7/26/2019 Remote-Field Testing (RFT)

RFT

Remote-Field Testing (RFT)

Remote- eld testing (RFT) is a non-destructive electromagnetic testing
technique mainly used to nd defects in steel pipes and tubes.

How it Works
RFT probes use one or several transmitter coils positioned two tube diameters apart from the
receiver coil. The magnetic eld created by the transmitter coil travels through and out of the tube
wall, radially and axially, towards the receiver. The magnetic eld must travel through the tube wall
again to reach the receiver. This is called through-transmission and is what de nes RFT. Through-
transmission allows external and internal defects to be detected with equal sensitivity.

Two coupling paths exist between the transmitters and receivers. The direct path, inside the tube,
is rapidly attenuated by circumferential eddy currents induced in the tube’s wall. The indirect
coupling path originates in the transmitter’s magnetic eld that diffuses radially outward through
the wall. At the outer wall, the eld spreads rapidly along the tube with little attenuation and
rediffuse back through the pipe wall and are the dominant eld inside the tube at the receiver.
Anomalies anywhere in the indirect path cause changes in the magnitude and phase of the received
signal, and can therefore be used to detect defects.

Bene ts
RFT has several bene ts over other electromagnetic testing techniques:

Suitable for ferromagnetic materials

Equal sensitivity at the inner and outer surfaces

Highly sensitive to wall thickness variations

Can be used with lesser ll factors than ECT

Detection Capabilities According to Defect Type in Tubing

Defect/Tech ECT ECA IRIS RFT NFT NFA MFL PSEC

Acceptable,Acceptable,
ID pitting Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent
https://www.eddyfi.com/technologies/remote-field-testing-rft/
b t limited b t limited 1/3
7/26/2019 Remote-Field Testing (RFT)
p tt g
but limited but limited
Defect/Tech ECT ECA IRIS RFT NFT NFA MFL PSEC
Acceptable, Not Not Acceptable,Acceptable,
OD pitting Excellent Excellent Excellent
but limited suitable  suitable but limited  but limited 

Acceptable, Not Acceptable,Acceptable,Acceptable, Not Acceptable,

Axial cracking Excellent
but limited suitable but limited but limited but limited suitable but limited

Circumferential Acceptable, Not Not Not Acceptable,Acceptable,Acceptable,

Excellent
cracking but limited suitable suitable suitable but limited but limited but limited

ID corrosion Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent

Not Not Acceptable,Acceptable,

OD corrosion Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent
suitable suitable but limited but limited

Acceptable, Acceptable, Not Not Acceptable,Acceptable,

At tubesheet Excellent Excellent
but limited but limited suitable suitable but limited but limited

Sizing Capabilities According to Defect Type in Tubing

Defect/Tech ECT ECA IRIS RFT NFT NFA MFL PSEC

Not Not Not

ID pitting Good Excellent Excellent Good Excellent
suitable suitable suitable

Not Not Not Not

OD pitting Excellent Excellent Excellent Good
suitable suitable suitable  suitable

Not Not Not Not Not

Axial cracking Good Excellent Good
suitable suitable suitable suitable suitable

Circumferential Not Not Not Not Not Not

Excellent Good
cracking suitable suitable suitable suitable suitable suitable

Not Not Not

ID corrosion Good Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent
suitable suitable suitable

Not Not Not Not

OD corrosion Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent
https://www.eddyfi.com/technologies/remote-field-testing-rft/ 2/3
7/26/2019 Remote-Field Testing (RFT)
OD corrosion Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent
suitable suitable suitable suitable
Defect/Tech ECT ECA IRIS RFT NFT NFA MFL PSEC
Not Not Not Not Not
At tubesheet Good Good Excellent
suitable suitable suitable suitable suitable

Suitability According to Tubing Material

Material/Tech ECT ECA IRIS RFT NFT NFA MFL PSEC

Tube Yes Yes Yes No No No No No

Non-
ferromagnetic Integral
nned Yes Yes Yes No No No No No
tube

Tube No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Low
ferromagnetic Integral
nned No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
tube

Tube No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Integral
nned No No Limited Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Ferromagnetic tube

Aluminum
nned No No Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes
tube

Literature

Tubing inspection probe catalog

High-speed remote- eld testing in carbon steel tubing with Probot
State-of-the-Art RFT — Meeting the Ferromagnetic Tube Challenge

https://www.eddyfi.com/technologies/remote-field-testing-rft/ 3/3