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circ crack not detected by bobbin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

October 2010:  T5 found indication that Bobbin could not.

The pictures at the right indicate defects that were not found by the bobbin coil.  They are circ cracks, one circumferential and one longitutinal in origion.  The first one was found on a normal test at an Internalionally known aerospace contractor site in Los Angeles.  This finding saved the company close to $50,000!  The next two were know leaers that were not discovered by the bobbin, only the T5!  The third picture waas 1.5" into the tube where the bobbin is ineffective.

August 2010:  T5 reintroduced at EPRI Conference

T5 HyTec Probes along with VM  Products reintroduced the T5 probe with great success and interest.  Dave Brown of VM presented the latest technology and advantages to a packed room.  Many companies were interested in buying as well as selling the probe to their clients.  We currently have a Canadian company that is on board with handling sales in Canada.  We were very excited to have had the opportunity to present our power point presentation since it was due to a last minute opening in the schedule.  For a copy of this presentation click HERE.

 

April 2009:  T5 HyTec shows promise as a tool for sizing ID pits

During an April inspection at a certain TVA fossil plant, plugs were removed from a number of previously leaking tubes for inspection with T5 HyTec.  In each of these tubes, through-wall cracks were expected at the tubesheet.  However, the T5 was able to rule out the presence of any tubesheet cracks.  Of course this means that the documented leaks were from other defects.  Also present in these tubes were a number of ID pits which bobbin had sized in the 60-65 percent range.  A preliminary review of calibrated T5 HyTec data from these same pits shows a number of pits measuring at or very near through-wall (100%) depth.   

March 2009:  T5 HyTec probes detect circumferential cracks at two more plants

T5 HyTec probes were recently deployed at a fossil power plant in Maryland and at Limerick Nuclear Station in Pennsylvania. In both cases, recent tube leaks had alerted the respective utilities about the possible existence of cracks, yet conventional eddy current techniques had been unable to detect any (i.e. bobbin and AC3). In the fossil plant, the tubes were prime surface (un-finned) tubes, while the Limerick tubes were skip-finned.  In both cases, T5 HyTec was able to suppress the tubesheet expansion signals sufficiently to allow for detection of cracks. Furthermore, at Limerick, T5 Hytec was able to rule out the existence of suspected cracks at skip-finned TSP intersections, which possessed a full .100" diametral expansion!  At the fossil plant, the crack indications (multiple) were confirmed visually with a borescope, while at Limerick, the crack indication was confirmed visually (ID discolorations) and with a refrigerant detection device.  Future destructive examination is also possible for that tube. The inspection vendors associated with these tests were Heat Exchanger Systems (fossil plant) and Master Lee Energy Services (Limerick).

February 2009:  Duck Creek Main Condenser Inspection Update

"This is the best condenser inspection I've seen since I began testing in 1979" says Doug Calender, ET Level III for Young Technical Services.  Using a T5 HyTec probe, YTS has been able to detect previously undetectable circumferential cracks at dented tube support intersections.
These calls have already been confirmed with pulled tube destructive analysis.
 Such detection will allow for accurate and focused repair decisions; something that will extend the life of this aging heat exchanger. 

January 2009:  T5 HyTec detects another missed leaker

After performing a complete eddy current examination of a particular air conditioner in October, Dennis Hendricks of K&L Services was disappointed to learn that the same unit leaked a few weeks later.  Dennis re-tested the leaking tube in January with the T5 HyTec probe (the original test had been conducted with a conventional AC probe).  The T5 Hyec easily detected the leaking defect, which was located in the difficult geometry of the skip-fin transition area (a dramatic tube expansion and wall thickness change found in most air conditioners).  T5 HyTec has restored the customer's confidence in K&L's ability to reliably detect and quantify structurally significant defects in their heat exchangers. 

January 2009:  T5 HyTec Probe chosen for Duck Creek Fossil Plant main condenser inspection

Following a December feasibility study where T5 HyTec detected circumferential cracks at dented tube support intersections that were not detectable with other eddy current probes, a T5 HyTec probe was chosen as test of record for a major inspection (~7,000 tubes) which began January 29th.  The initial scope is 50% of the total number of tubes in the exchanger, which are 1" X .049 admiralty brass and 1" X .035 304 SS.  This number is subject to expansion if defects are found.  There will be significant destructive examination performed on called flaws, giving a rare opportunity to assess real probe performance based on ground truth. 

January 2009:  T5 HyTec Probe scheduled for use in Quad Cities main condenser.

After successfully detecting circumferential cracks at the tubesheet in a mockup provided by Exelon/Master Lee Energy Services, a T5 HyTec probe has been approved for use as test of record in the Quad Cities main condenser.  The inspection is scheduled for late April or early May. 

November 2008:  Preliminary Results from EPRI Loose Parts Detection Study

Preliminary results from the T5 HyTec probe in a steam generator loose part detection sutdy are very strong.  Though testing is not complete, EPRI comments that T5 HyTec "blows away" other techniques in its ability to detect loose parts resting on top of the tubesheet.  Formal results are scheduled for presentation at a TAG meeting in early December, with publication of a final report by the end of the year. 

October 2008:  Detachable T5 HyTec probes now available

IEI is proud to announce the availability of DETACHABLE (and waterproof) probe assemblies.  The T5 HyTec probes pictured here consist of a differential bobbin coil and a T5 HyTec coil in the same detachable head.  Both the shafts and probe heads are compatible with detachable components made by another probe vendor after they discontinued their line of detachable AC probes.  This will allow for continued use of those heads or shafts with IEI mating parts.  Call today for more details and for a quotation.

September 2008: T5 HyTec S/N ratio is over 250 times better than bobbin at TSP

A laboratory study was recently conducted to compare T5 HyTec and bobbin singal-to-noise (S/N) ratios.  Circumferential EDM notch responses from each probe were compared to the un-mixed TSP responses for each probe.  For a 90 degree 100% thru wall circ notch, T5 HyTec exhibited a 153:1 signal to noise ratio, while a conventional bobbin coil showed 0.64:1 ratio.  T5 HyTec was 239 times better.  In another test using a shorter, 22.5 degree 100% through wall EDM notch, the T5 HyTec S/N ratio was 28:1, while bobbin was 0.11:1.  T5 HyTec was 254 times better.  Once again, this demonstrates the superiority of T5 HyTec for inspection of heat exchanger tubing.

August 2008:  Independent Review of T5 HyTec by K&L Engineering

A low frequency T5 HyTec probe was recently provided to K&L Engineering for unbiased comparison against another popular AC array probe from another vendor.  The probes were both .560" in diameter and were optimized for testing enhanced finned copper tubes (fins on both the ID and the OD).  Harry E.
Hendricks, a 40 year veteran of non-destructive testing (ASNT Level III, PE), performed the evaluation and commented as follows:

"Corresponding test signals from the two probes indicated that the T5 HyTec probe was much more capable than the AC probe for detecting the defects in the eight tubes samples, i.e. the very stable signal amplitudes were more than twice those generated by the AC coils."  Mr. Hendricks continued, "the prototype T5 HyTec probe used in this evaluation proved to be the most sensitive
(hot) probe ever observed by our personnal for detecting defects in the varying geometry of the transition zones".

July 2008:  T5 HyTec probe detects missed leaker

During a July inspection of an air conditioning unit at a large computer chip manufacturing company, the attributes of the T5 HyTec probe were again made evident.  Initial examination of the exchanger with conventional probes did not reveal any indications typical of a leaking tube.  However, supplemental examination with T5 HyTec allowed for quick and easy detection of the leaking defect.  The difference is attributed to the ability of T5 HyTec to completely suppress expansion signals and support signals at land areas which had masked/distorted the flaw signal during the initial test with the conventional probe.  According to Gene Auville, president of IEI, "Since the T5 Hytec eliminated the support signals, the large defect became obvious.  It makes the test so much easier and with fewer errors".  The undistorted T5 HyTec probe signal measured exactly 40 degrees in phase, allowing for immediate identification of the indication as the leaking flaw.

July 2008:  "The Best of Both Worlds":  First T5 HyTec hybrid probe constructed

In response to numerous customer requests, IEI recently embarked on an effort to merge a bobbin probe and a T5 HyTec probe into one assembly, creating a hybrid design.  Throughout the design process, functionality and durability were primary concerns.  According to our customers, the benefits of combining the two coil types into one probe are manifold:

1.  The presence of a bobbin coil on the probe allows new T5 HyTec users to compare potentially unfamiliar T5 HyTec signal responses with familiar bobbin coil responses for any given defect.

2.  The presence of a bobbin coil also allows for proper historical comparisons with previously collected bobbin data.

3.  The presence of a T5 HyTec coil set within the probe allows for detection of flaws within expansion transitions, where bobbin probes offer no reliable detection.

4.  The presence of a T5 HyTec coil set within the probe also allows for full detection of circumferentially oriented cracks, either in free span or within the aforementioned expansion transition.

5.  Finally, T5 HyTec suppresses TSP signals, eliminating the need for mix channels.

The new hybrid probe has a titanium wear sleeve covering both coil sets for enhanced durability.  The probe is available with or without centering devices, with a flat or tapered nose, and is equipped with a kink-proof poly shaft.  Call today for a quotation!

May 2008:  T5 HyTec inspection at a Nevada chemical plant

In response to a previously identified concern over the potential existence of circumferential cracks in a particular heat exchanger, a special T5 HyTec test was conducted by The Young Group.  The test was conducted on a randomly selected group of periphery and internal tubes within the bundle.  As designed, T5 HyTec was able to effectively suppress the tubesheet and expansion signals and provide reliable detection of circumferential cracks at this location.  According to The Young Group Level III involved with the test, “T5 HyTec is an effective tool for flaw detection in the tubesheet expansion, and is a cost-effective alternative to array or rotating probes”

 

 


     
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