Conventional non-destructive testing techniques are some of the most effective mechanisms utilized to identify the most common flaws and discontinuities typically found in assets owned and operated by the energy and industry sector. Less operational downtime, preventing costly or unnecessary repairs, and reducing the probability of catastrophic events to the public and the environment are just a few of the benefits that non-destructive testing and inspection deliver to customers.
Borescope and Fiber Optic Inspection
A borescope is an optical tool crafted for inspecting areas that are challenging to access, often not visible directly. It consists of a tube—either rigid or flexible—with an eyepiece or display at one end, and an objective lens or camera at the opposite end. The two ends are connected via an optical or electrical system. In many cases, this system features fiberoptic illumination to enhance visibility.
USES
Oil & Gas Facilities:
In the oil and gas industry, borescopes play a crucial role in ensuring the safety and efficiency of operations. They provide an invaluable solution for non-invasive visual inspections, allowing professionals to examine hard-to-reach areas, such as the interiors of pipelines, storage tanks, valves, and drilling rigs. With the ability to identify issues like corrosion, cracks, leaks, and blockages, borescopes minimize potential risks, reduce maintenance costs, and decrease operational downtime. Their ability to capture high-resolution imagery in real-time is instrumental in facilitating informed decisions and maintaining the integrity of the industry’s critical infrastructure.
Aircraft & Engine Inspection:
Borescopes play a pivotal role in examining aircraft engines, gas and steam turbines, and automotive engines. They help ensure maintenance is only done when necessary, saving costs especially for extensive machinery.
Civil:
Borescopes are essential tools in civil infrastructure, allowing for non-invasive inspections of buildings, bridges, tunnels, and sewer systems. They help detect hidden issues like corrosion, cracks, or blockages, ensuring public safety and preventing costly repairs. By providing real-time, high-resolution imagery, borescopes enable swift decision-making, playing a key role in preserving the health of vital infrastructure assets.
Manufacturing
In the manufacturing sector, borescopes are vital for quality control and precision. They delve deep into the intricacies of machine parts, checking for unwanted burrs, assessing surface finishes for consistency, and verifying that through-holes are complete and unobstructed. This meticulous inspection ensures that produced components meet stringent standards, optimizing functionality and longevity.
Types of Borescopes:
Flexible Borescopes:
Known as fiberscopes, these devices utilize a bundle of optical fibers. They are essential for inspecting areas around bends. However, image quality can be affected by the number of fibers and their configuration.
Video Borescopes:
These are advanced versions of flexible borescopes that incorporate a miniature video camera. This setup allows for video or image captures deep inside machinery or other spaces. These tools range in price, with high-end models being quite expensive and hobbyist versions available at more affordable rates.
Rigid Borescopes:
Offering a clearer image at a generally lower cost than flexible borescopes, these devices have a limitation: they require straight-line access to the inspection area. They are especially useful in automotive and gunsmithing applications.
Computed Radiography (CR)
Computed Radiography is a non-destructive testing technique that uses a filmless process to create digital, 2-dimensional radiographs. CR utilizes phosphor plates to capture an image of the asset component being inspected. CR requires exposing the imaging plate with radiation for a determined amount of time, depending on the part configuration, and processing the plate with a focused laser scanner that converts the image into visible light. The emitted light is then converted into electrical signals, which are digitized and displayed on a computer monitor.
What are the advantages of Computed Radiography (CR) ?
Customers can obtain many benefits through the application of this non-destructive testing technique for their assets, which include:
Is Computed Radiography (CR) the appropriate technique for our assets ?
Computed Radiography (CR) can be applied on assets owned and operated by companies in various sectors, including:
Digital Radiography (DR)
Digital Radiography (DR) is a non-destructive testing method that does not require extensive processing times to yield inspection results. As opposed to film radiography, DR uses digital detector arrays or DDA, which provides the ability to record data during testing of asset, providing results instantaneously for technical experts to analyze. This testing method is able to deliver inspection of in-service systems with minimal downtime or preparation.
What are the advantages of Digital Radiography (DR) ?
Customers can obtain many benefits through the application of this non-destructive testing technique for their assets, which include:
Is Digital Radiography (DR) the appropriate technique for our assets ?
Digital Radiography (DR) can be applied on assets owned and operated by companies in various sectors, including:
Certified Welding Inspection (CWI)
Our technical experts can execute Certified Welding Inspection (CWI) throughout the life of any project. Before welding can take place, welding contractors and fabricators need to develop welding procedures and qualify welders. Certain procedures must be followed to meet the requirements of recognized welding codes such as ASME, AWS, or CSA. These codes contain requirements dictating how the welding properties meet or exceed the material properties of the pieces being joined, as well as ensure simple and efficient welding by mitigating common welding problems, such as distortion, hardening, and weld defects.
Our Certified Welding Inspection (CWI) services encompass:
What are the advantages of a Certified Welding Inspection (CWI) program ?
Customers can obtain many benefits through the application of a Certified Welding Inspection program, which include:
Eddy Current (ET)
Eddy Current Testing is a conventional non-destructive testing technique that uses the principles of electromagnetism, specifically electromagnetic induction, to conduct examinations. ET is completed through the use of a specially designed coil energized by an alternating current to produce a magnetic field. Eddy Current Testing takes its name from Eddies, which are formed when a liquid or gas flows in a circular path around obstacles under the right conditions. ID probes, or Bobbin probes or feed-through probes, are then used to detect changes in electrical conductivity, indicating a discontinuity or flaw in the tested asset.
Types of Eddy Current (ET) Testing our technical experts can deliver:
What are the advantages of Eddy Current (ET) Testing ?
Customers can obtain many benefits through the application of this conventional testing technique for their assets, which include:
Is Eddy Current (ET) Testing the appropriate technique for our assets ?
Eddy Current (ET) Testing can be applied on assets owned and operated by companies in various sectors, including:
Electromagnetic Flux Leakage
Magnetic Flux Leakage is a technique used by asset managers aiming to evaluate the condition of their storage tanks. At Aegeus, we utilize advanced scanners for comprehensive integrity assessment, predominantly focusing on tank floors, but not exclusively. Our method hinges on the creation of a strong magnetic field within ferrous constructs. As the sensor navigates areas affected by corrosion or other structural deviations, any change in the magnetic flux density gets instantly captured and displayed on our digital interface. This not only provides real-time insights to our technicians but also archives the data for detailed post-evaluation.
Aegeus' MFL Solutions:
Our prowess in MFL is underlined by a structured approach. Committed to precision, Aegeus employs cutting-edge technology and ensures all findings are documented with unparalleled detail, facilitating accurate assessment of a tank’s long-term operational feasibility. Given the extensive range of equipment and software at our disposal, our partners enjoy the advantage of real-time C-Scan visualizations. By strategically setting detection thresholds, Aegeus emphasizes the most critical defects, eliminating the need for broad, time-consuming examinations. By integrating our MFL procedures with a meticulously planned API 653 program, we offer a comprehensive tank assessment, meeting regulatory standards and ensuring uninterrupted production cycles.
Liquid Penetrant (PT)
Liquid Penetrant Testing (PT) is one of the most common yet effective techniques detecting surface defects on a wide range of materials and welds where the properties of the material limit the use of other NDT methods. PT is an effective means of locating and determining the severity of surface discontinuities in materials, including those that are not visible to the naked eye.
The process behind LP involves the application of penetrant on a tested asset, where it is allowed to dwell or soak for a determined amount of time. Once the part has had ample time for the penetrant to dwell, it is removed carefully, and the developer is applied. The penetrant bleeds through the developer, which produces a visible or fluorescent indication that we evaluate to applicable codes, standards, and client specifications.
What are the advantages of Liquid Penetrant (PT) Testing ?
Customers can obtain many benefits through the application of this conventional testing technique for their assets, which include:
Is Liquid Penetrant (PT) Testing the appropriate technique for our assets ?
Customers can obtain many benefits through the application of this conventional testing technique for their assets, which include:
Magnetic Particle (MT)
Magnetic Particle Testing (MT) is a common non-destructive testing technique that involves inducing a magnetic field on a component, where dry or wet magnetic particles are applied. An area where there is an interruption of the magnetic field (flux leakage) patterns are then formed by the particles, indicating discontinuities in the part. Discontinuities detected by MT include cracks, laminations, and surface and near-surface discontinuities. Magnetic Particle Testing is performed using visible or fluorescent mediums; the particles can be wet (suspended in a fluid) or in the form of a dry powder. MT testing is best suited for materials that are ferromagnetic in nature, such as carbon, steel, iron, and nickel and some of their alloys.
What are the advantages of Magnetic Particle (MT) Testing ?
Customers can obtain many benefits through the application of this conventional testing technique for their assets, which include:
Is Magnetic Particle Testing (MT) the appropriate technique for our assets ?
Magnetic Particle Testing (MT) can be applied on assets owned and operated by companies in various sectors, including:
Radiography (RT)
One of the oldest and most widely used techniques, Radiographic Testing (RT) is a conventional non-destructive testing method that uses x-rays or gamma radiography to perform full volumetric inspections to validate the integrity of welds and other components generated from a tube or from an isotope of Iridium-192, Selenium-75, or Cobalt-60. RT can be deployed for the testing of welds on pipelines, pressure vessels, piping, storage containers, and structures. Our technical experts are able to interpret radiographs to applicable codes and standards such as API, ASME, and AWS while complying with required customer specifications.
What are the advantages of Radiography (RT) ?
Customers can obtain many benefits through the application of this conventional testing technique for their assets, which include:
Is Radiography (RT) the appropriate technique for our assets ?
Radiography (RT) can be applied on assets owned and operated by companies in various sectors, including:
Real-Time Digital Radiography (RTR)
Real-Time Digital Radiography (RTR) is an advanced radiography technique that incorporates the filmless conversion of data into a high-resolution image of pipeline welds and other assets within a single scan. The amount of radiation required for a digital radiography image is far less than that is required to achieve the same resolution with conventional radiography. Images produced can be permanently stored and uploaded to a cloud-based server or client specified database for remote auditing capabilities. RTR is mainly employed for new-construction industry customers, specifically in pipeline construction and LNG tank construction.
The inspection technique can be implemented to inspect, for example, pipes with a diameter from 5 cm to 142 cm (2 in. to 56 in.), proving to be a versatile and efficient technique to suit customer needs. RTR is compliant with the following codes and standards: API 1104, ASME V, and Art.2, including Mandatory Appendix IX, DNV OS-F101, and EN-ISO 17636-2.
Advantages of Real-Time Digital Radiography
Real-Time Digital Radiography has a number of benefits over conventional film radiography, including:
Is Real-Time Digital Radiography a suitable inspection technique for our assets ?
RTR is the appropriate advanced inspection technique for the following assets:
UT Shearwave (UT)
Advantages of Shear Wave Flaw Detection
Customers can gain many advantages through the use of Shear Wave Flaw Detection. This advanced technique is mobile, portable, provides real-time results, and is accurate in defect sizing and location flaw characterization. There is no disruption of production with no safety concerns. Lastly, this advanced technique only requires access to one side of the component with minimal preparation required.
Is Shear Wave Flaw Detection the right inspection technique for our assets ?
Shear Wave Flaw Detection can be applied on assets owned and operated by companies in a multitude of sectors, including:
UT Thickness (UTT)
UT Thickness (UTT) is a non-destructive testing method that uses high-frequency sound energy to measure materials’ thickness and perform straight beam flaw detection. The process of UTT involves the introduction of an ultrasonic beam into the test object, perpendicular to its surface, and the round-trip time is measured. Quantifiable information can be gathered for detection of localized or general wall-thickness changes.
What are the advantages of UT Thickness (UTT) Testing ?
Customers can obtain many benefits through the application of this conventional testing technique for their assets, which include:
Is UT Thickness (UTT) Testing the appropriate technique for our assets ?
UT Thickness (UTT) Testing can be applied on assets owned and operated by companies in various sectors, including:
Visual Inspection (VT)
Visual Inspection (VT) is a proven, widely used conventional non-destructive testing method on assets owned and operated by a vast array of industries and can be used during each stage of a component or asset’s life cycle. The process of Visual Inspection (VT) involves utilizing an array NDT visual equipment, from measurement devices or gauges and magnifying devices with the use a direct light source, to indirect VT equipment such as video cameras, endoscopes, borescopes, and visual inspection UAV technology.
We provide VT Level II and CWI inspectors who are qualified to meet ASNT CP-189 and SNT-TC-1A requirements.
What are the advantages of Visual Inspection (VT) ?
Customers can obtain many benefits through the application of this conventional testing technique for their assets, which include:
Is Visual Inspection (VT) the appropriate technique for our assets ?
Visual Inspection (VT) Testing can be applied on assets owned and operated by companies in various sectors, and can detect some of the following irregularities: