Local area magnetization and inspection method for aerial pipelines

The characteristics of aerial pipelines, like the diversity of the pipe diameter, the continuity and the close arrangement, make it impossible to inspect them with the traditional Magnetic Flux Leakage (MFL) methods that magnetize the whole circumference. To overcome this difficulty, an innovative measure based on the MFL theory, called Local Area Magnetization and Inspection (LAMI) method, is introduced and discussed in this paper. The differences between the LAMI method and the traditional MFL method are analyzed through a basic experiment. The inspecting equipments having the re-assemble and re-configurable abilities are designed in order to realize the high-efficiency magnetization and inspection with the LAMI method. Finally, the validity and efficacy of this method is verified by the practical inspection of aerial pipelines in a petrochemical factory. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.