MEDIA RELEASE
SWI develops a leading edge remote manipulator software
Toronto, May 31, 2010
Systemware Innovation (SWI) has successfully developed control software for an innovative manipulator to detect areas of Flow-Assisted Corrosion under weld caps in feeder pipes, something which has never been done before. The client, a large nuclear operator, had developed a novel tomographic mathematical technique to use ultrasonic imaging to construct outer diameter (OD) and inner diameter (ID) profiles of reactor feeder pipes. The client’s successful incorporation of this concept into analysis software to image the feeder pipe surfaces led to the creation of a project to develop a remote manipulator to do full 360 degree feeder pipe inspection scans.
SWI was tasked with developing the PC-based software to interface with the ultrasonic testing equipment, control the remote manipulator, and acquire the ultrasonic imaging data. The client-developed imaging software then analyzed this data to produce OD and ID profiles. In order to process the huge quantity of data necessary to create sufficient details in profiles to reconstruct the 3-D view of the reactor feeder pipes, SWI incorporated the mathematical analysis algorithm software of the client into a custom-built grid computational system to provide the massive computational power necessary to resolve this CPU-intensive problem. Currently, the system contains 30 high-performance servers, and could increase to more than 72 servers if faster performance is desired.
“Station staff have been amazed at the images obtained by the system. The information richness of the 3-dimensional views gives an easily realizable view of the degree of corrosion present inside the feeder pipes”, remarked Ben Wong, Senior Development Specialist on the Project. “This project puts the client at the cutting edge of ultrasonic tomographic imaging.”
SWI has been providing technology solutions to the energy sector since 1980. During this time, SWI has been a key contributor to the success of numerous major energy industry projects. SWI consultants work both as attached staff, complementing the clients' project teams, and on solutions managed at SWI facilities.
For additional information, please feel free to contact:
Jeff McDougall
VP, Professional Services
Systemware Innovation
(416) 932-4732
jeffmd@swi.com
2300 Yonge Street • Suite 1800, Box 2418 Toronto, Ontario • M4P 1E4 • Canada
