New Pipe Notch Detection and Location Method for Short Distances employing Ultrasonic Guided Waves

This paper presents a novel signal processing approach that is able to automatically identify notches in pipelines short distances. In addition, this method locates the geometric position of the notch and determines the size. approach for fault detection and diagnosis presented look for a solution and then validates the solution analyzing the signal which flows in the opposite direction. Micro Fiber Composite (MFC) transducers are in an austenitic stainless steel pipeline, used in solar concentrators, in order to generate Ultrasonic Guided . The main results presented in this paper can be summarized as: identification of edges or welds by -parametric analysis and comparison with the theoretical results predicted, notch location in the pipe by of the position of echoes weighted with their amplitudes, and the flow sizing of them by using curves of the echoes when they propagate along the pipeline. This approach leads to employ only transmitter and one receptor for notch detection, location and diagnosis. The main advantage for the industry the double check of presence of a notch with respect to other systems, which reduces false alarms during the .