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POWER GENERATION
The Power Generation Industry with its high temperature and long operation periods between shutdowns also requires specialized inspection services.
Our services to this industry are:
- ASME PRESSURE VESSEL AND PIPING INSPECTIONS
- PLANT CONSTRUCTION INSPECTIONS FROM VISUAL TO NDT
- MODULAR CONSTRUCTION INSPECTIONS
- SHUTDOWN INSPECTIONS - VISUAL AND NONDESTRUCTIVE
- POWER GENERATION PLANTS CORROSION MONITORING
- TANK INSPECTIONS
ASME PRESSURE VESSEL AND PIPING INSPECTIONS
The inspection of as-fabricated piping and pressure vessels has been at the core of our company's services since its creation in 1953. Then, the industry required us to perform radiography using isotopes and film. Today, while radiography continues to be the staple technology for as-fabricated vessels, we also inspect piping and pressure vessels using time of flight diffraction (ASME Code Case 2235). As well, we perform computed radiography which based on the ASME Code Case 2476 can be used in lieu of traditional radiography.
Inspecting nondestructively as-fabricated pressure vessels and piping built to meet ASME requirements requires skill, and an extensive quality assurance and safety program. In essence, the local pressure vessel safety authority must approve IRISNDT personnel as the fabricator's NDT Level III personnel. IRISNDT fulfills this role for over 50 fabrication shops within Alberta.
PLANT CONSTRUCTION INSPECTIONS FROM VISUAL TO NDT
Numerous co-generation plants have been built in the last 10 years to maximize the power use efficiency of industrial plants; as well, many power plants have expanded. IRISNDT has been the plant construction inspection company of choice for many of these projects. Our services have been tailored to the materials and equipment specific inspections required by this industry:
- Chemical analysis for the P5, P9 and P91 materials used.
- Ultrasound in lieu of radiography for the inspection of heavy wall welds.
- Specialized ultrasound and in-situ techniques for turbine components.
- Videoprobe of piping and smaller diameter components.
- Inspections by API 510 and 570 personnel to review incoming equipment and quality assurance information.
As well, during plant construction we have provided our traditional non-destructive testing services:
MODULAR CONSTRUCTION INSPECTIONS
Many of our more recent plant construction projects have required inspection of modular constructions. These constructions have maximized the inspection required at fabricating sites and minimized the field welding and field radiography required during installation. In the field, our attention focuses on the quality assurance documentation of the equipment and on the inspection of final tie-ins.
SHUTDOWN INSPECTIONS - VISUAL AND NONDESTRUCTIVE
Shutdown inspections are critical for the reliability of power plants. Any significant deficiencies that are not identified during maintenance shutdowns can result in large production losses during unscheduled shutdowns. At IRISNDT we are experienced in power plant shutdowns. Routine examinations focus on:
- Inspecting the steam and mud drums with magnetic particle and liquid penetrant.
- Visually inspecting the steam and mud drum tubes for deposits.
- Visually inspecting the firebox and its insulation.
- Performing magnetic particle inspection of accessible power piping welds.
- Performing liquid penetrant and ultrasound inspections of critical turbine sections.
- Performing in-situ metallographic replication of boiler tubes, power piping, steam and mud drums.
- Phased array and/or TOFD inspection of welds for cracks.
- Shear wave inspection for corrosion fatigue cracks in boiler tubes with contoured probes.
- RFT inspection of tubular components.
POWER GENERATION PLANTS CORROSION MONITORING
Boilers can develop extensive metal losses due to their demanding service. They operate at high pressures and temperatures in environments that can be erosive and corrosive. IRISNDT personnel have performed detailed ultrasound thickness monitoring of:
- Economizers.
- Waterwalls.
- Superheaters.
- Reheaters.
- Boiler Roof Tubes.
- Boiler Floor Tubes.
- Boiler Feedwater Piping.
- Steam and Mud Drums.
Depending on the service, losses can be greater in different boiler sections. The number and distance between areas where the thickness is monitored depends on the performance history of the boiler, and on its size. Consequently, proper inspections require the combined effort of IRISNDT personnel and of the boiler pressure integrity personnel.
TANK INSPECTIONS
Since API 653 was introduced, operating companies have adopted a more comprehensive approach to the inspection of their storage tanks. The API 653 document describes the minimum requirement for the maintenance of storage tanks. Traditionally, all of this inspection was performed using manual techniques. However, the availability of new technology to scan large tank surfaces is altering the inspection methodology.
- Tank Floor Inspection
Before the 1990's, tank floors were inspected by cutting coupons from the floor to establish a baseline for the soil side condition of the floor. Since the introduction of a magnetic floor scanner, during 1989, the floor integrity no longer needs to be destroyed by removing coupons. Today, IRISNDT uses various magnetic flux exclusion (MFE) floor scanning tools.
These innovative MFE tools allow us to screen tank floors at rates as high as one thousand square feet per hour for soil side corrosion. The MFE tool detects corrosion whether it is located on the process or the soil side of the tank floor. Since the data is qualitative we perform additional inspections to quantify the corrosion depth. This is quantified using a mechanical pit gauge for top side corrosion, and ultrasonic inspections to assess soil side losses.
For further information, please view the following brochures:
