Lyft Pulsed Eddy Current – The Perfect Tool For CUI
Corrosion under Insulation (CUI) has long been a thorn in the side of any industry that uses insulated steel equipment.
It’s a pervasive problem, impossible to prevent and hard to detect, and has provided inspection technicians and the manufacturers of non-destructive testing equipment with huge challenges over the years.
When Pulsed Eddy Current (PEC) technology was developed several decades ago, it transformed the screening process for corrosion-related applications and CUI in particular because it enabled corrosion to be detected in pipes and vessels without requiring the insulating material to be removed.
In simple terms, PEC allows the thickness of the conductive component (ie the metal piping) to be measured through the insulation or cladding by way of electromagnetic induction, However, the technology does have substantial limitations. It’s not always accurate, it relies on the abilities of the user and it’s limited to static measurements. Until now that is.
The new high-performance Lyft Pulsed Eddy Current solution from Eddyfi is a real game-changer in the fight against CUI.
This highly advanced piece of equipment has a host of technological innovations which set it apart from other PEC tools, notably in terms of the speed that it gathers data, its efficiencies and in the quality of the information it is able to obtain.
In contrast to other current PEC instruments which can only take static, grid measurements, the Lyft has dynamic scanning capabilities. This means that enables can literally halve the amount of time needed to set up an inspection, which is a huge advantage given that set-up can account for around half the total inspection time.
To set up the system, the Dynamic Scanning Mode enables users to simply trace (and record) parallel lines as the guide for the encoded probe measurements instead of having to painstakingly trace grids on the components. The increased resolution of this dynamic mode also enables far greater insights when it comes to inspecting hard-to-reach places where CUI is common, such as around nozzles and pipe saddles.
Another advantage of the Eddyfi Lyft system is that it uses advanced software with automatic algorithms which reduce operator-dependence and minimise the risk of the conductive coverings adversely affecting the quality and accuracy of the inspection results. Its smart filtering techniques also help speed up the time required for the acquisition of data.
In a nutshell, the Lyft system is the perfect tool for CUI because:
- Set up is faster and simpler
- It enables data to be acquired much more quickly
- It delivers higher resolution images
- It provides greater insights and therefore better identification of CUI, especially in hard-to-reach areas
- It can scan through thick metal and as well as aluminium, stainless steel and galvanized steel weather jackets
- It’s lightweight, portable and durable
- It’s user-friendly
The Eddyfi Lyft PEC has a definite edge when it comes to inspections for corrosion under insulation and offers several improvements over existing techniques.
If you think your operation could benefit from this innovative system, please get in touch with our experienced and professional team. We have extensive experience with this advanced yet surprisingly affordable device and have sold and leased many solutions into process facilities across Australia with excellent results – and we look forward to being of help to you too.
