Industrial Consultancy & Sponsored Research (IC&SR) , IIT Madras
Rayleigh wave Positioning System (RaPS)
Categories for this Invention
Technology: Rayleigh wave Positioning System; Industry & Application: Magnetic Positioning systems, video monitoring systems pipeline applications ;
Market: The global acoustic wave sensors market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 16.28% during 2024-2030.
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Problem Statement
- Conventional manual ultrasonic field inspection of components such as pipeline systems find limitations when applied to the pipelines components.
- The limitations are due to the presence of blind spots for RF & visual techniques, &
- Further limitation is the interference of the fields as well as dynamic flux effects from the metal components when using RF and magnetic methods.
- Moreover, the process is costlier and not realistic in applications. Hence, there is a need to address the issues.
Technology
- Present invention describes a positioning system for providing a real time update on an estimated positioning of an ultrasonic probe in a 3D component.
- The system discloses a provision for real-time update on the estimated positioning of an ultrasonic inspection probe in a 3D surface of the part along with a triangulation algorithm/system.
- An ultrasonic guided wave in the form of a Rayleigh wave mode is generated in an “omni direction” manner.
- This generator is co-located along with the ultrasonic inspection probe & is excited using a simple electronic circuit that generated a time limited sinusoidal/square wave pattern.
- The wave travels along the surface of the pipe & is detected by 2-6 or more optimally located receiver probes.
- Using the relative time of arrival of the waves in the received probes, & by knowing the Rayleigh velocity in the case of Rayleigh guided waves & the geometry of the pipe, the position of the transmitter will be determined.
- The receiver probes are physically attached to the surface of the pipe & at locations that are optimized apriori.
- Additionally, a simplified calibration procedure will be developed in order to compensate for any variations in the velocity of the Rayleigh waves (guided wave) due to environmental conditions.
- The system comprises of the following:
- positioning an ultrasonic generator near an inspection probe in the 3D surface;
- generating an ultrasonic guided wave in the generator in the form of guided wave mode which is generated in an “omni – direction” which guided waves travel along the surface of the 3D component.
- positioning a plurality of ultrasonic receiver probes along the length of the 3D component at specific points based on a selective calculation of optimized apriori. (Refer Figure hereinbelow)
Key Features / Value Proposition
Technical Perspective:
- Present invention facilitates a positioning system consisting a plurality of three transmitter & receiver probes, wherein the receiver probes are magnetically attached to the surface of the pipe & are adapted to transmit the waves into a conical wave guide.
- The transmitter probes consisting of a PZT crystal which are different from the PZT crystal in receiver probes.
- The receiver probes transmit waves which will produce a point source or an annular line source on the pipe. (Refer figure)
- There is no interferences from adjacent structures including the operator or the ultrasonic instrument
- There are low footprint with the transmitters & receivers all positioned on the pipeline component.
- There is low power requirements (battery operated).
- The Modular and configurable modules providing flexibility during implementation.
Industrial Perspective:
- Provides Cost-effective System.
- Use of ultrasound generators & receivers those are non-ionising & Safe.
- There is minimal training requirements since operators are already trained in ultrasound inspection.
- Present invention can be extended to other type of guided waves such as Lamb Guided modes, interface guided modes, etc.
Questions about this Technology?
Contact For Licensing
sm-marketing@imail.iitm.ac.in
ipoffice2@iitm.ac.in
Research Lab
Prof. Krishnan Balasubramaniam
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Intellectual Property
IITM IDF Ref. 1571
IN Patent No: 484257
PCT Application No. PCT/IN2018/050474
Technology Readiness Level
TRL-4
Proof of Concept ready, tested in lab.