Eddy Current Testing

Eddy Current Testing of Metals

DEKRA performs Advanced Eddy Current Testing of materials using flaw detectors to detect defects in surface and tubing of Industrial equipment, constructions and pipelines.

About Eddy Current Testing

Eddy Current Testing (ET) is one of several advanced non-destructive testing (ANDT) methods that use the principal of electromagnetism as the basis for conducting examinations. Several other methods such as Remote Field Testing (RFT), Remote Flux Leakage (RFL) and Barkhausen Noise also use this same principle. DEKRA’s advanced non-destructive testing specialists possess the specific knowledge and experience needed to perform our eddy current testing services to a high level.
At DEKRA the two major applications of Eddy Current Testing are within surface and tubing inspections. The technique is very sensitive, can detect tight cracks and the inspection can be performed both on ferromagnetic and non-ferromagnetic materials. Eddy Current Testing is also used for sorting materials due to alloy and hardness. Our experts customize the test to each specific application using known samples that fully represent the test as it is affected by geometry, permeability and numerous other factors.
Eddy current coils can be manufactured in all sort of shapes and as a result the surface of very specific shapes can be inspected in a quick and effective way. It also enables very fast scanning, as it is very sensitive to small cracks and other defects.
Advanced Eddy Current Testing
Advanced Eddy Current Testing (ET) is a collection of eddy current testing methods that works with the same principles as basic eddy current testing. DEKRA includes tubing and array surface inspections within this portfolio, and our specialists possess a high level of experience in order to provide an accurate interpretation of the resulting data.
With eddy current testing tubing inspections all kind of bobbin configurations are needed, dependent on the task.
For the eddy current testing array inspection, specific channel multiplexing is achieved when groups of coils are excited at timed intervals to eliminate interference from mutual inductance. Allowing them to work together during the scanning means that wider inspection areas will be covered than with conventional eddy current testing probes. Coils are considered multiplexed when the active time interval of one or a combination of coils expires and the active time interval of other coils starts.
Eddy Current Testing at DEKRA offers a range of applications and advantages, including:
  • The complete tube length of pipe can be inspected
  • Several hundred tubes per shift and per eddy current system
  • Detection and separation of inside and outside defects
  • Evaluation of defect depth
  • Defect monitoring capabilities, based on the digital storage of the EC-signals
  • Eddy current array (ECA) testing can be used at all kind of surface configurations
DEKRA offers advanced eddy current testing services for:
  • Tubing inspections (with and without strategic partners, depending upon the task and the volume)
  • Surface inspections manufacturing
  • Surface In-service inspections, also additional to ultrasonic testing inspections to gain full volume coverage
Our advanced eddy current testing services are offered in the following industrial areas:
  • Oil & Gas
  • Power
  • Nuclear
  • Chemical
  • Manufacturing
  • Individual request