of where flaws exist in the pipe relative to the deployment position. The Ethernet Interface is powered from the AC mains supply and is electrically isolated from the supply generated for the underwater scanner.
- Real Time continuous scanning over a full 360 degrees in 1 sec
- "Windows" user-friendly software with Ethernet connection minimises training time
- Direct capture to Hard Disk for high resolution image save and restore
- Dual tracking cursor for accurate on-screen measurements
- 360 degrees Internal Pitch and Roll sensors
- Quadrature cable counter interface built in
- 500m cable drive as standard, fibre-optic system optional
- Automatic profile detection and output in ASCII format for import into third party 3D modelling software
The resolution and update speed of the Model 2512E Pipe Profiling Sonar is second to none in the field of mechanically scanned sonars. The angular resolution of the system is 0.9 degrees which gives 400 sectors per revolution. For each sector the data is oversampled and peak detected. The digitally generated graphics display uses 256 colours to represent the signal amplitude. At minimum full-scale range of 125mm this gives a range resolution of 0.5mm and at 2m range a resolution of 3.3mm.
The acoustic beamwidth of 1.8 degrees ensures that the finest detail from the pipe surface is recorded. A 3 axis accelerometer inside the scanner displays the attitude of the sonar to a resolution of 0.1. The sonar has been engineered for extended operations in hostile environments. The transducer and drive motor are totally enclosed in an oil-filled pressure balanced housing which is hermetically sealed from the stainless steel electronics pod. The system has many applications other than inside pipes where short range high precision measurements are required with a rapid screen update.