Magnetic Flux Leakage (MFL) inspection is a method of non-destructive testing (NDT) used to detect and assess corrosion, pitting and wall loss in lined and unlined metallic storage tanks and pipelines. A powerful magnet is used to magnetize the steel. In areas where there is corrosion or missing metal, the magnetic field “leaks” from the steel. MFL tools use sensors placed between the poles of the magnet to pinpoint the leakage field.

PECT has been developed primarily to detect corrosion hidden under insulation. It measures the remaining steel thickness without removing insulation, coatings, deposits and marine growth. Previous instruments often lacked the power to be fast and effective.

There are many applications where this technology can be shown to be applicable such as: Corrosion under fire proofing of supporting legs of storage spheres, inspection of column skirts, flow accelerated corrosion (power plants), splash zones of offshore structures and risers, storage tank annular rings, sheet pilings (pore structures, jetties), subsea pipelines, remaining ligament under corrosion, repair wraps, well casings, ship hulls and high temperature wall thickness monitoring.

Ultrasonic phased array systems can potentially be employed in almost any test where conventional ultrasonic flaw detectors have traditionally been used. Weld inspection and crack detection are the most important applications. Phased array produces accurate, detailed cross-sectional pictures of internal structures at fast inspection speeds. The benefits of phased array technology over conventional UT come from its ability to use multiple elements and electronic time delays to create beams that can be steered, scanned, swept, and focused electronically for fast inspection, full data storage, and multiple angle inspections.

There is no single non-destructive testing (NDT) technique that can be applied to inspect all of the tube materials. Selection of an NDT technique depends on the tube material and on defect types expected.

The Tube Inspection techniques we offer for inspection include Eddy Current Testing (ECT), Remote Field Testing (RFT), ultrasonic IRIS and Magnetic Flux Leakage (MFL) as well as laser optics. Each of the NDT techniques has its advantages and limitations. For example, conventional eddy current is very sensitive to pits and cracks, but it is mostly limited to non-ferromagnetic materials. IRIS is accurate in measuring wall thickness, but it will miss small defects such as pinholes and cracks. Optical techniques are limited to 10 defects. Proper selection of the NDT techniques is therefore a key to inspection of heat exchangers.

The big advantage of EMAT testing is the ability to produce accurate readings on scaled surfaces. This is because the probes induce ultrasound in the steel itself rather than by transmitting it via a coupling medium. Infect the probes will work at a small distance from the material surface. This allows the probe to function when the test surface is heavily corroded, has a large oxide scale build up or during high temperature operation. A major cost benefit of these probes is that expensive and time-consuming cleaning and surface preparation is no longer necessary.

Long-Range Guided Wave UT pipe screening system is used for testing long lengths of pipe to rapidly identify areas of internal/external corrosion and other defects. With minimal surface preparation and only removing a small section of insulation, the transducer collar placed around the pipe have a typical test range of up to 50 meters in each direction along the pipe.

Guided wave technology is now widely accepted and used to inspect pipes in inaccessible areas such as road and river crossings, power plant tubing, risers, offshore topside pipework, jetty lines and refinery pipework.