System and method for simultaneous multi-tube inspection of vertical tube bundles
A multi-tube inspection system with a reel having a plurality of cameras is placed in the upper header. Each camera is attached to its own lead line and has a light source. An inspector, located in the upper header, aligns each camera with a tube and then operates the reel to simultaneously lower the cameras through their respective tube. As the cameras pass through the tubes, they capture a video image of the interior length of the tube. The video image is stored and relayed to a control center where additional inspectors can review the video image of the interior of the tube. Each video is identified and tied back to the tube in a data base. If a defect is identified, the tube can be taken out of service (blocked off) or scheduled for cleaning. Once cleaned, the tube is then reinspected.
1. A method for inspecting a vertical tube bundle containing catalyst in a reactor, the method comprising:
taking the reactor out of service;
draining the tube bundle;
placing a multi-tube inspection system and an inspector within the reactor in a header above the tube bundle;
simultaneously lowering a plurality of cameras through a plurality of tubes in the tube bundle, wherein each camera passes through a separate tube; and
capturing a video image of the interior of each tube of the plurality of tubes through which the cameras pass.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising removing the catalyst from the tube bundle.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
transmitting the video image to a control room where it is reviewed by an inspector; and
identifying defects in the plurality of tubes.
4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:
listing in a database the defects identified; and
correlating the defects identified with a tube in which the defect is located.
5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:
storing the video of the interior of the plurality of the tube;
correlating the video with the tube from which it was taken; and
recording in the database the correlation between the video and the tube.
6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:
blocking off tubes containing defects;
repairing the tube containing the defect;
reinspecting the tube containing the defect; and
recording in the database the defect, tube containing the defect and a final status after reinspecting.