Remote Field Electromagnetic Technique based Systems

and Services

EAGLE 2000 Systems

Eagle 2000 Series RFET Equipment Various sizes rigid and bend probes

Introduction :

A variety of tube materials are encountered in petrochemical plant in various components.

These materials may include Stainless steel, Admiralty brass, Copper-nickel alloys,
Titanium, Nickel, Alloy 2205, Ferretic stainless steel, Carbon steel and Carbon steel fin-fan
tubing. There is no single Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) technique that can be applied to
inspect all of the tube materials. Selection of a NDT technique depends on the tube material,
limitations of each technique and also on defect types expected. The NDT techniques
available for inspection of tubular equipments include Eddy Currents, Remote Field
Electromagnetic, Magnetic Flux Leakage, IRIS & Laser Optics.

Brief note on RFET:

TesTex made Eagle 2000 System’s uses Remote Field Electromagnetic Technique, which is
based on the transmission of an electromagnetic field through the tube material. The exciter
coil generates Eddy Currents at Low frequency in the circumferential direction. The
electromagnetic field transmits through the thickness & travels on the outer diameter. A
receiver coil that is placed in the remote field zone of the exciter picks up this field. In this
zone, the wall current source dominates the primary field directly from the exciter. The
separation between the two coils is between 2 to 5 times the tube ID. Since the magnetic
field penetrates the tube wall twice, it will undergo a delay (phase lag) and attenuates
(amplitude attenuation). The phase lag & amplitude attenuation incurred will depend on the
local wall thickness & are measured. The measurement signal is displayed on a screen.
Calibration and Scanning:

Prior to examination a reference measurement is made on a calibration tube. The

calibration tube is in terms of composition & dimensions (diameter & wall thickness) identical
to the tubes to be examined. In the calibration tube reference defects are introduced with a
know depth & shape. The measurement signals obtained while examining the tubes are
compared with the measurement obtained from the reference defects. We measure the
changes in phase & log of amplitude of the signal & record them in tabulation. This is done
by determining a base line at a clean part of the tube, and measuring changes in phase &
log of amplitude with reference to that base line. These changes are referred to as the delta
phase and delta log of amplitude. This comparison enables the measurement signals
obtained to be identified. RFET inspection can easily be performed at a speed of around 5
meters per minute. Flaw sizing with RFET is done using phase and log amplitude Curves
(refer fig. below). The curves are used to size tube wall losses.

Baffle Fretting
Gradual Wall Loss
Good Tube Area

Baffle Plate

Typical Waveform showing Defects near baffles, Gradual wall loss,

and baffle indications
 Waveform showing 45% Wall Loss

RFET can be used to examine ferrous & partially ferromagnetic tubes of Heat Exchanger,
Boilers, Reactors, Air fin Coolers, RG boilers & similar devices. Being a thorough
transmission technique both internal & external wall thickness reductions can be identified /
quantified and is not a leak detection technique.

RFET has many advantages over other NDT techniques such as it does not require any
couplant, does not require a very cleaned surface (normal water jetting to remove blockages
in tube is enough), is largely forgiving to fill factor (50% to 70% gives excellent results), does
not use magnets, speed is very fast (around 5 meters per minute), gives good results on fin
tubes (aluminum embedded).

RFET is the rapid method for determining the conditions of the tubes in a bundle. Though
both internal & external wall thicknesses can be detected & quantified, it is however not
possible to determine whether the defect is located on the interior or exterior surface of the
tube. The technique is a volumetric inspection technique, which detects defect such as
gradual wall losses, pitting, erosion, fretting near support plates etc. The interaction with the
defects is well understood with the help of TesTex developed user-friendly software’s, digital
signal processing (DSP), chip technology, custom developed DSP boards & 3D graphics.
Defects under the tube sheet & below the baffles will not be detected by the above.

By examining a tube bundle with the RFET method, the condition of the bundle can be
accessed on a tube-by-tube basis. The measurement results may be applied to devising
highly specific (preventive) maintenance technique. This will result in substantial reduction
of the number of unplanned shutdowns due to leaks. Periodic measurements can also be
applied to monitor any development of the damaged pattern.