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Some
of the services we provide in the Utilities Industry:
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Boiler Tube Wall
Inspection
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Steam Drums
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Boiler Feed Water and
Steam Pipe
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Heat Exchangers
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De Aerators
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Cooling Fan Blades
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Condenser Tube Leaks
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Valve Leak Testing etc.
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Overview:
BOILER
TUBE WALL INSPECTION:
The
use of an AE test to detect potentially harmful defects in the water tube boiler
construction has proved beyond a doubt to be a fast and effective NDT method. These tests
can be conducted either during a standard hydro test or on line.
STEAM
DRUMS:
Similar
to the boiler tube wall inspection this test can also be conducted either during the
standard hydro test or during an on line in-crease in pressure. Conventional NDT requires
the time consuming and costly removal of all the insulation. However, AET only requires
that 4-inch diameter holes be cut in the
insulation, permitting the sensors to be mounted and the test to be completed.
BOILER
FEED WATER AND STEAM PIPE:
The
detection of potentially dangerous defects such as second and third stage creep is
becoming a very important issue and EPRI has issued recommendations for inspecting this
piping using Acoustic Emission Monitoring. This is a very successful NDT method to
identify the area that need close follow up inspection. Experience has shown that by
conducting an AE test during a cool down or thermal cycle will detect and provide good
location ability of this type of defect. More details about this application are available
on request.
HEAT
EXCHANGERS
The
detection and location of leaking tube to tube sheet welds are important to detect when
using special chemicals. We have conducted several very successful AE tests that have been
able to detect the presence of leaks as well as structural defects in heat exchangers.
DE
AERATORS:
The
use of acoustic emission testing for the online inspection of de-aerators has successfully
been completed with several very satisfied customers.
CONDENSER
TUBE LEAKS:
Leaks
in Steam Turbine systems that use two condenser heat exchangers on the steam outlet side
(both high and low pressure systems) has long been a problem in that tube leaks lead to
contamination of the boiler water and problems in the boiler tubing such as lime caking
etc. occurs. Until recently the only way to detect these leaks was to shut down the
complete turbine and to conduct a costly Eddy current scan. Every tube in the bundle of
many thousands of tubes has to be tested and thus can take up to 14 days to test a set of
four condensers. A system can have up to 25% of the tubes plugged without effecting the
efficiency of the condenser. The AE method we have developed allows for the mounting of
sensors while the turbine is operating at half load and for two condensers to be monitored
at a time. Readings are taken and using a special procedure the leaking tubes are located
and plugged on both sides. A test like this takes approximately 4 hours after which the
condenser is closed up and put back into operation. This process is then repeated for the
next set of condensers.
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