Monitoring of above ground oil storage tanks with nondestructive testing using acoustic emission technique

Abstract

Non-destructive test with Acoustic Emission technique was used for monitoring of the corrosion in the above ground oil storage tank. In the analytical characteristics of acoustic emission wave, however, Acoustic Emission test has to be prior used for the location detection of corrosion especially indication of the severity of corrosion. In this research, the relationship between the corrosion rate and the sound wave energy was studied. The corrosion and damage detected on the surface of the aboveground storage tank was determined by the Acoustic Emission Test. Nine pieces of low carbon steel grade SS400 was soaked in sodium chloride solution in simulated tanks at concentrations of 1.5, 3.5 and 5.5 wt%. Next, the corrosion activity was checked by performing with the Acoustic Emission Testing for 1 hour and thus calculating the corrosion rate of the test specimens. From the experiment, it was found that the rate of corrosion affects the Acoustic Emission Energy. The corrosion rate was increased with the concentrations of the solution increasing from the corrosion process. The corrosion rate was also increased with the sound wave power increases. Therefore, in order to achieve the corrosion rate and the position of the defects on the inner surface of the tank, non-destructive testing with acoustic emission technique can be factually chosen for this specific application.