Guided Wave Ultrasonic Testing

TWI has been the pioneer of long-range guided wave technology, also known as long-range ultrasonic
testing (LRUT), since the mid-1990s. This research was stimulated by the need of the oil and
petrochemical industries for a method to detect corrosion under insulation (CUI) in pipework and
subsequently led to the development of the first commercial guided wave system, Teletest, which is
commercially
available
through
TWI's
subsidiary
company,
Plant
Integrity.
The technique is now widely accepted and used to inspect pipes in inaccessible areas such as road and
river crossings, power plant tubing, risers, offshore topside pipework, jetty lines and refinery pipework.
TWI and Plant Integrity in partnership have further developed the technology, and Plant Integrity is
currently selling its fourth generation equipment for inspection of pipelines: Teletest Focus+.
The basic system consists of:

A low-frequency flaw detector, the Teletest Focus+ pulser receiver unit

Transducer ring or tool that wraps around the pipe
A laptop computer that contains the software controlling the system
Cable connector between the Teletest Focus+ unit and tool
Communication between the Teletest Focus+ unit and laptop through ethernet

TWI Resources

The combined TWI and Plant Integrity resource in the field of LRUT comprises some 30 highly skilled
engineers and technicians. This makes it one of the largest groups in the world working in the field of
guided waves. TWI's activities concern the development of new applications for LRUT technology,
while Plant Integrity concentrates on enhancements to the Teletest range of equipment for sale to
NDT service providers and inspection companies and on the provision of LRUT services worldwide.

Applications
Proven applications
Teletest has been used commercially over ten years. During this time its benefits have been proven on:

Painted pipework
Mineral wool insulated lines
Polyurethane foam insulated lines
Bund wall penetrations
Buried pipelines
High temperature lines (<+125C)
Mixed phase lines

Teletest is in a continual state of development. Among the applications currently under consideration are:
Wind turbine towers
Offshore platform jacket structures
Railway lines
Cables

Applications under development

Road crossings
Offshore risers
Sleeved sections
Spirally welded pipe
Sleeved sections
Stainless steel pipe
Jetty Lines

Teletest Product Range

For further information on the Teletest product range :
Teletest Focus
Flaw Detector
Inflatable Collars
Multi-Mode modules
Mini-tools
Teletest WaveScan Software

Teletest Focus Plus

Teletest was the first commercially available system to utilise long-range guided wave ultrasonic testing for
detecting corrosion in pipelines. TWI developed the technology in response to requests from industrial
members in the oil, gas and petrochemical industries. These companies required an non-destructive testing
(NDT) method capable of detecting corrosion in pipes and pipelines at areas inaccessible for inspection by
conventional NDT methods, ie. insulated and sleeved pipework, or pipelines running under roads or elevated
on pipe racks. The original Teletest equipment has been replaced by a system with greatly enhanced
capability and the flaw detector is sold under the Teletest Focus + trademark.
The basic system consists of:
A low frequency flaw detector, the Teletest Focus unit

Transducer ring or tool that wraps around the pipe

A lap-top computer that contains the software for controlling the system
Cable connector between Teletest Focus unit and tool
Umbilical between Teletest Focus unit and laptop
For further information on guided wave activity please find below a link to a 40 minute presentation on the TWI

Flaw Detector
Plant Integrity Ltd has announced the launch of the Teletest Focus+ Guided Wave Pulser-receiver unit. This system
will replace the successful Teletest Focus unit which was introduced to the market four years ago.
The development of the Teletest Focus+ unit has taken 2 years of collaboration between Plant Integrity, key
industrial partners and TWI's Long Range Ultrasonics Group in order to provide a pulser-receiver unit that not
only improves Guided Wave inspection for site technicians but also provides the optimum platform for Guided
Wave Research and development for TWI and other University Institutes.
The key improvements to the pulser-receiver unit are Ethernet communications and 24 fully independent transmit
and receive channels to speed up data collection. Better range and sensitivity has been achieved due to
maintaining the Teletest standard output voltage of 300V Peak to Peak with improved sampling resolution and
filtering.
Weight has not been compromised for this added functionality with a 45% reduction to 7.6kg over the previous
unit.
Key features introduced in the previous pulser-receiver unit such as the internal electric pump for inflation of
collars and GPS have proved so popular that they have been kept within the new unit also. Inspection of pipelines
is still operated in octants to fully utilise the A-Map (unrolled pipe) and secondary focussing technique unique to
Teletest.
The Teletest Focus+ system is fully back compatible with tooling and Teletest WaveScan software. Teletest
operates in Multimode configuration as standard uniquely providing both longitudinal and torsional wavemode
inspection simultaneously. In addition, a new five ring Torsional module has been launched that provides a high
amplitude, broad frequency range torsional inspection when that additional power is required, without the need
to change transducer spacing.

Inflatable Collars
The one-piece collar, made out of state of the art carbon fibre reinforced Kevlar, are thinner and 60% of the
weight of the current standard. The new design has reduced the necessary clearance between pipes to 65mm.
This is often an important consideration, where many pipes run in close proximity. The collar is clamped around
the pipe with a rapid latch mechanism and can be mounted in under a minute

Multi-Mode Modules
The multi-mode modules accommodate five transducer elements, three to excite the longitudinal mode and
two to generate torsional waves. Each mode has its pros and cons for flaw detection in a given situation. Multimode capability ensures that the wave mode is optimised for the specific pipe being inspected.

Mini Tools
Plant Integrity has developed 'LATCH and FIRE' mini-tools to inspect 1.5 -5" diameter pipes. These represent a
step change in efficiency compared with cumbersome 'fixed ring' tools. They have brought about a 90%
improvement in set up time and only require 42mm clearance between pipes.

Teletest Wavescan Software

The release of Teletest WaveScan software incorporating focussing has been timed to coincide with the launch
of the Teletest Focus hardware. The WaveScan software runs on Windows 7 and streamlines collection and
interpretation of data with many features automated for speed and ease of use. Full data collection and
interpretation at a given test location can be completed in 15 minutes.
The software incorporates an automated frequency sweep facility enabling data to be collected at a range of
frequencies, so that frequency can be optimised for the test pipe. In addition the WaveScan software
incorporates the focussing and A-Map functions which gives circumferential distribution of defects around the
pipe. It also sets the Distance Amplitude Correction (DAC) curves automatically from the peaks of weld
indications.
Another feature that greatly improves interpretation is the ability, with one mouse click, to switch between
displays. The software also has an automated reporting facility, integrated with Microsoft Word, for improved
productivity.