A review of the development of the alternating current field measurement technique for subsea inspection

摘要

The ACFM technique has developed from the laboratory to being a well-used technical inspection tool. The practical aspects are backed up by theoretical knowledge and the results of reliability trials. In some countries the technique is used as the first-line subsea inspection tool. The ACFM electromagnetic technique is now becoming widely accepted as an inspection technique and hopefully will reach the same level of acceptance as, for example, ultrasonic inspection and radiography. In both these cases a number of standards have been produced to cover the separate practices, procedures and applications. In the future it can be seen that separate standards will have to be produced for the various electromagnetic techniques, but until that time is reached the approval route by Certifying Authorities will have to be used for the acceptance of the ACFM technique. As can be seen from the above, this route has been successfully accepted in Scandinavia, Europe, the Far East and Middle East as well as in the USA. With the inclusion of the ACFM technique in ISO (API) and IIW documents it can be seen that ACFM is now an accepted and approved technique.