TANGENTIAL EDDY CURRENT ARRAY NDT INSPECTION

Technological innovation has responded to industry’s demand for more rapid inspection that requires less surface preparation. Powertech is proud to introduce eddy current array (ECA) to our line of non-destructive testing (NDT).

Pulsed ECA Inspection

Advances in eddy current inspection technology have opened the door for much more proactive operation and maintenance practices. In the past, a component’s surface must be free from corrosion product, protective coating, and insulation to allow for an effective condition assessment. Preparations may require additional crews and equipment, introduction of chemicals, hazardous material abatement, and follow-up touch-up or other remediation. With tangential ECA, a metallic substrate can be examined for corrosion, erosion, fatigue cracking, stress corrosion cracking or other damage much more rapidly and with greater precision than ever before.

Speed and Accuracy

Traditional eddy current pencil probes operated based on an independent lift-off methodology, whereas ECA enables a single pass covering a large surface area while quantifying and visually mapping extent of damage. This swift approach also provides a succinct way to fully document and report results for maximum clarity.

Enhanced Versatility

Custom-made probes are no longer needed for inspecting complex surface geometries. The flexible rubber probes can bend to contours of turbine blades, pipes, gear teeth, fillet welds, and much more. The probes operate independently of flaw orientation, are ideal for surface-breaking defects, and have some ability for detecting sub-surface defects.

Safer Inspections

When inspecting aged equipment, one can expect occasional encounters with hazardous materials such as lead and asbestos. Inspection of metallic substrate can be safely performed without requiring abatement procedures. In addition to avoiding potential exposure and added preparation time, there is no need for use of aggressive chemicals.

Improved Condition Assessments

A proper condition assessment of large networks of piping must include a statistically significant inspection. A more rapid inspection with less preparation and repair will improve how closely the inspected locations represent the entire system (improved confidence interval). As opposed to pencil probes of the past, tangential ECA can significantly improve the value of condition assessments and associated cost/benefit analyses in repair versus replace decision-making.

Common Components Inspected

  • Turbine blades
  • Butterfly valves
  • Insulated piping systems
  • Welded components
  • Structural steel
  • Penstocks, hydroelectric
  • Pipelines, oil and gas
  • Pressure vessels

For more information:

Sasi Sasitharan – 604.590.7412
Manager and Principal Engineer, Civil Services
Field Asset Services & Testing
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Reza Soltani – 604.590.6648
Division Manager
Field Asset Services & Testing
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