한국전력기술

- -Technique to detect defects in buried pipes without digging improves accuracy greatly -



KEPCO E&C has developed jointly with Ansco and Andong National University an inspection equipment that can detect damage, cracks and corrosion in underground pipes without digging. The on-the-ground inspection equipment has successfully undergone on-the-site verification test.

The inspection device uses the telluric current vector to locate the damaged area and measure the degree of damage. It provides the exact on-the-ground and underground locations of pipes and a three-dimensional map of the damaged area showing the depth and range of the damaged area.

The inspection equipment boasts an accuracy rate of more than 80 percent, compared with foreign-made equipment whose rate is 50-60 percent. By enabling detection with an inspection of a relatively smaller area, the equipment shortens the work time considerably.

KEPCO E&C believes that the equipment can be broadly used for detecting defects in not only underground pipes in power plants but also pipes for water, sewage, gas and chemicals that were buried underground in many communities. It is hoped that the device will have significant positive effects on relevant industries and contribute to improving safety of infrastructure facilities.

Chang Hyun-young, principal researcher at the Future Technology and Strategy Research, said, “Work to finish commercialization of the equipment by the end of this year, including design and certification, is in its final stage. The company will continue to develop world-class new products including those employing AR (Augmented Reality) technology.”