Evaluation of Acoustic Emission Inspection of Oil Tank Floor via Tank Bottom Plates Thickness Measurement

This paper deals with an inspection of defects including corrosion and leakage by Acoustic Emission (AE) in an oil tank floor. 5 AE sensors have been attached to an oil tank and the sensors were calibrated by pencil lead break test. The emissions have been recorded within an oil tank. The oil tank was not emptied and had an amount of oil for the test unlike other test methods like magnetic flux leakage, eddy current or ultrasonic. The test method and formulas of AE investigation and AE source location are presented in detail. The result of AE test in the studied oil tank verifies the presence of corrosion in some areas of the tank floor. After AE test, the tank was emptied and inspected using ultrasonic thickness meter. The result of thickness measurement reconciles in an acceptable manner with AE test