Dexon TechnologyDEXON holds a 94% first-run ILI success rate, with over 400 challenging pipelines inspected. DEXON’s on-site research development and engineering RD&E department are responsible for all aspects of tool design from initial inspection technology research through to prototyping, testing, and implementation. Electrical components, software, and firmware are all developed in-house by a team of mechanical, electrical, software, and firmware engineers. The DEXON RD&E team is also responsible customized tool design and modification to navigate individual challenging pipeline configurations. A 6-acre on-site test yard including pull-through, pump-through, and Infinity loop lines in varying sizes, allow for data verification prior to inspection in addition to client pipeline replication and tool durability testing. The following case study comes from DEXON’s challenging pipeline inspection archive.
The Challenge:
The client required the inspection of 17 short-length pipe sections buried under an 8-lane urban highway. Time constraints meant that a simple, fast low-cost solution was required. A lack of previous inspection data and launchers and receivers added to the challenge.
No Launchers/Receivers
High number of short pipe sections
“Low cost” simple solution required
Time constraints
The Solution:
Small lightweight handheld ultrasonic rotary (UT-R) tools were custom-built to overcome the challenges this inspection posed. The reduced size and weight meant the tools could be launched by hand directly into the pipe via a disconnected flange. This also saved on time as launchers and receivers did not need to be attached and detached for each inspection run. Propulsion was achieved using a blind flange and water hose meaning that several inspections could be completed per day.
Small light-weight custom built ILI’s
Flange is detached to allow for loading and unloading of ILIs
ILIs were hand loaded directly into the pipe section
Propulsion was achieved via a modified blind flange
Achieving multiple inspections per day and reducing shutdown times
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