Eddy Current Testing | SCI
 

Eddy Current Testing

Other NDT Services
Contact with us

    Stay informed

    Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news of the sector.



    EDDY CURRENT TESTING

    One of the most reliable non-destructive tests for the detection of imperfections in tubes is Eddy CurrentTesting (ET).

    Eddy currents are used for the identification of surface and sub-surface defects in conductive materials. This
    Non Destructive Testing method
    is based on the principle of electromagnetism to inspect equipment showing damage, corrosion or cracking in the tubular bundles.

    EDDY CURRENT INSPECTION OF TUBE BUNDLES

    In chemical and petrochemical industrial process plants, as well as in power generation plants, there are a large number of heat exchange equipment:

    • Heat Exchangers
    • Capacitors
    • Heaters
    • Coolers
    • Air coolers
    • Heat Generators
    • Boilers in different configurations and applications

    The criticality of this equipment is normally very high and a failure usually implies an unscheduled shutdown, with the consequent economic cost due to lack of production and other derived costs.

    The exchangers usually fail due to leaks in the tubes of the tube bundle, produced by many different causes, such as internal and/or external corrosion, erosion, mechanical impacts, stress corrosion cracking or other reasons and expansion failures.

    eddy current banner 2 768x1024 1

    To control the integrity of this equipment and, in particular, of the tube bundles, SCI uses various NDT inspection techniques, taking the electromagnetic eddy current technique as a general basis.

    For this task,
    SCI, Control & Inspection
    is technically supported by its technological partner, the German company
    ec-works
    a world leader with extensive experience in this type of inspection services.

    THUS, AND DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF MATERIAL, CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PIPE AND TYPE OF DEFECT TO LOOK FOR, SCI OFFERS:

    • Conventional Eddy Current Inspection of Pipes
      (Eddy Currents),
      applicable to non-ferromagnetic materials (Stainless Steels, Copper, Titanium, Admiralty, CuNi Alloys, Hastelloy, etc.)
    • Remote Field Eddy Current Inspection of Tubes
      (Remote Field),
      applicable to ferromagnetic materials (Carbon Steels, Ferritic Duplex Alloys, etc.)
    • Ultrasonic Rotating Probe Inspection of Tubes (IRIS), applicable in general to all types of ferritic and non-ferritic materials.
    • Computer programs with powerful image interpretation aids.
    corriente6

    The inspection results are provided in the form of Tables and Charts (Tube Sheet Maps) with color coding and allow us to know approximately (% loss of thickness, with respect to the nominal) or exactly (IRIS) the remaining thickness of the tubes (if there is any perforation or crack). in order to adopt the most appropriate mitigating or remedial measures (plugging, retubing, partial or total sleeving, etc.).

    ADVANCED TECHNIQUES

    Also, at SCI, we offer advanced techniques for special cases, such as:

    • PSEC (Partial Saturated Eddy Current) technique applicable to ferromagnetic materials, which allows the detection and sizing of point and small volume defects (isolated pitting). This is the most effective and reliable technique in the inspection of air-cooled finned tubes.
    • Ultra Fast System for Eddy Current Inspection of Capacitors: Through the use of mechanical equipment (push / puller) the speed of insertion / extraction of the probes is significantly increased, with inspection being performed at speeds of 5 to 8 tubes per minute, and reaching a productivity of more than 3,000 tubes per 10 / 12 hour shift. In addition, there is the possibility of performing the analysis in parallel, so inspection times are drastically shortened.

    Inspection times (productivity) vary according to the technique used, the length and cleanliness of the tubes, the conditions of access to the tubesheet, the type of defects, etc.

    As a guideline, we can consider the following productivities in a shift of 10 hours and 1 team.

    NDT techniqueProductivity (No. Tubes / 10 hour shift)
    CIs Convencionais / CI PSEC400 - 700
    CI Remote Field200 - 400
    UT Roundabout Probe (IRIS)40 - 80
    Ultra Fast IC (Push / Puller)2.500 - 3.500

    MORE INFORMATION

    OTHER APPLICATIONS OF EDDY CURRENT TECHNOLOGY

    Inspection of surface and subsurface cracks:

    On turbine blades and shafts.

    Detection of SCC cracks in stainless steels, Inconel columns, reactors and pipelines, e.g. chloride-induced stress corrosion cracking.

    Replacement of the liquid penetrant crack inspection method on gear crowns and pinions in the cement and mineral industries by the fast eddy current technique.

    Inspection of centrifugal separators in sugar mills.

    Inspection of welds on coated and uncoated building structures, e.g. cranes, derricks, railroad cars, bogies and locomotive chassis.

    Detection of cracks in pitted corrosion areas of cast or forged steel valve housings in nuclear power plants.

    Evaluation of crack depth in the casing of main feedwater pumps in nuclear power plants.

    Evaluation of crack depth in ship propellers.

    Detection of cracks in the internal rotating parts of very high pressure (5000 bar) piping for in-service inspection in the chemical process industry.

    Inspections of bolt threads on components to detect and evaluate cracks and corrosion in the groove and flank of threaded configurations.

    Inspection of weldolet cracks at high temperatures (up to 300ºC in LNG plants).

    ADVANTAGES OF EDDY CURRENTS

    Surface features can be detected on the equipment to be inspected.

    Detection of internal and external defects and their respective distinctions.

    Inspection of various pipes

    Execution on paints and coatings, without the need of surface preparation.

    Speed and reliability.

    Use of electromagnetic energy to avoid contact with test pieces.

    It is a method that adapts to several applications within the industry, since it has flexibility in the physical and metallurgical variables.

    Little presence of human resources.

    Recognized by most quality standards.

    Inspections of bolt threads on components to detect and evaluate cracks and corrosion in the groove and flank of threaded configurations.

    Accuracy of results.

    Instant evaluation.

    INDUSTRIAL SECTORS WHERE EDDY CURRENTS ARE APPLIED

    Nuclear Power Generation.

    Fossil Energy Generation.

    Refineries.

    Chemical Process Industries.

    Oil and Gas Industries.

    Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Plants

    Desalination Plants.

    Air Separation Plants.

    Air-cooled systems, e.g. large office buildings, hospitals or cruise lines.

    Sugar and Other Food Industries.

    Manufacturers of Tubes / Pipes and Heat Exchangers.

    Automotive industry.

    Mining and Basic Minerals Industry.

    SOLUTION

    At SCI, we have more than 30 years of demonstrable experience in Non Destructive Testing and we are specialized in the application of eddy current testing. We have qualified personnel and appropriate technical equipment to solve the incidents and doubts of our customers.

    Consult us for your heat exchanger tube inspection needs and we will try to offer you the most suitable solution.

    ×
    This site is registered on wpml.org as a development site. Switch to a production site key to remove this banner.
    slot thailand bizz77game slot thailand gacor slot malaysia slot kamboja slot dana dewaslot slot mahjong buntut77toto link dewaslot slot mahjong gacor dewa slot https://slot-thailand.smkypm5sukodono.sch.id/ dewaslot gacor slot malaysia slot kamboja https://pkmanggeraja.enrekangkab.go.id/sv388-sambung-ayam/ https://pkmanggeraja.enrekangkab.go.id/dewaslot/ https://bizz77game.smpn2mendoyo.sch.id/ https://news.sman1kdw.sch.id/public/uploads/bizz77game/ https://bizz77game.smkunggulanklambu.sch.id/ https://bizz77game.sitqurrotaayun-jayapura.sch.id/ https://spada.uwgm.ac.id/rating/slot-thailand-gacor/ https://spada.uwgm.ac.id/rating/sv388/ https://pg-slot.marancar.tapselkab.go.id/ https://slot-thailand.marancar.tapselkab.go.id/ https://sv388.marancar.tapselkab.go.id/ https://dewaslot.marancar.tapselkab.go.id/ https://slot-10000.marancar.tapselkab.go.id/ sv388 slot gacor slot thailand