System for simultaneous multi-tube inspection of vertical tube bundles

Abstract

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for a simultaneously inspecting multiple tubes in a tube bundle, the system comprising:
 a stand with legs; a drum and a camera control unit;   the drum has a plurality of reels, each reel having a camera and light source attached to a lead line secured to the reel; and   a guide jig with the lead lines passing through the guide jig.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a drive motor engagable with the drum; 
 wherein operation of the drive motor causes rotation of the drum. 
 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a battery capable of providing power to the plurality of cameras, the light sources, the drive motor and the camera control unit. 
 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a control center having a video display device. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  further comprising the camera control unit having a DVR storage and a wireless connection to the control center. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4  further comprising the camera control unit having a DVR storage and a wireless connection to the control center. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4  further comprising the stand and the drum being located in an upper header of a reactor above a vertically oriented tube bundle. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  further comprising the control center being located outside of reactor. 
     
     
         9 . A system for a simultaneously inspecting multiple tubes in a tube bundle, the system comprising:
 a stand with legs; a drum with a plurality of reels, a camera control unit and a battery;   the drum having a plurality of reels each reel having a camera and light source attached to a lead line, the lead line electrically connecting the camera and light source to the battery and providing a path for a video signal from the camera to the camera control unit;   a guide jig with the lead lines passing through the guide jig;   a drive motor engagable with the drum wherein operation of the drive motor causing rotation of the drum;   the battery capable of providing power to the plurality of cameras, the light sources, the drive motor and the camera control unit;   the camera control unit having a DVR storage and a wireless connection to a control center;   the stand and the drum being located in an upper header of a reactor above a vertically oriented tube bundle;   the control center having a video display device; and   the control center being located outside of the reactor.