Monitoring pipeline corrosion is important to determining the ongoing degradation of pipes while preventing leaks, process challenges, and failures.
As such, a new pipeline corrosion monitoring solution from Axess-Corrosion (The Woodlands, Texas, USA) combines a RANGER IoT transmitter from SignalFire Wireless Telemetry (Marlborough, Massachusetts, USA) with a sacrificial sensing probe to provide data and alarms on pipeline corrosion levels.
In operation, the probe—which is inserted into the pipe—is equipped with a depleting sacrificial membrane and can detect corrosion or erosion of the membrane as finite as 0.0001 inches (2.5 µm).
By measuring depletion rate, the probe provides feedback on the predicted rate of corrosion on the pipeline wall. It is critically important to oil producers to receive feedback about the performance of the expensive, corrosion-inhibiting chemicals, as well as whether the dosage rate is optimal.
Utilizing the latest cellular LTE CAT M1 with MQTT/SparkPlugB technology for remote locations, the battery-powered RANGER cellular transmitter powers the corrosion sensors. From there, it gathers and transmits data from the sacrificial probe to the cloud for remote monitoring control and alarms from any web browser, including mobile devices.
By publishing over cellular networks using MQTT and TLS security, the RANGER IoT cellular transmitter is isolated from local area networks to offer a more secure connection.
As many pipelines are located in isolated areas, the transmitter aims to address the need for monitoring isolated measurements or “lone rangers,” where it is cost-prohibitive or challenging to get a sensor reading.
“The RANGER provides Axess with the perfect solution for remote operating sites and clients that wish to monitor corrosion by exception,” says Roland Anderson, CEO of Axess-Corrosion. “The data sent by the RANGER also integrates seamlessly to our Hive software and alarms are set for metal loss thresholds and trends. In addition, Axess has also integrated permanent wall thickness sensors, thermowells and injection pump and tank data—all sent to Hive via the RANGER.”
Source: SignalFire Wireless Telemetry, www.signal-fire.com; Axess-Corrosion, axess.energy.