Heat Exchanger Tube Testing Methods

Tube Inspection Methods

The application of electromagnetic methods is an accepted technique for checking the integrity of heat exchanger tubes. Due to the large number of materials, tube types and damage mechanisms selecting the optimal method of appropriate probe type and signal analysis mode, as well as the evaluation of the benefits and limitations of each method is important for optimal defect detection and inspection results.
For the testing of heat exchanger tubes three variants of the eddy current methods exist (see figure)
●          the conventional eddy current method
●          the eddy current principle with superimposed DC field magnetization
●          the remote field eddy current method
Conventional Multifrequency Eddy Current Magnetic Bias Eddy Current C-MEC® Remote Field Eddy Current
Conventional Eddy Current Tube Testing Probe Magnetic Bias (MB, MD, MS) Eddy Current Tube Testing Probe Remote Field Eddy Current (RFEC, RFET) Tube Testing Probe
 
• Multifrequency eddy current method for inspection of non ferromagnetic tubes in heat exchangers, condensors, coolers, reactors, heaters, air conditioning coolers
 
• Magnetic bias eddy current defect detection within ferromagnetic tubes using superimposed DC field magnetization. Sensitive for local defects.
 
• Multi-frequency remote field eddy current inspection method, for detection of wall thinning within ferromagnetic and thick wall non-ferromagnetic tubes.

 

Tube Inlet Testing with Rotational Probes



RotoScan RP-Method
• C-Scan inspection with rotating eddy current probes, for defect detection
in bore holes, pipes and tube expanded zones, within ferromagnetic and
non-ferromagnetic materials.