A Bulgarian company based in Varna developed a system for automated ultrasonic inspection of pipelines, gas pipelines and structures
VARNA | 16.02.2023 | 12:11 | BTA
A Bulgarian company based in Varna has developed a system to perform automated ultrasonic inspection of pipelines, gas pipelines and structures and assess their mechanical stress state while monitoring their structural integrity. The innovation is a joint development project of Multitest Ltd. and the Institute of Mechanics at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, announced Pavel Chukachev, one of the inventors and company manager, to BTA.
The project "Development of product and production innovations" is implemented with the financial support of Operational Programme "Innovation and Competitiveness" 2014-2020 and the European Regional Development Fund. Its value amounts to BGN 527,035.66, of which BGN 328,043.84 is European funding.
In the course of the project, many experimental studies, laboratory tests were carried out and new knowledge was acquired in fundamental areas such as product defectiveness and mechanical stress condition assessment, Chukachev said. According to him, the project has gone through all stages of technological readiness, through laboratory tests, including in an environment similar to actual application conditions. All this allowed the creation of a laboratory product ready for marketing, said the manager of Multitest.
The advantage of this model we designed and produced is that it is usable both independently as a test unit in the ultrasonic inspection of gas pipelines and pipelines, and also as a part included in a more complex system for life cycle assessment of gas pipelines and pipelines, the so-called "residual life", pointed out Chukachev. This, in his words, allows to assess to what extent there is still remaining useful life for the equipment being inspected.
I would like to highlight the role in this patent creation of Multitest team as a leading organization, as well as the team of the Institute of Mechanics as a partner. We were the party designing, manufacturing and performing the laboratory tests, but definitely a role and great support was also provided by the local unit of the Ministry of Economy, monitoring the administrative implementation of the project, providing us with substantial methodological assistance, without which we would not really have the time required to work on the product, said Pavel Chukachev.\
He emphasized that in November 2022, Multitest received a patent document for the invention of the pipe delamination ultrasonic inspection system. The patent is valid until 2040 and protected worldwide. By this document, we have finally fulfilled our commitment to funding assignment. The product is applicable in terms of its compliance with the requirements of European standards that relate to the inspection of gas pipelines and finds practical application in the company's activities as an inspection body performing non-destructive, ultrasonic inspection of gas pipelines. We have used our knowledge in this field, the current technology achievements and have further developed it through the creation of this technical device, added Pavel Chukachev.
