Bats inspire gas pipe corrosion and leak detector

Developed by a team from Lancaster University, the National Physical Laboratory, and technology firm Hybrid Instruments, the system produces a pencil-like beam of neutrons and gamma rays directed at the materials being inspected. It is then able to analyse this material by measuring the reflected signal or “backscatter”.

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The group claims that the technology could play a role in addressing an issue that costs millions annually, endangers lives and causes significant environmental damage.

Corrosion in oil pipelines is typically measured with ultrasonic or electromagnetic techniques. However, these are not practical for underground pipelines, or for pipelines covered with insulating layers of concrete or plastic.

Neutrons and gamma rays have potential in this application because of their useful complementary characteristics: whilst neutrons interact mainly with low-density materials like plastics and have a high penetrating power gamma rays interact mainly with metals and not always are able to penetrate very thick materials of high density.