Visual Inspection for CUI

The first and simplest method of inspection is, of course, visual inspection. It
involves removing the insulation, checking the surface condition of the pipe,
and replacing the insulation. It’s also the most expensive and time-consuming
method. The logistics of insulation removal occasionally involves asbestos and
attendant complications. Process-related problems may also occur if the insulation is
removed while the piping is in service. Nowadays, visual inspections are usually
performed with portable visual scanners, which allows for precise, traceable sizing of
surface corrosion at the outer diameter.

There are two basic types of visual inspection:

Neutron Backscatter

This method as used for NDT is designed to detect wet insulation in pipes and
vessels. A radioactive source emits high-energy neutrons into the insulation. If
there’s moisture in the insulation, the hydrogen nuclei attenuate the energy of the
emitted neutrons. The inspection instrument’s gauge detector displays a low-energy
neutrons count proportional to the amount of water in the insulation. High
counts per time period indicate more moisture and a higher probability of the
present of CUI.
X-Rays or Radiography to Detect CUI

X-rays are used in a variety of ways in detecting CUI, such as real-time radiography
(RTR), computed radiography (CR), and digital detector arrays (DDA; flat-panel
detectors).

Real-Time Radiography

RTR provides a view of a pipe’s outer diameter profile through the insulation. The
real-time device has a radiation source and an image intensifier/detector. There
are two major categories of RTR devices on the market today; one using an X-ray
source and one using a radioactive source. Each has its own advantages and
disadvantages, but the X-ray systems deliver far better resolution than the isotope-
type equipment. If there is a change in the outer diameter profile, it normally means
a corrosion buildup. However, it’s not possible to measure thickness and difficult to
correlate the loss in wall thickness and the corrosion profile. The method is limited to
small structures and requires access to both sides.
Computed Radiography

CR uses equipment very similar to conventional radiography, except that in place of

a film to create images, it uses an imaging plate made of photostimulable
phosphor. A special cassette placed under the body part or object to be examined
houses the imaging plate and the X-ray exposure is made. Hence, instead of taking
an exposed film into a darkroom for developing in chemical tanks or an automatic
film processor, the imaging plate runs through a special laser scanner, or CR reader,
that reads and digitizes the image. The digital image can then be viewed and
enhanced using software with functions very similar to other conventional digital
image-processing software, such as contrast, brightness, filtration, and zoom.

Digital Detector Array

DDAs or flat-panel detectors (FPD) are a class of solid-state X-ray digital

radiography devices similar in principle to image sensors used in digital
photography and video. X-rays pass through the object being imaged and strike one
of two types of detectors: indirect detectors or direct FPDs. They are more sensitive
and faster than film. Their sensitivity allows a lower dose of radiation for a given
picture quality. They are lighter, far more durable, smaller in volume, more accurate,
and have much less image distortion than image intensifiers/detectors and can
also be produced in larger sizes.
Ultrasonic Thickness Measurement

Referred to as UT, it is the non-destructive measurement of the local thickness of a

solid element based on the ultrasound wave’s time of flight. This type of
measurement is usually performed with an ultrasonic thickness gauge. This is
effective, but limited to small areas. Just as with partial removal of insulation, it’s
expensive to cut plugs out of the insulation and impractical to cut enough holes to
get reliable results. The inspection plugs can compromise the integrity of the
insulation and add to the CUI problem, if they are not properly recovered.

Pulsed Eddy Current to Detect CUI

PEC is an electromagnetic method to determine the wall thickness of electrical
conductors. The PEC probe is placed on an insulated pipe or vessel. A magnetic
field is created by an electrical current in the transmitting coil of the probe. This field
penetrates through the cladding and magnetizes the pipe wall. The electrical current
in the transmission coil is then switched off, causing a sudden drop in the
magnetic field. As a result of electromagnetic induction, eddy currents are
generated in the pipe wall. The eddy currents diffuse inwards and decrease in
strength. This is monitored by the PEC probe and used to determine the wall
thickness. The thicker the wall, the longer it takes for the eddy currents to
decay to zero. Applied operating principles of PEC vary from system to system.
Generally, to obtain a quantitative wall thickness reading, PEC systems use
algorithms that relate the diffusive behavior in time to the material properties and the
wall thickness.

PEC averages wall thickness over a relatively large foot print. As a result, PEC
is suitable for general wall loss, but isolated pitting defects cannot be detected,
making it a screening tool only.