Eddy Current Testing (ECT, including Eddy Current Array): Tube Inspections for Reliable Heat Exchangers
IRISNDT uses ECT (including Eddy Current Array) to detect pits, corrosion, erosion, cracking, and others, in stainless steels, brass, titanium, Inconel, copper, copper-nickel, and other non-ferrous tubes. This fast, accurate inspection technique has identified the flaws shown below.
INSPECTION PREPARATION
The tubes must be free of obstructions. However, the cleaning required is minimal.
ADVANTAGES
This technique is fast with up to 4 ft/s pulling speed through tubes.
- Couplants are not needed. Consequently, contaminants are not introduced during the inspection.
- The technique identifies large and small volume pits.
- 100% of the surface of the tubes is inspected, with 360º coverage through the length. All the data is stored for review.
- With a traditional bobbin coil, circumferential cracks can be missed due to no disturbance in the flow of eddy currents.
- Ferromagnetic deposits on the tubes will lead to erroneous assessments.
- The probe needs a minimum 80% fill factor for maximum sensitivity to defects.
- The technique has a ± 10% variance in call accuracy assessments.