The heat is on as Phoenix works on 500 degree C scanner

18/09/2007

Phoenix Inspection Systems, the ultrasonic NDT equipment specialist, has developed a scanner that can operate at temperatures of up to 500º Celsius (932ºF) as part of an £800,000 government-funded project to advance high temperature inspection technology.

The project, known as ULTRASMART (Ultrasonic Scanning and Monitoring at Running Plant Temperatures), could save plant operators millions of pounds each year by allowing them to conduct more inspections on live plant, thus avoiding expensive shutdowns. It has potential for use in a variety of industries including process, chemical, petrochemical, oil and power generation.

Phoenix is part of a team led by Doosan Babcock, with the other partners being KANDE International, E.ON UK plc, Corus and the University of Paisley.

Dr Chris Gregory, who is leading the Phoenix team, said: "Using current technology, inspections are restricted to a maximum temperature of around 300ºC (572ºF) due to limitations involving the design of probes, scanners and couplant. The ULTRASMART project is building on recent developments in probe design, scanning techniques and high temperature materials and has found novel ways to overcome the problems."

Phoenix's role is the development of the scanner. Its responsibilities include selecting appropriate materials, finding ways to cool the electrical and electronic services, motor drives and position encoders, and developing cooled umbilicals between the instrumentation and the scanner.

Dr Gregory added: "The development process is already well underway. The demonstration scanner is based on Phoenix's existing Spider model, which provides a versatile scanning platform. The funded part of the project will be completed by the end of 2007, with the technology already attracting commercial interest.

"We are well aware of the demand that exists for high-temperature inspection equipment. By allowing testing on live plant, technology of this type has the potential to improve safety and save industry millions of pounds each year."

The government-sponsored Technology Strategy Board is providing half of the funding for the ULTRASMART project, with the Regional Development Agencies providing the rest.

For further information, contact Paul Ryan on +44 (0)1925 826000 or e-mail pryan@phoenixisl.co.uk

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