Full body robust ultrasonic testing system for tubes

Integrated, ultrasonic and eddy current testing systems for full body inspection of seamless and/or ERW tubes are manufactured and commissioned by NDT Technologies Inc, Montreal, Canada.

The systems can be equipped with more than 120 test channels, capable of providing full volumetric and surface coverage of tubes, according to API and other international standards, for diameters from 90mm.

Longitudinal and transversal flaw detection, as well as 100% continuous thickness monitoring is carried out in real-time and is graphically displayed as ‘C’ scans – open pipe view, where ID and OD flaws are separated and colour-coded. Detection of oblique oriented flaws in fixed or variable angles is available without testing speed reduction. This system features short untested ends in range of 10mm, depending on wall thickness.

The test system can be placed directly on the production line where higher throughput rates than previously used are required. A helical drive system ensures consistent high-speed rotational and forward tube motion through the test line, regardless of tube size. A robust QNX real-time operating system is used to perform high-level data acquisition and processing of hundreds of channels simultaneously.

PUBLISHED: 05 Mar 10