Eddy Current Testing vs Pressure Testing
Eddy Current Testing vs Pressure Testing
(OP)
Hi,
I would like to know if eddy current testing can fully substitute pressure testing of tubes.
THANKS
I would like to know if eddy current testing can fully substitute pressure testing of tubes.
THANKS





RE: Eddy Current Testing vs Pressure Testing
RE: Eddy Current Testing vs Pressure Testing
The code of the company we´re working for demands pressure testing of every single tube before welded in the tube sheet. The tube supplier says eddy current testing was sufficient and wants to double the price of the tubes if pressure testing is necessary.
RE: Eddy Current Testing vs Pressure Testing
RE: Eddy Current Testing vs Pressure Testing
But the exchanger will be pressure tested anyway, only after welding.
I see the advantages of pressure testing before welding: You can inspect the tubes easier and you won´t have any repair welding in case the bundle doesn´t pass the pressure test. But back to the question in this particular case: Are there any damages I would detect by pressure testing which I wouldn´t detect with EC???
RE: Eddy Current Testing vs Pressure Testing
I really don't see how you can avoid the PT-sorry.
RE: Eddy Current Testing vs Pressure Testing
Interested in your statement that EC is blind to SCC until a fairly large % of the tube wall is penetrated. Can you be a bit more specific on where you obtained this information? I'm inlvolved in a task where we propose to use EC for the detection of SCC and would like to know more. Rather than mix up in this thread, perhaps a new thread might be appropriate?
Thanks
Andy
RE: Eddy Current Testing vs Pressure Testing
Andy, Take a look at ACFM testing kinda like EC on Steroids
http://www.tscinspectionsystems.com/tschome.htm
http://www.tscinspectionsystems.com/pdfdocs/Intro%20ACF...
RE: Eddy Current Testing vs Pressure Testing
The US nuclear power industry spends many millions of $ performing EC of steam generator tubing (Alloy 600) EVERY refueling outage. EC really measures metal loss or metal separation, so things like wear (from rubbing on tube supports) is easy to find/measure. But SCC, esp. the IGSCC we have has almost no loss or separation. Depending on the EC method used and the technique, it can be blind until the SCC is ~25% or more of the way thru the wall.
I am not an EC expert, but I can put you in touch with one of the world's leading experts (he used to be my boss).
RE: Eddy Current Testing vs Pressure Testing
Many thanks for the info.
Andy
RE: Eddy Current Testing vs Pressure Testing
I have had similar problems, when subcontracting similar field EC testing of oil field tubulars.
RE: Eddy Current Testing vs Pressure Testing
BS 1113 enquiry case 1113/1 -eddy current in lieu of hydraulic testing.
Does ECT of tubular components as required in BS 3059 Pt1, BS 3059 Pt2 (test category 2), BS 3601, BS 3602 Pt 1 (test category 2) and BS 3604 (test category 2) satisfy the requirements of clause 5.10.3.5 such that further hydraulic testing to the pressure specified in clause 5.10.2(a) is not required for components joined during assembly by circumferential butt welds in ordre for the completed boiler to qualify for the reduced pressure tests specified in clause 5.109.2(b)?
Answer:
ECT to the requirements of the standards described in the enquiry will satisfy the requirements of 5.10.3.5 providing the test pressure specified in 5.10.2(a) does not exceed 140 bar. Where the pressure specified in 5.10.2(a) exceeds 140 bart, the requirements of 5.10.3.4 apply.