AlphaNDT provides a complete tube inspection service with Advanced Tube Inspection System - MultiScan MS5800. This MultiScan MS5800 advanced tube inspection system has bundled four inspection technologies into a single unit: Eddy Current Testing (ECT), Remote Field Testing (RFT), Magnetic Flux Leakage (MFL) and Internal Rotary Inspection System (IRIS),

The ECT, RFT & MFL are high-speed, multichannel, multi-frequency scanning system with advanced reporting and tube sheet mapping software. The IRIS system is a single channel ultrasonic scanning system with the ability to inspect tubes in a wide range of diameters with advanced reporting.

Tube Inspection with Eddy Current Testing (ECT)

Eddy current testing is a noncontact method used to inspect nonferromagnetic tubing. This technique is suitable for detecting and sizing metal discontinuities such as corrosion, erosion, wear, pitting, baffle cuts, wall loss, and cracks in nonferrous materials

Application for:

• Condensers
• Feedwater heaters
• Heat exchangers
• Air conditioners

Benefits :

• Suitable for non-ferrous tubing such as SS304/316, Brass, Titanium, Inconel, Cu, Cu-Ni, etc.
• Can detect pits, corrosion, erosion and axial cracking.
• Uses multiple frequencies for better analysis and flaw sizing.
• The probe needs a good fill factor to remain sensitive (about 0.85 to 0.9).
• Probe centering is important for uniform sensitivity and reduce lift-off signal.
• Very fast technique, up to 2m/s pulling speed.
• Reduced risk of company liability with documented inspection reports
• AlphaNDT’s exclusive, one-stop service

Tube Inspection with Remote Field Testing (RFT)

Remote field testing (RFT) is being used to successfully inspect ferromagnetic tubing such as carbon steel or ferritic stainless steel. This technology offers good sensitivity when detecting and measuring volumetric defects resulting from erosion, corrosion, wear, and baffle cuts.

Application for:

• Boilers
• Feedwater heaters
• Carbon steel heat exchangers

Benefits :

• Suitable for ferromagnetic pipes and tubes such as those found in boilers and heat exchangers.
• Same sensitivity to internal and external flaws.
• Relatively insensitive to probe liftoff or wobble.
• Easily examines very thick tube wall (up to 12 mm).
• Small fill factor is required which enables the inspection of partially scaled tubes and boiler tubes with swages and bends.
• Centralization of the probe is not as critical as it is for ECT inspection.
• Typical pull speed between 0.15 and 0.3 m/s
• Reduced risk of company liability with documented inspection reports
• AlphaNDT’s exclusive, one-stop service

Tube Inspection with Magnetic Flux Leakage (MFL)

Magnetic flux leakage (MFL) is a fast inspection technique, suitable for measuring wall loss and detecting sharp defects such as pitting, grooving, and circumferential cracks. MFL is effective for aluminum-finned carbon steel tubes, because the magnetic field is almost completely unaffected by the presence of such fins

Application for

• Feedwater heaters
• Air coolers
• Carbon steel heat exchangers

Benefits :

• Suitable for ferromagnetic tubes such as carbon steel, nickel, and ferritic stainless steel.
• Typically used for air cooler and heat exchanger tubes, the technique can detect pitting, circumferential cracks and wall losses.
• Defect sizing is limited because the signal amplitude is affected by the pulling speed variations, and also because there is no phase component on the signal.
• The fill factor is similar to the eddy current technique
• Tube cleaning is most of the time required (not as critical as it is for IRIS).
• The probe has to be centered to keep a uniform
• Quick technique for which the pulling speed can go up to 1m/s. often used in combination with IRIS.
• Reduced risk of company liability with documented inspection reports
• AlphaNDT’s exclusive, one-stop service

Tube Inspection with an Internal Rotating Inspection System (IRIS)

The ultrasonic IRIS option is used to inspect a wide range of materials, including ferrous, nonferrous, and nonmetallic tubing. This technique detects and sizes wall loss resulting from corrosion, erosion, wear, pitting, cracking, and baffle cuts. Olympus digital IRIS inspection technology is used extensively as a prove-up technique for remote field testing, magnetic flux leakage, and eddy current inspections

Application for:

• Boilers
• Feedwater heaters
• Air coolers
• Heat exchangers

Benefits :

• Suitable for ferrous and non-ferrous material.
• Detects general thinning such as corrosion and erosion and localized defects such as pitting and wear scar.
• Measures the absolute wall thickness value, as well as the internal and external diameter of the tube.
• Accommodate a wide range of tube diameter and wall thickness.
• Tube cleaning is VERY important to avoid loss of echoes.
• Typical pull speed of 50mm/s (2in/s)
• Reduced risk of company liability with documented inspection reports
• AlphaNDT’s exclusive, one-stop service