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PfiNDE, Inc. has developed several special applications for their clients, and in some cases, with their clients. Clients use PfiNDE for applications where traditional methods have been tried without success. Examples of successful applications developed in whole or in part by PfiNDE include:
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Depth sizing of fillet weld toe
crack with FAST UT
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- SCC through-wall sizing
- Through-wall sizing of OD flaws
- Through-wall sizing of ID connected flaws
- Through Transmission crack sizing in heavy wall components – Jimmy Ellis
- Manual TOFD crack sizing – Jimmy Ellis
- Thin-wall component inspection
- Longitudinal seam weld inspection
- Hi-temp UT thickness gauging
- Boiler tube weld inspection with UT in lieu of RT
- UT in lieu of PT or MT
- Detection of cracks under fillet welds
- Through wall sizing of cracks at fillet weld toes
- Hydrogen damage in boiler tubes – Jim Ellis
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PfiNDE, Inc. personnel have extensive experience in equipment integrity inspections where accurate condition and sizing data is required for engineering determination of "fitness for service". FAST UT, traditional NDE, and unique applications are used.
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LOF in 0.07”T inconnel buttweld with FAST UT
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Typical sample used for SCC sizing
technique development
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Fillet weld cracks found with surface techniques can be accurately sized for through wall extent with FAST. FAST has replaced these surface examinations in some cases. This allows for reliable detection and sizing in the same step. FAST is unaffected by many surface conditioning problems issues that effect MT and/or PT.
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Circumferential welds in heat exchanger tubing and other thin-wall piping welds are inspected with FAST. In many cases radiography can be replaced. This can be very cost effective especially when considering the loss of construction productivity while the radiography is in progress. Butt welds in boiler tubes, even those between dissimilar metals, are reliably inspected with FAST.
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FAST UT on 0.07”T by 1.2” diameter
inconnel buttwelds
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Depth sizing of cracks found by surface NDE, is one of the most important uses of FAST. SCC in pipelines can be sized accurately when the surface permits UT scanning.
Hi-temperature UT thickness gauging is done frequently throughout the industry. PfiNDE has extensive knowledge of the way to ensure accurate data from these examinations.
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Jim Ellis has developed a true ManualTOFD technique which has been utilized on PfiNDE projects. This is a technique that can be used to size and characterize planar flaws. It started out being a secondary method to use when other techniques would not provide adequate information. It is now used as a primary technique due to it’s reliability, its versatility and its relatively low cost.
In addition to the Manual TOFD, Jim Ellis has had success with crack sizing using a pitch catch method. Crack sizing for through wall extent with a pith catch procedure that has had excellent results when other techniques would not work. This was done to heat exchanger shell cracks and header ligament cracks.
Jim Ellis has also developed an ultrasonic inspection technique for the detection of hydrogen damage inside of boiler tubes. This technique is a manual examination, is a straightforward application, has repeatable results and has shown excellent detection capabilities.
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