ECA screening tool
17/09/2019
Eddyfi® Technologies has introduced Spyne™, an eddy current array (ECA) probe engineered to meet the more precise needs of the NDT market. With a particularly high probability of detection (POD), impressive speed and adaptive capabilities for a wide range of applications, Spyne is revolutionising the work of technicians in the field and ensuring better control of the human factor.As a one-of-a-kind product, this ECA adaptable screening tool is specifically designed to maximise the detection of all types of crack, such as stress corrosion cracking (SCC), fatigue and chloride cracks, subsurface indications and many others, on pipelines, pipes, vessels or tanks.
Michael Sirois, Technological Director at Eddyfi Technologies, explained the importance of improving non-destructive inspection systems and one of the main applications targeted by the new solution: “In North America, over the last 20 years, some 250 annual pipeline incidents have caused over $6.3 billion (£4.8 billion) in property damage. More than 2.5 million barrels of hazardous liquids were spilled and just about half was recovered in clean-up efforts. Eddyfi Technologies has been known to be a forward-thinking company and we applied this when developing this product. With the help of advanced NDT technology, we are bringing to the market a solution that controls the human factor and provides reliable and repeatable data. It is a game changer for NDT in various industries, such as oil & gas, something significantly improved when compared to the traditional methods of inspection.’’With a scanning speed of up to 600 mm/s and 200 mm of coverage in a single pass, operators can perform quicker inspections while ensuring optimal defect detection. With Spyne, data quality no longer depends on the quantity of the surface being scanned, difficult positioning during inspection, bad surface preparation due to poor sandblast or contrast, condensation on pipes or other environmental factors that can affect conventional inspection methods. Another breakthrough is that it can inspect on hot surfaces, up to 150°C, sometimes avoiding or reducing shutdowns and thus saving time and money. The implementation of the Grid-As-U-Go™ feature also makes the testing even simpler and quicker, since it significantly minimises the inspection preparation time.
Spyne has also been designed with versatility in mind, a good example being the infinite inspection adjustments of the probe, from 150 mm OD pipes to flat surfaces. Not only is it adaptable from a mechanical standpoint, its spring-loaded, interchangeable, flexible ECA probe allows for different types of inspection with different types of probe, which is useful for ferritic and non-ferritic alloys. As for instruments, Spyne is fully compatible with Eddyfi’s Reddy® 128 or Ectane®. Combined with Magnifi® software, it provides powerful assisted detection capabilities and instant screening reports, making the overall inspection process faster and more efficient.
The ultra-fast Spyne screening tool is the perfect mix of simplicity and technological edge for unprecedented inspection effectiveness from operators to asset owners and inspection companies.
www.eddyfi.com/spyne
