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November 2011

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Ultrasonic wall thickness inspection on storage tanks - Beetle

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Ultrasonic wall thickness inspectionfor storage tanks - Beetle

Corrosion from the inside is a common cause for leaks in storage tanks. Aggressive components in stored

product can affect the tank wall. For this reason, it is necessary to measure the wall thickness in a number of

places along the tank’s contour regularly. At ground level, the results can be read from a UT device immediately.

The results are stored in a computer and added to the inspection report in the form of a diagram. This enables

the client to be certain about the condition of his tank very swiftly.

Application areas

Beetle inspection is an on-stream method for

carrying out wall thickness measurements on

storage tanks. Wall thickness inspections are

carried out regularly, in order to comply with the

requirements of authorities, inspection agencies

and insurance companies. The frequency can

be increased, if a reduction of wall thickness is

observed during a measurement. At such times, it

can also be decided to extend the inspection, for

instance by means of Mechanised Wall thickness

Mapping (find more info in the Mechanized Wall

thickness Mapping sheet).

Controllable

As the Beetle is equipped with two powerful,

individually operated electric motors, the operator

is able to steer the Beetle accurately, using a

joystick.

The results are transferred through a cable at

ground level and shown directly on the display of

the UT equipment.

November 2011

page 2 of 2

Ultrasonic wall thickness inspection on storage tanks - Beetle

w w w.ApplusRTD.com

Ultrasonic wall thickness inspection on storage tanks - Beetle

Performance

The Beetle is a crawler with four powerful magnet

wheels, with an ultrasonic probe on the underside

of the small carrier. The small carrier ‘sticks’ to

the tank wall and crawls straight upwards along

the outside of the tank. Paint layers or welding

seams are no obstacle to the Beetle. Neither do

temperatures of up to 50 °C pose any problems

for this small but powerful unit. With a speed

of 12 metres per minute, it crawls upwards and

automatically measures with a 5 mm distance

interval (every 5 mm a UT measurement is made

and recorded). These measurements can then be

reported with a distance interval of 10, 25, 50 or

100 cm.

Cost savings

In the past, you had to build high scaffolds or rent

abseiling equipment, in order to perform manual

ultrasonic measurements. This is a labour intensive

and time consuming job. The Beetle developed by

Applus RTD Benelux, will crawl upwards along the wall

and will measure the wall thickness at great speed.

You are no longer required to build scaffolds and/or

rent abseiling equipment.