Guided Wave Ultrasonic Testing - Comparison of the systems

Equipment Wavemaker G3

Teletest Focus

MsS Comments
Manufacturer Guided Ultrasonics Plant Integrity SWRI
Modes generated Torsional and
longitudinal
capable, but only
torsional used as
standard

Torsional and
longitudinal and
both wavemodes
used as standard
Torsional and
longitudinal
capable, but only
torsional used as
standard

There are pros and cons to both wavemodes but it is
best practise to use both longitudinal and torsional
wavemodes when inspecting a pipe for the first time.
Can both
wavemodes be used
on the same test
NO YES NO Teletest is the only system with Multimode capability
as Standard.
Purity of generated
mode (less than 10%
flexural)
YES YES Unknown A balanced tool is critical to testing. The MsS system
does not have the capability of detecting flexural
modes.
Capability of
detecting non-
symmetric flexural
mode
YES YES NO GUL and Teletest have the capability of splitting the
tool up to measure flexural modes from localised
features (possibly corrosion)
Ring self-recognition YES YES NO
Integrated battery YES YES YES
Integrated Air pump NO YES Not Applicable Quicker and easier for the equipment operator to
inflate collar.
Pressure Monitoring NO YES Not Applicable Ensures quality of data, due to software monitoring
pressure and automatic top-up feature.
Capability to use
without laptop
YES NO NO Operators are generally do not have a requirement for
this.
Equipment Wavemaker G3

Teletest Focus

MsS Comments
Automatic
equipment
calibration
YES YES Unknown All systems calibrate using welds and the GUL and
Teletest will detect these automatically.
Can be used to test
on both directions in
the same test
YES YES YES
Can be used in
pitch-catch
YES YES Unknown Not standard procedure for inspection of pipelines but
has been shown for special applications.
Automatic operator
recognition
YES NO NO Not considered necessary.
Capability of
recognizing metal
loss and metal gain
YES YES YES Guided waves in general will detect changes in
acoustic impedance not just loss or gain.
Capability to define
angle position of
defect
YES YES NO A-MAP technique is now widely used by the GUL
and Teletest systems.
Secondary Phased
array focusing
NO YES NO Teletest is the only system that can do a secondary
focussing process by using Phased Array time delays.
This works in a very different way to the conventional
screening and A-Map.
Built in GPS YES YES Unknown
Maximum
Temperature
capability
125degC for less
than 6 and 80C
for all other pipe
sizes
125C for all pipe
sizes
300C claimed
Surface Preparation None required None required Suitable for
bonding sensors to

Equipment Wavemaker G3

Teletest Focus

MsS Comments
pipes
Typical number of
test locations per
day
10 10 3 Typically each location will take 1 hour for GUL and
Teletest (10 locations per day) to do the data
collection and interpretation. The surface preparation
and need to bond the sensors to the pipe reduces this
to 3 for the MsS for the same number of operators.
Data collection time
once tool is on the
pipe
Minutes Minutes Minutes
Research and
Technology Institute
linked with
Manufacturer
Imperial College TWI Ltd SWRI
Permanently
Installed tool
YES
PIMS
YES
Permamount
Yes All manufactures have this Technology.
Capability of testing
heat exchanger
tubes
YES YES YES Currently this technology is not a realistic
replacement of IRIS and other accepted techniques.
Capability of testing
rails
YES NO NO Not currently an accepted technique in the rail
industry.
Capability of testing
offshore structures
or other pipes from
underwater location
YES YES NO This is an ongoing development activity for GUL and
Teletest and both have proven under water
technology.