CHAPLIN project was funded by the European Commission under the 7th Framework Programme (FP7).
There are many thousands of miles of high power line transmission cables installed in remote areas where it is difficult to serve. Moreover, the cables are exposed to a variety of causes which originate assorted problems, such as moisture, voltage stress, vibration, wind induced and corrosion. Such causes are the main reasons for causing defect within the cable structure and consequently limit the line life-time. Therefore, there is a need for a Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) inspection method that can detect common types of defects.
The overall aim of CHAPLIN is to develop and demonstrate an integrated technology solution for the efficient and cost-effective inspection of high power overhead transmission line cables. CHAPLIN will develop a NDT technique, integrated with other technologies, in order to provide an automated condition monitoring system to gather quantitative information about the presence of defects in high power transmission line cables. The proposed NDT technique for this project is Long Range Ultrasonic Testing (LRUT).
LRUT will inspect the cable for defects/corrosion, identifying the presence and the location of the defect (including areas where accessibility is an issue). This technology will allow inspection of the full volumetric cross section area of a cable for many metres (up to 300m) with minimum number of points of access.
Albatroz Engineering is the NDT inspection company, hence key contributor to site trails and demonstration. We will ensure the new guidelines and procedures needed and will be able to commercially explore the end product, CHAPLIN sensor, at the end of the project.
For more information and updates, please visit www.chaplin-project.eu.
