Systems and methods for detecting anomalies on internal surfaces of hollow elongate structures using time domain or frequency domain reflectometry

Abstract

Systems and methods for detecting an anomaly on an internal surface of a hollow, elongate, metallic pipe structure. An anomaly detection system employs an access port, an antenna, a signal source, and a signal analyzer. The access port allows physical access to an interior of the pipe structure. The antenna extends into the interior of the pipe structure through the access port. The signal source is operatively connected to the antenna and is capable of causing the antenna to cause a test signal to be conducted along the pipe structure such that the anomaly reflects at least a portion of the test signal back towards the antenna as a reflected signal. The signal analyzer is operatively connected to the antenna to analyze, in a frequency domain, the reflected signal.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.