Novosound Kelpie solves critical inspection challenge
31/10/2023
Dave Hughes, CEO and Co-Founder of Novosound and Matt McInnes, Applications Specialist, recently spent a few days in Greece with Atom Group’s technical arm, Newtron Technologies, collaborating on implementing a pioneering and inventive inspection solution of defence equipment on board a submarine, which before now seemed impossible given the available technologies in Greece, concerning local physical assets and defence infrastructure.
One of the most critical pieces of equipment on a defence submarine poses a great challenge in terms of its integrity and reliability plan due to its varied geometries and hard-to-reach points, where corrosion, cracks, mechanical failures, manufacturing defects or even errors while in use occur and need to be constantly monitored and evaluated. This is a necessary requirement that could not be met until this project was conducted.
“This project partnership was a great opportunity to showcase our Novosound technology solving a critical inspection challenge. Using our low-profile, fully flexible inspection probe, the Kelpie, we managed to provide a solution that no one else could,” said Dave Hughes.
The problem was overcome using the thin-film technology Kelpie tool to map corrosion, while achieving increased scan speed and improved imaging. As part of the overall physical asset management programme undertaken by Atom Group on behalf of its client, the team of experts from Newtron Technologies and the corresponding Novosound team specialising in industrial applications collaborated on this custom project with its very specific and special requirements, covering its inspection needs using new non-destructive testing technologies.
Kostas Golfinopoulos, Managing Director at Atom Group, said: “A great collaboration with Novosound and Dave Hughes has brought an inventive inspection solution that until now did not seem possible.”
Atom Group knows that each physical element has its own inspection requirements. Novosound pioneers in the design and manufacture of ultrasonic sensors using an innovative thin-film technique that overcomes the limitations of traditional ultrasound.
Dave and Matt went over to Greece to demonstrate and train members of the Newtron team on using the Kelpie for corrosion screening on these curved and obscured surfaces. After the training they went with the Newtron team members, on-site at a Naval base, to utilise the solution for inspecting parts on board a submarine.
