APTECH Offers Inspection Performed Through Insulation On-line or Off-line
What is Flow-Accelerated Corrosion?
Flow-accelerated corrosion (FAC) is metal loss through the dissolution of the protective oxide film by localized turbulence in piping serving water or wet steam. Many pipe failures caused by FAC have been reported in power plant piping systems. Under certain water chemistry, fluid velocity, and operating conditions, FAC can cause internal wall thinning of condensate and feedwater piping, heater drip and drain lines, and other carbon steel piping. In some cases, this thinning has led to catastrophic failures and fatalities.
Why Be Concerned?
All personnel are concerned about safety and the consequences of a high energy piping failure. Whether a power plant stays with a utility or is purchased by a new owner, assessment of the damage that can result from FAC is a relatively inexpensive and prudent preventative measure.
APTECH's Approach to FAC Examination
Our experience with FAC has led to the development of the following steps for proper evaluation:
- Computer software to identify and rank high priority areas On-line or off-line non-intrusive inspection of high priority areas Ultrasonic examination of selected locations
- Engineering analysis
Non-Intrusive Inspection Technology (INCOTEST)
A unique feature of APTECH's approach is our non-intrusive wall thickness measurement technique -- called INCOTEST -- which uses a patented pulsed eddy current technology. Some of our clients have already developed a program to locate critical areas for examination, and are ready to proceed with inspection. The INCOTEST system is especially attractive to many industrial and power plant clients because it can be used:
- While the plant is on-line or off-line -- no outage required
- To inspect without removing insulation and lagging
- At substantial cost savings, particularly when asbestos is present
The field performance is excellent:
- Wall thickness accuracy: better than 0.02 inch Pipe temperature: 0°F to 750°F Insulation thickness: 0 to 4 inches
- Pipe wall thickness: 0.15 inch to 3 inches
INCOTEST is a proven technology, successfully used by clients throughout the world.
For More Information For more information about APTECH's flow-accelerated corrosion detection and other services, please contact Marvin Cohn at our corporate headquarters:
601 W. California Avenue Sunnyvale, CA 94086 Phone: 408-745-7000 Fax: 408-734-0445 Toll-free: (408) 745-7000
Aptech Engineering Services, Inc.
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