© 2015 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.

Steve Kenefick

Principal Project Manager

NRC/Industry UPT Meeting

White Flint, MD

January 21, 2015

UPT NDE Technology 

Update
2

© 2015 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.

EPRI UPTI NDE Technology Update Overview

2014 UPTI NDE status and research 

results

2015 UPTI NDE research portfolio

EPRI NDE Reports
3

© 2015 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.

2014 UPTI NDE Research Results – Phased Array

Ultrasonic Phased Array Technology for Corrosion 

Applications

– Demonstrated phased array probe can be used on various piping 

geometries and corrosion types

– Documented capabilities and limitations 

– Developed a method to map ultrasonic thickness data

– Very high resolution ultrasonic thickness maps and readings

Can be used to examine piping and tanks

Report Development of Ultrasonic Phased Array Technology 

for Corrosion (3002004401)
4

© 2015 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.

2014 UPTI NDE Research Results – Phased Array

Data analysis readouts

• Minimum Wall thickness – 5.83-mm

• Maximum Wall thickness – 9.26-mm

Area scanned – 20-in by 26-in

• ~80K measurements

• Results can be extracted to a spreadsheet 

for analysis
5

© 2015 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.

2014 UPTI NDE Research Results – Credit for Guided 

Wave Examinations

Develop industry consensus for using 

guided wave as a “Direct examination”

– Research conducted to identify key guided 

wave variables

– Published results in “Guidelines for Obtaining 

Credit for Buried Pipe Guided Wave 

Examinations” (3002000468)

– Conducted peer review with nuclear power and 

guided wave industries subject mater experts

 Resolving comments

– Meet with NRC staff
6

© 2015 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.

2014 UPTI NDE Research Results – New revision to the 

Buried Pipe Nondestructive Evaluation Reference Guide

Report 3002004395 – Nondestructive 

Evaluation: Buried Pipe NDE Reference 

Guide—Revision 3

– Added information throughout document

– New sections on microwave and RADAR 

technology

– Added information on white light (commercially 

available) and laser technology 

– Captured industry experience data
7

© 2015 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.

Additional 2014 UPTI NDE Research Results

 Investigation of new techniques for permanently 

mounted guided wave sensors

– Nondestructive Evaluation: Novel Ultrasonic Sensor 

Technology for Structure Monitoring (3002003031) 

 Capabilities of NDE for quantification of real corrosion 

in buried piping

– Nondestructive Evaluation: Quantification of Real Corrosion 

in Buried Piping (3002003023) 

 Technique development for HDPE pipe butt fusion 

weld strength evaluation 

– Nondestructive Evaluation: Technique Development to 

Evaluate the Joint Strength of High-Density Polyethylene Butt 

Fused Pipe Joints (3002003032)

 Quantifying NDE capabilities through various coatings 
8

© 2015 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.

EPRI UPTI NDE Technology Update Overview

2014 UPTI NDE status and research 

results

2015 UPTI NDE research portfolio

EPRI NDE Reports
9

© 2015 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.

2015 UPTI NDE Research – Assessment and Development of 

Buried Pipe NDE Technology

Purpose 

– Benchmark buried pipe NDE capabilities

– Provide resources for vendors to tweak procedures

– Provide utility support in implementing technology

– Identify new NDE technologies
10

© 2015 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.

2015 UPTI NDE Research – Assessed NDE 

Technologies Being Used in the Field

 Ultrasonic in-line technology

– Robotic driven array

– Flow through rotating mirror

– Flow through array

– Robotically driven EMATS

 Tethered remote field eddy current

 Robotically driven saturated low frequency eddy 

current

 Portable ultrasonic phased array
11

© 2015 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.

2015 UPTI NDE Research – Selective Leaching

Goal

– Develop, validate, and deploy NDE method(s) for 

detection and characterization of selective 

leaching in gray cast iron

Scope

– Survey potential NDE methods for detecting and 

characterizing selective leaching

– Meet with outside nuclear-power experts

– Acquire selective leaching samples

– Investigate deployable NDE solutions

– Report survey findings and results of deployment 

and validation efforts
12

© 2015 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.

2015 UPTI NDE Research – Guided Wave Structural Health 

Monitoring

 Develop and assess structural health monitoring 

(SHM) technology for corrosion/erosion in piping 

(co-funded by PRCI)

– Buried pipe mock-up built and installed

– A piezoelectric guided wave system and acoustic based 

system installed on mock-up

– Magnetostrictive to be installed in January

– Data will be collected throughout 2015 and assessed for 

ability to detect changes in pipe flaws

– Engaged with major oil company and National Lab on 

new technology

– Final report to be published in 2015
13

© 2015 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.

Additional 2015 EPRI UPTI NDE Projects

 Continuing

– Assessment and evaluation of NDE for tanks and containment liners

– Provide UPTI Industry support

– Leveraging other industry resources – EPRI engaged with PRCI NDE 

technology development

– Assessment of NDE technologies and practices from other industries

– HDPE pipe weld strength evaluation 

 New

– Develop tools for managing ultrasonic wheel probe data

– NDE capabilities in concrete
14

© 2015 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.

EPRI UPTI NDE Technology Update Overview

2014 UPTI NDE status and research 

results

2015 UPTI NDE research portfolio

EPRI NDE Reports
15

© 2015 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.

EPRI UPTI Related Reports

Report Title ID Number

Nondestructive Evaluation: Buried Pipe NDE Reference Guide—Revision 3

Nondestructive Evaluation: Buried Pipe NDE Reference Guide—Revision 2

3002004395

1025220

Development of Ultrasonic Phased Array Technology for Corrosion 3002004401

Guidelines for Obtaining Credit for Buried Pipe Guided Wave Examinations 3002000468

Nondestructive Evaluation: Assessment and Development of Buried Pipe NDE 

Technology (NDE)

3002000463

Buried Pipe Guided Wave Examination Reference Document (NDE) 1019115

Nondestructive Evaluation: NDE for Tanks and Containment Liners (NDE) 3002000462

Buried Pipe Direct Examinations Through Coatings 1025228

Nondestructive Evaluation: Buried Pipe In-Line NDE Depth Sizing Procedure 1025231

Nondestructive Evaluation: Quantification of Real Corrosion in Buried Piping 3002003023
16

© 2015 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.

EPRI UPTI Related Reports

Report Title ID Number

Buried Pipe Guided Wave Examination Reference Document 1019115

Nondestructive Evaluation: Novel Ultrasonic Sensor Technology for Structure 

Monitoring

3002003031

Guided Wave Analysis Tools for Buried Pipe 3002000466

Nondestructive Evaluation: Guided Wave Analysis Tools 1025212

Nondestructive Evaluation: Guided Wave Status Report 1022929

Nondestructive Evaluation: Further Developments of Guided Wave Examination 

Application 2009 Status Report

1019116

Nondestructive Evaluation: Further Developments of Guided Wave Examination 

Application 

1016675

Nondestructive Evaluation: Buried Pipe Structural Health Monitoring 1025213
17

© 2015 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.

EPRI UPTI Related Reports

Report Title ID Number

Remote Field Technology Assessment for Piping Inspection Including Buried and 

Limited Access Components

1021153

Catawba Field Trial of EPRI’s Large Diameter Buried Pipe Instrumented Vehicle 1016676

Intermediate Diameter Buried Piping Instrumented Vehicle--Evaluation 1022926

Nondestructive Evaluation: NDE for Tanks and Containment Liners 3002000462

Inspection Methods for Tanks and Containment Liners 1025215

Inspection Methodologies for Buried Pipes and Tanks 1021561

Nondestructive Evaluation: High-Density Polyethylene NDE Technology 3002000439

Nondestructive Evaluation: Technique Development to Evaluate the Joint Strength of 

High-Density Polyethylene Butt Fused Pipe Joints

3002003032
18

© 2015 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.

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