Latest News

2010 NDT Training Course Schedule is available now!

WINS acquires state-of-the-art equipment for enhanced Guided Wave Inspection Services for Pipelines and Bridge Cables, November 2009.

WINS delivers Acoustic Emission Level III Training Course in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, October 5-9, 2009

WINS is awarded contract with U.S. Department of Energy for developing inspection technology for health monitoring of coal power plant components, August 2009

WINS presents a paper at NYC Bridge Conference titled "Structural health monitoring using wireless acoustic emission sensor network" in August, 2009

WINS is awarded contract with NSF for developing inspection technology for Steel Piles, July 2009

WINS presents  "Acoustic emission input to inspection-based bridge maintenance" at the International Conference on Fracture & Fatigue in July, 2009

WINS is awarded Market Access Grant from Pennsylvania IBD to launch Joint Venture in India, May 2009

Aboveground Storage Tanks Floor Inspection
Above-ground storage tanks can contain large quantities of dangerous materials whose release can have major consequences:
  • endangering personnel,
  • polluting the environment, and
  • interrupting business.
Tank bottom (or floor) inspection is a special case.  The sides and roof can be conveniently inspected with conventional nondestructive methods and releases are readily detectable.  Tank floors are less accessible and evidence of release remains largely hidden from view until the extent of the release is large.  In-service degradation of tank bottoms is the result of internal, under-floor corrosion, and mechanical deformation.
 

      



Acoustic Emission inspection of tank floors satisfies the requirements set for in API Standard 653, Tank Inspection, Repair, Alteration, and Reconstruction. Using API 653 as its basis, WINS tank bottom maintenance program combines nondestructive inspection with comprehensive life-cycle maintenance tools that use the valuable information available in the inspection and other maintenance data gathered on the tank over time. This ensemble of tools is designed to meet the mandatory regulatory requirements based on API 653.  They minimize maintenance costs and reduce exposure to safety, environmental and business risks by:
  • selecting the correct inspection methods
  • evaluating the current condition of the tank
  • establishing inspection intervals,
  • predicting remaining life

Regulation by competent authorities and responsible corporative initiatives are facilitated by the availability of a key reference standard for tank bottom inspection and evaluation, API Standard 653, "Tank Inspection, Repair, Alteration, and Reconstruction," This standard was published originally in 1991 and revised in 1996.   It states that:
  • leaks in tank bottoms are not acceptable while tanks are in service
  • periodic assessment of tank bottom integrity shall be performed

API 653 is flexible and does not specify
  • how to perform this integrity assessment
  • what inspection techniques to use
  • inspection sensitivity and interval

WINS AE tank inspection services are undertaken while the tank remains in-service and offers the client the following economic benefits:
  • Minimal pre-inspection tank preparation
  • Tanks that are not structurally deficient remain in service.
  • Structurally deficient tanks are ranked in terms of damage and prioritized for maintenance
  • Leaks are detected early, minimizing environmental damage
  • Simultaneous floor and annular ring inspection
  • Large tanks are completed in one day
  • Early detection of fatigue cracks in tank shell plate and welds

Tank damage is tracked in real-time on a software reconstructed virtual tank floor using tank diameter and height.  Leak and corrosion activity are clearly identifiable during inspections.


The acoustic activity generated by leaks and corrosion in the tank floor are used to assess tank integrity in 3-D.  Based on inspection results, WINS  rates tank integrity follows: