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The sensors mounted on the external surface of tank near the tank floor can detect
these stress waves, and the corrosion situation of the tank floor can be priority
classified by data analysis.
However, it can be seen from the literature published internationally that different
countries or different companies have great differences in data acquisition and data
evaluation methods when performing AE testing on the oil tank floor, which can lead
to different results. Nowadays there is no universal standard on AE test procedure
and data evaluation methods for oil tank floor testing. The purpose of this paper is to
summarize the difference in AE testing of tank floor, especially in parameter setting
and data processing method, in order to provide a guideline for peers in performing
AE testing on storage tank floors.
29.2 Methods
AE testing technique consists of two steps: (1) Testing procedure to set up and to
perform the measurement. (2) Data evaluation and grading the corrosion condition
of the tank floor. By summarizing domestic and foreign literature, we have compared
the similarities and differences of data acquisition and evaluation in these 2 steps in
AE testing.
29.2.1 Difference Analysis of Data Acquisition
The key to a successful test is always a proper set-up. In the process of data acquisition, the main content is testing procedure to set up and to perform the measurement,
so we have summarized five aspects that can affect the AE testing of the tank floor
according to the open literature.
29.2.1.1 Requirements of Liquid Level of the Tank
The requirement of liquid level of the tank is inconsistent. Such as in inspectahire
company [3], they fill oil to the tank at least 50% full before testing. In Iran [2], they
need the tank 70% full. And in the standard of ASTM [4], tank should load oil to its
maximum capacity, and in Chinese standard JB/T 10764-2007 [5], the liquid level
of the tank should be loaded to its 85–105% of the operation level.
In PetroChina Pipeline Company, tank was filled with product level of 80% which
provides the required load pressure for AE testing. We have had an experiment, the
results is that number of signals decreased 37% if the liquid level from 81 to 60%
full, as shown in Fig. 29.1. So it is important that liquid level of the tank should be
consistent with the data evaluation method.
H. Xu et al.
The sensors mounted on the external surface of tank near the tank floor can detect
these stress waves, and the corrosion situation of the tank floor can be priority
classified by data analysis.
However, it can be seen from the literature published internationally that different
countries or different companies have great differences in data acquisition and data
evaluation methods when performing AE testing on the oil tank floor, which can lead
to different results. Nowadays there is no universal standard on AE test procedure
and data evaluation methods for oil tank floor testing. The purpose of this paper is to
summarize the difference in AE testing of tank floor, especially in parameter setting
and data processing method, in order to provide a guideline for peers in performing
AE testing on storage tank floors.
29.2 Methods
AE testing technique consists of two steps: (1) Testing procedure to set up and to
perform the measurement. (2) Data evaluation and grading the corrosion condition
of the tank floor. By summarizing domestic and foreign literature, we have compared
the similarities and differences of data acquisition and evaluation in these 2 steps in
AE testing.
29.2.1 Difference Analysis of Data Acquisition
The key to a successful test is always a proper set-up. In the process of data acquisition, the main content is testing procedure to set up and to perform the measurement,
so we have summarized five aspects that can affect the AE testing of the tank floor
according to the open literature.
29.2.1.1 Requirements of Liquid Level of the Tank
The requirement of liquid level of the tank is inconsistent. Such as in inspectahire
company [3], they fill oil to the tank at least 50% full before testing. In Iran [2], they
need the tank 70% full. And in the standard of ASTM [4], tank should load oil to its
maximum capacity, and in Chinese standard JB/T 10764-2007 [5], the liquid level
of the tank should be loaded to its 85–105% of the operation level.
In PetroChina Pipeline Company, tank was filled with product level of 80% which
provides the required load pressure for AE testing. We have had an experiment, the
results is that number of signals decreased 37% if the liquid level from 81 to 60%
full, as shown in Fig. 29.1. So it is important that liquid level of the tank should be
consistent with the data evaluation method.