Pipe Scanning for Blockage Detection with Gamma Ray—A Business Opportunity by Chula Nuclear Engineering 

An alumnus of the Department of Nuclear Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, has developed a device to inspect plumbing pipes in residential and business buildings to find causes of obstruction using gamma rays, forming the first startup in Thailand to provide non-destructive, safe, and accurate inspection. 

Blockage problems in plumbing pipes are common in households and office buildings. Checking for locations and causes of blockages of the pipes, i.e., types of materials causing the clog, and finding the right solution is a big headache for owners. Too often, blockage solutions come with the demolition of both pipes and nearby surfaces. 

What if we had a device that could X-ray the tube to find out the precise clogged spots as well as check the characteristics of the things that cause pipe blockage? Can we solve the problem faster and more effectively? 

As a graduate of the Nuclear Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Mr. Suphanut Leelapamornkij proposed an inspection with a gamma-radiation device. 

 “When people hear the words ‘radiation’ and ‘nuclear,’ they think of ‘danger.’ But it’s really like a coin with two sides—there are pros and cons. It’s up to us to pick the right thing to use. My time as a student at the Department of Nuclear Engineering has given me a true understanding of how radiation behaves. How do we control it and mitigate the risks?” 

Mr. Suphanut had intended to build a startup since he was an engineering student. When he graduated in 2024, Mr. Suphanut immediately started a business by establishing Radiation Testing Co., Ltd., the first and only company in Thailand to inspect obstructions in sanitary and fire prevention systems for residential use using gamma rays. https://www.radiation-testing.com/ 

“These are everyday life problems, but no one has taken the initiative to solve them. And this business has no competitors yet. If I don’t seize the opportunity, it will be a pity because this is my field of expertise. I know the tools and the experience. I also have system administrators and my professors to advise us. All I have to do is make a decision and begin—that’s all! Since everything is ready, I decided to go for it,” said Suphanut, Chief Executive Officer of Radiation Testing Co., Ltd. 

Origin of Business Idea 

The idea for inspection of sanitary pipe system obstruction as a business idea came during the “Non-Destructive Testing (NDT)” class. 

“Non-destructive Testing is a course mainly for the industrial sector, for example, inspection of pipelines for oil and gas or various types of liquids in the production process for leaks or clogging. Having studied and been advised by the professor of Nuclear Engineering, I found that the domestic sector has the same problem, so I came up with an idea to apply the knowledge to the pipeline system in the household sector because it is both convenient and fast and does not damage the external surface to find the clogging materials.”

In addition to classroom knowledge, Suphanut also learned from hands-on experience with the Open House of the Faculty of Engineering. 

“While I was a student, I used to work at the Open House booth for tree inspection with gamma rays. That was the first time I saw a gamma-ray tree scanner. The prototype model was a large structure plugged into a forklift. I saw many problems and limitations in both the installation and measurement of the prototype. So, I took note of what could be fixed. When I worked as a staff member at the Open House again and was the one who installed the equipment, I got to see even more problems of the second model that should be corrected.” 

Suphanut applied his experience, observed problems, and used his notes to the development of a device to inspect blockages in sewage pipe systems in buildings using gamma rays. This, together with advice from his professors of the Departments of Nuclear Engineering and Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, has helped Suphanut to successfully develop the device currently used at his company today. 

Gamma Ray Transmission to inspect blockages 

The operation of the sanitary pipe clogging material inspection device is based on the Gamma Transmission principle, which Suphanut explained is as simple as a lung x-ray. 

“When radiation is transmitted through the body and displayed in black and white on an X-ray film, if the radiation passes through a cavity or the lungs, the film will display the area as dark because the area lets a large amount of radiation through. However, when the radiation finds the bone, which is a dense material, the radiation will be less transmissible, making that part of the image bright.” 

The same principle applies to checking pipes for blockages. 

“Radiation is a kind of wave that penetrates through a particular material. If the pipe is not clogged, a high amount of radiation can penetrate, and the level is set as the norm.  If there is a clogged material or there is a barrier between the radiation source and the radiation detector, the read radiation value will be reduced. This is the basic principle, and the rest is the provision of suitable probing devices for the sites.” 

Inspection Device Suitable for the Job Site 

Radiation Testing Company developed 2 devices to inspect pipe blockages in buildings:

1. Blogkage Detector is a cuff-like device that’s put around the pipe and moved along the length of the pipe to detect blockages. The display is a color scale gradient from green to yellow to red. 

• Dark green to light green means no blockages, no solution is needed. 
• Light yellow to dark yellow means that there is a blockage. There is no need to fix it yet, but it should be monitored. 
• Orange to red means there is a blockage and it needs to be fixed. 

2. A Blockage Level Meter checks the height of the blockage in the pipe and identifies the blockage material by its density. For example, if the material is not dense, it is most likely to be sand. On the other hand, if it is dense, it is likely to be mortar. And if the density is very low, it may be soil or leaves. 

Suphanut said the equipment installation depends on the site. Each project is different because pipe laying depends on the contractor.

“We have to constantly design and develop the equipment to fit the work area. We always have a set of spare parts. So, when we go to the location for inspection and need to adjust the equipment, we can just change the mounting beam and couplers, and we’re good to go.” 

The sanitary pipe blockage detection device can only be used on external pipes. For pipes behind the wall, under the ceiling, or underground, Suphanut and the Radiation Testing Company team have developed an endoscope—a small camera that can be inserted into the pipe with a diameter as small as 1.5 inches. 

“The way it works is to insert the probe into the pipeline to check for blockages. The camera can now go as deep as 5 meters. The company is working on the probe’s ability to reach as deep as 25 meters for future underground pipeline inspections.”

Verification of Accuracy to Stress Safety 

Sanitary pipe screening using gamma rays yields the most accurate results, Suphanut said. “After visiting the actual site, we can tell the exact location of the blockage up to the centimeter level. That’s why we have received high satisfaction feedback from our customers for our ability to accurately identify the precise location and nature of the blockage, enabling them to choose the appropriate solutions.” 

Despite the proven efficiency and accuracy, many people may still worry about the method’s safety. In this regard, Suphanut gave the following assurance:

1. Source of radiation: “The gamma radiation we use is primarily from Americium-241 (Am-241) on loan from the Nuclear Engineering Department, and we have all the paperwork properly documented.” 
2. Technique: “Our technique is safe. We check the radiation in the environment at each site pre- and post-inspection to make sure the amount of radiation is the same and that we do not leave any harmful radiation residue behind.” 

Every challenge has a Solution

Even after setting up his company, Suphanut often consults professors at the Nuclear Engineering Department. 

“When I run into technical obstacles at the job site, I go back to my professors and always get answers and help in solving technical problems. The nature of the job is sometimes beyond what I know, so my professors give suggestions on finding suitable equipment. So we often cooperate with the professors.” 

“For example, if the pipe is attached to the ceiling, how do we check it with radiation? From what I have learned, the probe and the radiation need to be at least a 180-degree angle to the pipe. That is, it needs to be on the opposite side of work. So, my professors advised that since we cannot work at 180 degrees, we should try to transmit the radiation at either 130 degrees, 120 degrees, or, worst of all, 90 degrees. Then, see if the results of the blockage can be detected at those angles. It turned out to work, so we adapted our operation to suit that workspace.” 

Tree and Column Scanning  

Both the principle of gamma radiation transmission and equipment design are not limited to inspecting clogged pipes in buildings but can also be used for other tasks, such as inspecting cavities in trees and checking the strength of columns. So, Radiation Testing Company’s services also include scanning trees for cavities and columns for the strength of the structure.

Suphanut said his tree-scanning device is further developed from the model that he saw at the department when he was a student. 

“Tree inspection uses the same radiation transmission techniques, but the device is designed to be more convenient, faster, and easier to operate. The model used by the department needed a technician to set up the unit before inspection at several heights, and the process takes 1 hour. We try to improve on this so that a complete inspection can be done in 10 minutes.” 

“The model we developed looks like a boom lift that will be attached to the tree. The device can scan both axes in one go. There is no need to rotate the device after the scan of one axis. The device can be lifted to a different height and start scanning right away. It is under development and will be completed by the second quarter of this year.”

We also have a column scanning service to check the strength of the columns and structure, whether they are dense enough to bear the roof weight. The inspection is non-destructive. Our recent work was to check the columns in a 400-year-old temple in Phetchaburi province. 

“The temple was constructed using all wooden pillars, each from a whole tree. It was recently renovated, and the roof has been changed to brick and mortar, and the pillars may not be able to support the weight of the roof. We were tasked to check for those pillars that are still strong and those that are weak and will not bear the weight. So those can be changed to other types of structures. We work with contractors hired by the Fine Arts Department to conserve the old temple. We must inspect it thoroughly.” 

The nuclear and radiation industry in Thailand is not widespread, unlike in foreign countries where nuclear and radiation are used extensively in many industries due to the lack of expertise and manpower to drive this industry. 

“If we have enough expertise, knowledge, skills, and ideas, it’s a great opportunity to grow this business before anyone else.” 

As an entrepreneur, “Once you start, you have to do your best,” Suphanut said. In the future, the Radiation Testing Company will not only use gamma rays for indoor pipe scanning but also aim to be an expert in digital radiation detection in all forms of industrial and household sectors. 

For more information, please contact Radiation Testing Co., Ltd. at Tel. 096-661-9899 or https://www.radiation-testing.com/

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