Innovations in Inspection Techniques for Damage Detection in High Temperature Plants

Abstract Over the years ETD has been engaged in developing new and novel inspection and monitoring techniques for power and process plants. This has become more challenging in the current environment with the introduction of new high Cr martensitic steels such as ASME P91 and P92 resulting in new and more challenging damage type that are sometime difficult to detect by the traditional NDE techniques such as replication and PAUT. This paper will discuss two of the recent developments in this area. These include the development of: portable Scanning Force Microscope (SFM) for on-site use in the detection of early-stage creep cavitation damage in high Cr martensitic steels and for in-situ Gama prime inspection in gas turbines blades; EDSE -a portable spark erosion machine that can be used for ‘boat sampling’ in confined spaces and most difficult locations. Other techniques recently developed include: MAGSCAN an electromagnetic scanning tool for quick scanning of P91/P92 components for aberrant microstructures; Potential Drop Monitoring of vulnerable high bends and welds for creep damage development, and ‘Smart Sleeve’ - a portable on-site ‘precision’ hardness tester. However, these techniques will not be discussed here.