Eddy Current Tube Testing

The Eddy Current Tube Testing is an electromagnetic method most effective for all conductive materials: carbon steels, stainless steel and all colored metals and alloys. The eddy current technique is useful for tube testing but only for non-Ferrous materials in:

• Condensers
• Heat Exchangers
• Feedwater Heaters
• Chillers
• Air Conditioners

which are included in the steam cycle, cooling water systems and service water systems. Eddy current testing helps to prevent forced outages by detecting various defects which make for hazardous service and/or environment contamination.

Tubes of non-ferrous material like:

• stainless steel
• inconell
• hastelloy
• cooper an cooper alloys
• brass and bronze
• aluminium and alloys
• titanium

can be very quickly scanned for both internal and external wall loss defects such as corrosion, erosion, seams, pitting, fatigue cracks, stress corrosion cracks, grooving, dents and wear scars.

Partially ferromagnetic materials like Monel Alloy 2205, SA-789, nickel and thin ferromagnetic tubes materials include SA-268 or SS-439 can be tested by eddy current with the saturation technique.

The 3D Push Pull High Speed Data Acquisition System consisting of professional Zetec's software allows for the checking of about 1000 - 1500 tubes per day. Special Motor Rotated Probe Coil enables us to receive more information about the tubes conditions in the most interesting areas like the tube sheet part of HEX. Institute Gamma utilizes the highest technology multi-frequency testing equipment including the Zetec's MIZ-27SI digital acquisition test equipment.

Institute Gamma takes full advantage of its state-of-the-art multifrequency testing equipment through its proven "nuclear grade" Eddy Current inspection procedures.

Institute Gamma's qualified engineers and technicians perform maintenance and inspection services.

• NDT senior inspectors on level 2 and 3 in accordance with EN-473/PCN-BIND certification system.
• Data analysts for eddy current on level IIA/QDA (Qualified Data Analyst) in accordance with EPRI S/G certification.
• Welding inspectors in accordance with European Welding Federation requirements and EN-719 standard.
• Engineers with competence in maintenance analysis and inspection planning, damage evaluation, material technology and risk based inspection.

From routine testing, customers realize significant economic savings through improved reliability and plant availability. Highly qualified data analysis technicians and engineers provide on-site or in-house data interpretation of the most advanced ET analysis Zetec's software for Eddy Current Tube Testing. Institute Gamma technicians will identify defects in your heat exchanger tubing and provide a comprehensive report of their findings. Our level III inspectors can also assist in the establishment of an Eddy Current In-Service Inspection Program supported by Historical Management and Planning Systems (HMAPS) or EIMS-BOP software, which will enable them to quickly identify trends in tube conditions and locate trouble spots in your heat exchangers through better management of your Eddy Current data. This information is important for determining the remaining useful life of your bundles.

Eddy Current of Welds and Component testing

BTW Institute Gamma specializes in advanced Non-Destructive Testing with their main focus on Eddy Current inspection services and solutions. Our clients are Oil and Gas companies, Power Generation, Pulp and Paper, Chemical, Cranes, Bridges and Aerospace industry.

Eddy Current Testing of welds is the newest industry sector of activity. ECT for crack inspection can surpass Magnetic Particle Inspection (MPI) and Dye Penetrant Inspection (DPI) sensitivity with no additional clean-up required. Rapid inspection can be easily repeated with ECT over both conductive and nonconductive coating eliminating grinding and repainting efforts, unlike MT and PT method.

Zetec's MIZ-21B battery operated hand-held equipment with weld scan probes is very suitable in field inspections, especially in hard-to-reach or limited visibility locations. Bad weather conditions like rain, high humidity, low or very high temperatures are not a problem for such testing.

Main examples of eddy current testing are:

• Welds also ferromagnetic and non-ferromagnetic materials
• Flaw detection in turbine blades, shafts, nuts, bolts, bearings, , etc.
• Cladding austenitic steals on carbon steel in petrochemical reactors
• Padding layer for reclamation and repair purposes
• Seal welds of tubes heat exchangers
• Sorting of metals of dissimilar composition, heat treatment or microstructures
• Measuring thickness of non-conductive coatings on metals
• Measuring thickness of metallic coatings
• Evaluating of heat treatment and the chemical action results on metal components
• Conductivity and hardness measurement

Institute Gamma performs eddy current testing services for the aerospace industry. All engineers are high qualified personnel according to EN-4179 standard and have PCN level II qualifications as a minimum. Our inspection services are available to be performed at the customer site or in our Laboratory facilities.

When it is necessary to inspect components for cracking in surface defects such as fatigue, it is the norm to consider PT or/and MT method. Unfortunately to successfully apply these techniques it is necessary to remove the protective coatings and prepare the surface of the component by grit blasting or needle gunning. This preparation & subsequent reinstatement of the coating system constitutes most of the cost of the inspection.

Institute Gamma qualified engineers and technicians perform maintenance and inspection services.

• Engineers with competence in maintenance analysis and planning, inspection planning, damage evaluation, material technology and risk based inspection.
• NDT senior inspectors on level 2 and 3 in accordance with EN-473/PCN-BIND certification system an EN-4179 for Aerospace sector.
• Welding inspectors in accordance with European Welding Federation requirements and EN-719 standard.