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TUBETESTING

ECA TUBE TESTING

EDDY CURRENT ARRAY TUBE TESTING

ECA can efficiently detect circumferential cracks at tube support plates and tube-sheets, something conventional bobbin probes notoriously fail at. It can also detect and size typical defects in any orientation such as wear, corrosion, and micro pitting, as well as detect Stress Corrosion Cracking (SCC). The probe’s unique multichannel design offers the same performance as a rotating probe, but at bobbin probe speeds, all in a single pass.

 

Method of Inspection

Eddy Current array groups several individual coils inside a probe, where they are excited in such a way as to eliminate the interference from mutual inductance between them. This is a process referred to as multiplexing, which enables the coils to work together to thoroughly sweep the interior surface of each tube. The ingenious coil configuration in an ECA tubing probe allows eddy currents to flow perpendicular to circumferential defects, making them much easier to isolate and characterize. By using advanced analysis software the additional data from the ECA probe can be displayed as C-scans.

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Inspection Capabilities

  • In the region of 400 to 600 tubes inspected per 12-hour shift.

  • Quantifying the circumferential extent of crack defects.

  • Accurately locating and characterizing crack defects in the vicinity of the roll transition.

  • Unlike rotating probes, the solution can be used for full-length tube examinations.

  • C-scans give clients without extensive eddy current testing data analysis experience the necessary confidence about their inspection results.        

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IRIS - INTERNAL ROTARY INSPECTION SYSTEM

Method of Inspection

IRIS uses a transducer to generate an ultrasonic pulse parallel to the axis of the tube under test relying on a rotating mirror that directs the ultrasonic wave into the tube wall. The mirror is driven by a small turbine powered by the pressure of water pumped into the tube.

 

Part of the ultrasonic wave is reflected by the inner-diameter (ID) wall, while the rest is reflected by the outer-diameter (OD) wall of the tube. Because the ultrasonic velocity of the tube’s material is known, it is possible to assess the thickness of the wall by calculating the difference in times of flight between the two diameters. As the probe is pulled, the spinning motion of the mirror results in a helical scan path.

 

Inspection Capabilities

  • In the region of 100 to 150 tubes inspected per 12hour shift depending on some variables such as cleanliness and defect types.

  • Suitable for most types of tube materials and configurations.

  • Capable of detecting generalized and localized wastage, both internal and external.

  • Highly accurate measurement. Wall thickness measurements can be made to an accuracy within 0.1mm and it should be possible to detect a 1.5mm defect in tubing that has been properly cleaned.

  • A range of 12mm to 170mm ID can be inspected.

  • Permanent record of results.

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MB - MAGNETIC BIAS

Definition of Magnetic Bias:

A steady magnetic field applied to the magnetic material for partial or full saturation.

 

Magnetic Bias (MB) also known as Partial Saturation Eddy Current (PSEC) or Full Saturation Eddy Current (FSEC) is being used to inspect magnetic or partially magnetic tubing such as Carbon Steel, Duplex and Ferritic Stainless steel.

This technology offers good sensitivity when detecting metal discontinuities such as corrosion, erosion, pitting, baffle fretting, wall loss, and cracks in partially magnetic materials. In full ferro-magnetic materials, only localized pitting/corrosion is detected.

 

Method of Inspection

When standard eddy current is applied to ferrous tubes the eddy current field is affected by the magnetic properties of the material. The Magnetic Bias probe creates a magnetic field in the material and is set to exactly the correct intensity to saturate the material and limit the effects of the magnetic properties of the material. This allows enough of the eddy currents to bypass the skin effect and penetrate the material. Defects in the material will cause a change in the permeability of the material at that position as well as the amount of eddy currents at that point. The detector coil will then pick up this change in eddy currents and the system will then visually present that information on the computer screen.  Full saturation can be achieved in partial magnetic materials.

 

Inspection Capabilities

  • Partial magnetic materials can be inspected the same as nonmagnetic materials with normal Eddy Current.

  • It is a very quick screening technique for Ferro Magnetic Materials.

  • The Magnetic Bias eddy current technique can measure localized defects (pits) as small as 2mm and sized to an accuracy of ±10% of the wall thickness. (Volumetric dependent for magnetic materials)

  • In the region of 300 to 500 tubes inspected per shift.

  • Tube sizes are limited to internal diameters between 14mm and 32mm for tubes with a wall thickness less than 3mm. Linked to Magnetism.

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RFT - REMOTE FIELD TUBE TESTING

Remote field testing (RFT) is being used to successfully inspect ferromagnetic tubing such as carbon steel or ferritic stainless steel. This technology offers good sensitivity when detecting and measuring volumetric defects resulting from erosion and corrosion.

 

Method of Inspection

RFT probes use one or several transmitter coils positioned +/-2.5 to 3 tube diameters apart from the receiver coil. The magnetic field created by the transmitter coil, travels through and out of the tube wall, radially and axially, towards the receiver. The magnetic field must travel through the tube wall again to reach the receiver. This is called through-transmission and is what defines RFT. The through-transmission allows external and internal defects to be detected with equal sensitivity. The indirect coupling path originates in the transmitter’s magnetic field that diffuses radially outward through the wall. Anomalies anywhere in the indirect path cause changes in the magnitude and phase of the received signal and can therefore be used to detect defects.

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Inspection Capabilities

  • In the region of 400 tubes inspected per 12-hour shift.

  • Flexible probes can be used for inspecting past bends.

  • Capable of detecting generalized and localized wastage, both internal and external.

  • Through-wall holes as small as 2mm in diameter are detectable depending on tube diameter, wall thickness and composition.

  • The accuracy of defect depth measurement is in the order of ± 10%.

  • A range of 10mm to 150mm ID can be inspected.      

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