ASSESSMENT OF THE CORROSION RATE OF PROCESS PIPELINES USING AUTOMATED REAL-TIME MONITORING

Abstract

The article discusses a conceptual approach to ensuring the reliability of technological pipelines using automated corrosion monitoring tools in combination with predictive Analytics systems. The tasks are implemented using portable wireless ultrasonic sensors for monitoring the wall thickness of technological equipment and pipelines, which support the process of monitoring and evaluating the technical condition of the equipment. Installation of sensors is carried out without violating the integrity of the pipeline or changing the design of the equipment, which provides convenience and short terms of putting them into operation. The direct measurement method allows you to reliably monitor both the current state of the system and the rate of corrosion changes in the equipment. High accuracy and repeatability of measurements allows you to track changes in the thickness of the metal of the order of 10 microns, which significantly exceeds the sensitivity of the system compared to analogues. The standard period between measurements is 12 hours, which allows you to quickly identify episodes of corrosion activity and quickly compensate for them. All changed data is accumulated, processed and stored on the server, displayed on any number of working stations connected and automated in the network. Thanks to continuous monitoring, the user can carry out operational corrective actions. The sensitivity of the sensors to thinning of the walls of the equipment makes it possible to quickly respond to changes and make timely adjustments to the chemical and technological process aimed at protecting the process equipment from corrosion. With an increase in the inter-repair mileage, there are risks associated with equipment wear, i.e. the greater the inter-repair mileage, the greater the risk of unscheduled downtime increases. This corrosion monitoring system will reduce both direct operating costs for maintenance and repair, and indirect – this is an additional product output that can be implemented. The end result is the formation of an optimal maintenance and repair program with an emphasis on maintaining critical system assets in working condition during the inter-repair period.