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Electromagnetic Testing

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Amplitude (voltage) - The remote field testing system senses a decrease in<br />

wall thickness as a stronger alternating current magnetic field cutting across<br />

the pick up coil. This induces a stronger voltage in the coil. Discontinuities of<br />

larger volume increase the amplitude of the signal while smaller volume<br />

discontinuities produce small amplitude signals, but the signal phase still<br />

represents the wall loss at the discontinuity. Signal location (at or near a<br />

support versus in free span tube) goes a long way to assisting in signal<br />

interpretation. The use of specialized voltage dependent phase analysis<br />

curves can also improve discontinuity resolution. Because some of the<br />

primary magnetic field extends out beyond the tube outside diameter tube<br />

support plates or baffles interfere with the magnetic field distribution. Any<br />

metallic material on the tube outside diameter will tend to block the energy<br />

transfer down the length of the tube. Because of the spacing between exciter<br />

and pick up coils this could lead to decreased sensitivity at these locations.<br />

Remote field testing is capable of detecting both small and large volume<br />

discontinuities in most ferromagnetic tubing found in a wide range of tubes<br />

and pipes such as heat exchangers, boilers, piping and pipelines. Some<br />

limitations do exist, for example in fin fan tubing found in air fin coolers.<br />

Charlie Chong/ Fion Zhang

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