Geometric Magnetic and Discriminator Sensor for Smart Pigs

A result of a research partnership between Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro – PUC-Rio, PETROBRAS and PIPEWAY is presented: The development of an innovative sensor head for high resolution MFL Pigs, the GMD sensor, Geometric Magnetic and Discriminator. This head makes high resolution magnetic pipeline readings using the MFL - Magnetic Flux Leakage technique, with the addition of geometric readings and the outside/inside defects discriminations. This technique makes possible, with only one crown of GMD sensors, the caliper, metal loss and outside/inside discrimination pipeline inspection. Technical aspects of the development, e.g.: the construction details of the sensor, evaluation tests and laboratory results are also presented.