Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT)

Discover the power of cutting-edge inspection with our latest service addition – Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT). At PSC, we're proud to elevate our offerings to provide top-notch solutions for various industries.

How PAUT Works:

Phased Array Ultrasonics (PAUT) is a state-of-the-art ultrasonic inspection method that enhances the ability to shape and direct ultrasonic beams dynamically, enabling comprehensive inspection coverage and precise results. The phased array beam acts much like a searchlight, sweeping through the material to produce detailed, recordable images that reveal internal defects within structures or welds, similar to how medical ultrasounds create images of the body.

Advantages of PAUT:

Phased Array offers distinct benefits over traditional ultrasonic testing methods. With its advanced imaging capabilities, PAUT provides more reliable and accurate results, reduces human error, and offers enhanced inspection coverage, especially in complex geometries that conventional techniques may struggle with. Key advantages include:

• Faster inspection process compared to manual ultrasonic testing
• Higher reliability and accuracy in results
• Increased probability of defect detection
• No need for radiation safety measures, eliminating exclusion zones
• Single-probe multi-angle inspection capabilities
• Data capture for storage, review, and reference at a later date
• Proven and qualified procedures for compliance with industry standards

Applications of PAUT:

Phased Array Ultrasonics is highly versatile and can be used across various applications, including but not limited to:

• Weld inspections for both new construction and maintenance
• Critical pressure boundary and non-pressure boundary welds
• High-temperature inspections (up to 750°F) on in-service equipment
• Structural integrity assessments of pressure vessels, reactors, and pipelines
• Inspection of turbine blades, bolts, shafts, and other complex components
• Pipeline integrity and corrosion monitoring

Cost and Quality Benefits of Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT)

Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT) offers significant advantages in terms of operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness, making it a highly beneficial method for a range of industries:

• UT in place of RT: PAUT eliminates the need for radioactive sources, along with the associated safety protocols, exclusion zones, and disruptions to other construction activities. This allows inspections to be performed seamlessly without impacting worksite productivity.
• Enhanced Productivity: PAUT can deliver superior inspection results with fewer crewmembers, increasing efficiency and reducing labour costs.
• Improved Defect Detection: PAUT offers enhanced sensitivity for identifying critical flaws such as non-fusion and cracking while reducing the likelihood of detecting less critical imperfections like slag or porosity.
• High Inspection Rates: When combined with Time of Flight Diffraction (TOFD) and automated inspection systems, PAUT can achieve impressive coverage rates, inspecting up to 300–500 linear feet of weld in a single shift. This is especially advantageous for large structures like tanks and vessels.

These advantages make PAUT a reliable, precise, and efficient choice for modern inspection needs. Let PSC help you leverage the benefits of PAUT for your next project, ensuring optimal quality and cost savings.

PAUT is an excellent choice for industries requiring high standards of precision and safety, including oil and gas, power generation, and manufacturing. By choosing PAUT, you ensure compliance with codes such as ASME, AWS, and API, while also benefiting from efficient, non-disruptive testing methods.

Let PSC be your trusted partner for comprehensive, advanced NDT solutions that align with your project needs.

Time of Flight Diffraction (TOFD)

What is TOFD?

Time of Flight Diffraction (TOFD) is an advanced ultrasonic testing technique used primarily for the accurate detection and sizing of defects, particularly in welds and other critical engineering structures. TOFD employs ultrasonic diffraction principles to deliver a comprehensive, recordable image that reveals the presence and size of any flaws, making it a highly reliable and effective inspection method.

Advantages of TOFD:

• High Precision in Sizing: TOFD excels in accurately determining the height of defects, especially crack-like planar defects, through the analysis of diffracted waves from crack tips.
• One-Pass Operation: The inspection can be performed in a single pass, making it both time-efficient and amplitude-independent.
• Superior Detection Rates: Offers high probability of detection with a low false call rate, ensuring reliability.
• Visual Data Representation: The cross-sectional view provided by TOFD is easy for clients to interpret and analyze, much like an RT film.
• Comprehensive Coverage: Detects all indications, irrespective of orientation, and captures volumetric indications that other techniques like Phased Array may miss.
• Efficient Data Management: TOFD scans can be conducted quickly, and data files are manageable in size.

Considerations for TOFD:

• Access Requirements: The technique requires access to both sides of the weld, which can sometimes be restrictive.
• Operator Expertise: Requires skilled operators with in-depth knowledge and the use of specialized equipment.
• Complementary Techniques: Should be used alongside other ultrasonic methods such as Pulse Echo or Phased Array to cover the "dead zone" at the surface level and to pinpoint axial locations of indications.
• Material and Size Limitations: Less effective for very thin materials (6mm or less) or small-diameter pipes (approximately 4 inches or less). Not ideal for coarse-grained materials like certain stainless steels.

Applications of TOFD:

• Weld Inspections: Commonly used for piping and plate weld inspections.
• Corrosion/Erosion Detection: Suitable for detecting pitting, corrosion, and erosion, although ideal for smaller areas.
• Defect Monitoring: Provides accurate, repeatable measurements of known in-service defects for ongoing assessments.
• Confirmation of Indications: Works as an excellent verification tool when RT is not an option and other discontinuities are suspected.

TOFD's ability to deliver precise, reliable, and repeatable results makes it a valuable method for industries requiring high accuracy in defect detection and sizing.