Successful installations of GE ultrasonic tube testing machines in China

A testing machine from GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies

Over the past few years, GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies has supplied more than 20 automated ultrasonic tube testing machines to major pipe mills in China. These machines are integrated into customers’ production lines and are used to test a wide range of seamless tubes.

These extend from small diameter, cold finished tubes for power plants, to large diameter, large wall thickness, hot finished tubes for application in oil country tubular goods (OCTG).

The tube testing machines supplied have featured various scanning principles. These include rotary heads with rotating probes and linearly transported pipe; stationary probe tanks and helically transported pipe; and stationary rotating tubes with probe holders travelling along the pipe length.

Typical inspection tasks have been the detection of longitudinal and transverse flaws, with the option for oblique flaw orientations and lamination type flaws. Thickness and diameter measurement can also be performed within the testing machines, most of which are equipped with conventional probes, although some have phased array probes and corresponding multi-channel electronics.

In addition to its range of ultrasonic testing machines for seamless pipes, GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies also supplies ultrasonic testing machines for welded pipes (ERW and SAW).

GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies is a leading innovator in advanced measurement, sensor-based and inspection solutions that deliver accuracy, productivity and safety to customers in a wide range of industries, including oil and gas, power generation, aerospace, transportation and healthcare. The business is part of GE Energy Services and has more than 40 facilities in 25 countries worldwide.

PUBLISHED: 29 Jul 10

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