Anode NDT offers Ultrasonic Inspection, Flaw Detection, Thickness Measurements, Corrosion Surveying and Integrity Management in Grande Prairie and Western Canada
Test the thickness and integrity of your equipment with ultrasonic testing (UT). Ultrasonic testing is a safe and effective non-destructive testing that uses high-frequency sound waves to detect a material’s anomalies.
Ultrasonic inspection ensures vessels, production lines, and pipelines continue operating smoothly and effectively. This form of nondestructive testing reveals erosion, corrosion, and the overall thickness of materials. Having information about possible defects available has the potential to save companies from expensive equipment failure and costly downtime.
All our ultrasonic testing technicians are highly trained and experienced in non-destructive testing for companies in Grande Prairie, Dawson Creek, Peace River, Fort St. John, and throughout northern Alberta and British Columbia.
Ultrasonic testing secures a safe working environment for your employees. Because it discovers the flaws in your equipment before a failure, ultrasonic testing saves companies incredible sums.
Level II Ultrasonic Technicians
When you call Anode NDT, you receive experienced CGSB/SNT-certified, level II technicians. These highly trained and completely certified technicians guarantee every piece of equipment is tested to the best of our abilities.
Level II technicians are certified to complete baseline and corrosion monitoring, shear wave corrosion integrity, and flaw detection testing. For our clients, this translates to more thorough service and detailed testing results.
How it Works
Ultrasonic testing uses electrical charges to find defects. Once we identify the material for non-destructive testing, we set up our equipment. This machine emits very short ultrasonic pulse-waves, which are transmitted into the material.
As these waves travel through the material, they send information back to the technician. The waves reflect off any flaw in the surface (such as a crack) to a transducer, which converts the waves back to electrical signals.
Once the testing is complete, an experienced technician interprets the results shown on the ‘A-Scan’ presentation. This technician determines the precise location of flaws, corrosion, and other information about the general thickness of the material.
Unlike radiography, ultrasonic testing methods have few limitations while still detecting a wider variety of defects.
Common Equipment Requiring Thickness Measurements or Corrosion Surveying:
Ultrasonic testing can be used to test the thickness and corrosion in a variety of materials. For many clients, we do both baseline testing and in-service equipment testing.
Throughout Grande Prairie, Dawson Creek, Peace River, Fort St. John, northern Alberta, and British Columbia, ultrasonic testing is commonly used on the following pieces of equipment:
- Pressure Vessels
- Process Lines
- Production Equipment (High-Pressure Flowlines and Swings)
- Wellhead Piping
- Pipelines
Ultrasonic Testing: By The Industry:
Due to its non-destructive nature, ultrasonic testing has the potential to benefit several industries. We have years of extensive experience performing non-destructive testing to the following industries:
- Oil & Gas
- Construction
- Forestry (Pulp & Paper)
- Nuclear
Shear Wave Inspection
Shear wave inspection (also known as angle beam inspection or flaw detection) is an ultrasonic testing technique. Generally, technicians use shear wave inspection to survey welds with precision.
Shear wave testing employs an ultrasonic transducer probe with a plastic or lucite wedge. This probe emits ultrasonic beams at an angle and, when moved back and forth, can detect discontinuities in the weld.
Since it’s a form of ultrasonic testing, technicians can readily perform shear wave testing on a larger variety of materials. Unlike radiography, shear wave inspection has no depth limitation and is able to accurately measure the length and depth of any potential defects.
Common equipment requiring shear wave inspection:
- Pressure Vessels
- Industrial Facilities
- Custom Fabrications
- Bridges
- Pipelines
- Lack of fusion
- Incomplete penetration
- Undercuts
- Hollow Bead, Porosity & Pinholes
- Tungsten or Slag Inclusion
- Burn Through or Icicles
- Internal Concavity
- Cracks
Lack of Fusion
Ultrasonic identifies where a material may be incompletely fused. As a lack of fusion results in a disconnect between the metal and the filler, these defects decrease the structural integrity of the material. Welds that aren’t completely fused present both a danger and cost-risk, causing companies to lose time, money, and possibly more.
Incomplete welds can be difficult to locate without ultrasonic or radiographic testing. Because they’re planar defects – it exists along a single plane or two-dimensionally – lack of fusion can go undetected in other inspection methods.
Incomplete Penetration
Ultrasonic testing can detect incomplete penetration. Incomplete penetration is poor adhesion of the weld to the parent material. This type of defect occurs when the weld bead does not start at the roof of the weld groove. Often, it’s a result of either poor welding techniques, improper weld design, or unsuitable weld conditions.
Incomplete penetration is a problematic defect as it allows a natural stress riser, which can form cracks. Ultrasonic testing identifies these incomplete penetrations to save your time and money from costly disruptions.
Undercuts
Undercuts in welding is the erosion of the base metal that occurs next to the weld. These undercuts, also known as internal or root undercuts, that occur when the weld fails to fill in the grooved area. These defects are costly and can cause decreases in productivity and speed.
Internal undercutting can be discovered through such non-destructive testing as ultrasonic or radiographic testing. Detecting these crater-like defects is vital to the efficiency of a pipeline. If found early, this detection can also prevent unnecessary, and costly, downtime.
Hollow Bead, Porosity & Pinholes
Ultrasonic testing, like radiographic testing, catches porosity, also known as hollow bead or pinholes, in a material. Porosity occurs when gas pores are found in a weld bead. This defect is caused by the absorption and then solidification of nitrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen into the weld metal.
Without detection, hollow bead or porosity can cause leaks, problems with flow rate, draughts, and excessive turbulence. Determining that porosity and pinholes exist in a material is the first step in preventing interruptions to regular workflow.
Tungsten or Slag Inclusion
Both slag and tungsten inclusions are easily detected by both ultrasonic and radiographic testing. These defects are caused by a material – in this case, either slag or tungsten – becoming caught and embedded in the weld.
A certain amount of slag and tungsten inclusions are acceptable, as long as they remain within code standards. Should these inclusions exceed the acceptable amount, the material is considered to be at risk of cracking or fracturing.
Our capable team remains up-to-date on the codes to ensure all equipment we test is within this acceptable amount.
Burn Through or Icicles
Burn through and icicles are both detectable with both ultrasonic and radiographic testing. Both these types of defects are caused by excessive penetration during the welding process. Burn through occurs when the metal melts from the root of the weld, while icicles occur due to fused weld metal droplets that extend beyond the weld root.
Burn through, if left undetected, can result in catastrophic leaks and material failure. As burn throughs lower the structural integrity of the material, the detection of this defect is vital to a safe and productive environment.
Left unfound, icicles increase the stress concentration on the material. Excessive amounts of icicles, if present, can indicate that the material needs to be replaced in order to prevent downtime.
Internal Concavity
Internal concavity, or suck back, are welds that have contracted into the weld root during the cooling process. These defects are easily detectable through ultrasonic or radiographic testing.
Internal concavity poses a danger as it reduces the strength of the weld. When present in materials on job sites, suck back can reduce productivity and result in needless and expensive downtime.
Cracks
Ultrasonic testing definitively detects the existence of internal cracking in your material.Radiographic testing is another viable testing method to discover internal cracks.
Cracks form a number of different ways. These cracks may be present as a result of welding errors. They may also be a result of the pressure the material is under, corrosion, or other reasons.
Cracks present a serious danger, as they can lead to leaks, breakages, and material failure. Understanding the types and severity of any cracks present in your equipment gives you the opportunity to avoid any catastrophic disaster or equipment failure.
Baseline Thickness Testing
At Anode NDT, we use well-maintained equipment to guarantee superior baseline thickness testing for our clients in Grande Prairie, Dawson Creek, Peace River, Fort St. John, and throughout northern Alberta and British Columbia.
Our staff maintains all Anode trucks with precise care. Each is up-to-date according to international non-destructive testing standards.
We use digital ‘A-Scan’ presentation flaw detectors for our ultrasonic sets. These devices maintain meticulous measurements, plus or minus 0.005”. All Anode NDT equipment remains calibrated to either meet or exceed procedures and code requirements.
At Anode NDT, we also use Integrity Plugz. Integrity Plugz are innovative access ports, allowing our technicians to safely access industrial equipment, including pipes, pressure vessels, and tanks. Our technicians easily install these plugs to prevent damage to tested assets.
Digital Reporting and CAD Report Archives
For all ultrasonic and radiographic testing, our technicians rely on digital reporting to provide same-day or next-day results. Once testing is complete, our technicians generate a digital report that includes an original CAD generated drawing of your equipment.
This drawing clearly marks all tested locations. Each report is easy-to-interpret for your ease. They’re also stored in our internal database, so your past reports can be accessed at any time.
Professionally Test and Evaluate the Integrity of Your Assets
Put your operation in the hands of our local professionals. Highly experienced in testing equipment in Grande Prairie, Dawson Creek, Peace River, Fort St. John, and throughout northern Alberta and British Columbia, our staff is fully certified and multi-ticketed for your ease of mind.
All our competent technicians remain up-to-date on the most current safety codes and are familiar with all industry-recommended practices.
We Meet and Exceed Safety and Code Compliances
Safety is paramount to Anode NDT. Our technicians and procedures both emphasize efficiency and safe work practices. This includes:
- All Anode NDT procedures are ABSA demonstrated.
- Procedures are also backed with CGSB / ASNT Level III certified support.
- We proudly hold ASNT Level II certification.
- Our in-house safety program is ISNetworld , ComplyWorks and COR compliant.
Call us today to discuss radiographic testing or other non-destructive testing options for your business in
Grande Prairie, Dawson Creek, Peace River, Fort St. John, and throughout northern Alberta and British Columbia.