Measurement method and pipe wall misalignment adjustment algorithm of the pipe butting machine. (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Liquan; Yun, Feihong; Yao, Shaoming; Liu, Jun
• Is Part Of: Measurement. Volume 94(2016)
• Page Start: 873
• Page End: 882
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: Pipe butting machine -- Pipe measurement method -- Three-claw centring -- Pipe wall misalignment adjustment algorithm -- Centre translation algorithm -- Uncertainty; Weights and measures -- Periodicals; Measurement -- Periodicals; Measurement; Weights and measures; Periodicals; 530.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.measurement.2016.09.034
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0263-2241

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: A runout measurement method has been presented to optimize the butting of pipes. Rotation-translation algorithm has been created to minimize pipe wall misalignment. The effect of welding seams has been eliminated in the adjustment algorithm. A pipe butting machine has been designed, fabricated and benchmarked. Pipe wall misalignments can be minimized within 2 mm after adjustment. Abstract: This paper presents a runout measurement method and a novel finite grouping method to predict and optimize the rotational angle and translational displacement of butting pipes to minimize pipe wall misalignment (PWM). This study develops a method to minimize the PWM of the pipes excluding the positions of welding seams. In this method, the measurement data are divided into finite groups and the criteria are created to identify the positions of welding seams and eliminate the effect of the welding seams. Finally, the rotational angle and translational displacement of the butting pipes are optimized to minimize the PWM. A butting machine is designed to implement this method. The machine is benchmarked by a standard smooth pipe to minimize system errors. Three butting experiments have been performed with welded pipes of diameter 406 mm. The comparison shows that the computation results agree with the experimental results very well. The maximum PWMs in three experiments are less than 1.87 mm, which satisfies the butting requirements, that is, a PWM of less than 2.0 mm. Then, the uncertainties of the measurement results are discussed.