MACHINERY | PIPE INSPECTION
non-contact length and speed gauge offers an accuracy exceeding +/-0.03%, with a wide measure- ment depth of field for the full velocity range. The company has incorporated a faster processing engine into it, allowing faster communications – while it also has Ethernet connectivity. Beta LaserMike says it is an ideal replacement for contact encoders. At the same time, its new Ultrascan Pro provides high-speed, precision measurement of product wall thickness and concentricity and offers faster processing and measurement capabilities, high- speed tolerance checking, multi-layer measure- ments (up to four layers), enhanced Ethernet connectivity via built-in web server and other advances. It is already well-known for its patented ‘Snap’ technology with full automatic setup and calibration for fast, simple operation. Also, its BenchMike Pro now has a larger,
higher-resolution display and provides faster communications processing – offering Ethernet and USB connectivity. At this year’s Chinaplas and NPE shows, Inoex showed its Warp 100 terahertz system that meas- ures the wall thickness of gas and pressure pipes. It inspects 100% of a pipe wall thickness – in both lengthwise and circumferential directions – at line speeds of 60 m/min. Measuring accuracy is ± 10 microns (depending
on material types and applicable measuring method) and measuring results are independent of pipe temperature. Together with gravimetric mass throughput
control or weight per metre control, Warp 100 can significantly reduce production costs, says Inoex. There are four models in the range, for pipe dimensions ranging from 90mm all the way up to 1200mm.
Some benefits include: detailed information on
Right: The Warp 100 terahertz system from Inoex measures the wall
thickness of gas and pressure pipes.
dimensions including thickness, ovality and eccentricity; maintenance free; material saving of 5% or more; and easy connection to extruder control systems. And at Fakuma next month, Sikora will show its
Centerwave 6000, which uses millimetre wave tech- nology to measures the diameter, ovality, wall thickness and the sagging of extruded plastic pipe. The measuring principle does not require any coupling media, is not influenced by temperature or the plastic material and measures without the need for calibration. Pre-setting of the product parameters is not required. At the same time, the company will highlight its
X-Ray 6000 Pro, which measures wall thickness, eccentricity, the inner and outer diameter and the ovality of hoses and tubes. It can measure the thickness of up to three different material layers. It will also present diameter measuring systems in its Laser series 2000 and 6000 – which also offer lump detection in addition to diameter measurement.
Testing times
As well as being able to assess pipes in situ, and during production, it is also vital that producers have a firm idea of how pipes will behave in new or existing applications. At the recent Plastic Pipes in Infrastructure conference in London, Kiwa Tech- nology, a testing firm based in The Netherlands, said that it had assessed the suitability of polyethyl- ene (PE) pipes for hydrogen transport. Pressurised gas pipes are normally used to
transport natural gas (methane), because that is the gas used as household fuel. However, a number of pilot projects are investigating the use of hydrogen as a fuel. In many cases, it would be mixed with the methane. One advantage is that, because it contains no carbon molecules, it would not produce carbon dioxide when it burns – and so would reduce greenhouse gas emissions. René Hermkens, senior consultant at Kiwa, said
that PE100 was a sensible choice for hydrogen transport pipes – as they were easy to install, and had both low maintenance costs and a limited number of welds. “We already have a huge gas grid in the Nether-
lands, which uses mainly PE and PVC,” he said. “PE is used to transport gas above 2 bar.” Although plastic pipe was well proven for
natural gas transport, Hermkens said there were still several questions related to its use with hydrogen – concerning chemical resistance, permeation, the best installation method, and maintenance and repair.
Kiwa first carried out chemical resistance testing 16 PIPE & PROFILE EXTRUSION | October 2018
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