Trade fairs

The networking-oriented Congress focuses strategic and technical issues of the pipeline transportation of oil, gas, and hydrogen.

Fraunhofer IKTS uses the platform to present NDT and monitoring solutions for pipeline infrastructure:

Pressure vessel monitoring by acoustic methods

The integrity of pressure tanks made of fibre-reinforced composites (CFRP) can be disturbed by refuelling and removal, but also in the case of damage. Permanent monitoring detects any damage immediately and thus minimizes the operating risk. With this monitoring system developed at Fraunhofer IKTS structural changes or damages are detected, localized, classified and visually displayed permanently or periodically during an inspection.

Corrosion monitoring of critical infrastructure

The CoMoRanger^® system monitors pipelines that are difficult to reach and other corrodible components in technical constructions. The continuous determination of the remaining wall thickness in corrosion occurring areas is realized by evaluating so-called guided waves. Depending on the environmental conditions and requirements, various sensors of different temperatures or customer-specific sensors for EX-protected areas can be used for this purpose.

Welding inspection during offshore installation

The PCUS Pro^® ultrasonic measurement system realizes NDT measurements while pipes are being laid on the seabed – and not prior installation. The inspection speed is very high, and the entire system is designed for long-term stability and reliability on pipe-laying vessels. The modular equipment can be easily adapted to the customer's needs. Currently the monitoring system is being successfully tested at sea with cooperation partners.

Subsea monitoring of offshore infrastructure by guided waves

Since conventional testing methods can only be used to a limited extent in the offshore sector (e.g. foundation structures of offshore wind turbines), Fraunhofer IKTS has developed a suitable permanent monitoring method. This includes durable sensors that can withstand the harsh environmental conditions and a permanent power supply as well as data transmission by Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) or Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) technology.