PULSE EDDY CURRENT

TESTING

Participant Manual

SKILL GROUP
MATERIAL ENGINEERING &
ISSUE DATE
INSPECTION
15
29 Nov 2004
Level
PROGRAMME ID
VERSION
3
1.0
All RIGHTS RESERVED
This material may not be reproduced in whole or part without written permission from
PETRONAS Management Training Sdn. Bhd.

Pulse Eddy Current

TABLE OF CONTENT
Page
1.0

Introduction.........................................................................................................1
Figure 1: RTD-INCOTEST by RTD....................................................................1

2.0

Principle of Pulse Eddy Current (PEC) Testing..................................................1

3.0

Probes and Typical Interpretation.......................................................................2

Figure 2: Typical Probe Orientation....................................................................3
Figure 3: Difference between average and minimum wall thickness.................3
Figure 4: Typical inspection results showing difference in thickness measured.
............................................................................................................................4

4.0

Applications of Pulse Eddy current (PEC) Testing.............................................4

Figure 5: Inspection of corrosion in concrete covered support legs of spherical
storage tanks......................................................................................................5
Figure 6: Underwater inspection of sheet piling in port structures through
marine growth.....................................................................................................5

5.0

Advantages of Pulse Eddy Current (PEC) Testing.............................................6

6.0

Limitations of Pulse Eddy Current (PEC) Testing...............................................6

Pulse Eddy Current

PULSE EDDY CURRENT (PEC) TESTING
1.0Introduction
Pulse Eddy Current (PEC) Testing is an electromagnetic technique for measuring the
thickness of steel objects, such as pipes and vessels as well as inspection for
corrosion under insulation. It uses a probe that generates a pulsed electric current
into the test material and the reflected signals obtained by sensors provide depth
information of the test material as well as the presence of defects such as corrosion
under insulation. Generally PEC is used for detection of general wall losses and not
isolated pitting defects as the measurements obtained from test are all relative and
not absolute values. An example of PEC testing equipment is the RTD-INCOTEST
by RTD shown in Figure 1. The use of it allows ferrous pipes and vessels to be
inspected without removal of its thermal insulation.

Figure 1: RTD-INCOTEST by RTD

2.0Principle of Pulse Eddy Current (PEC) Testing
Pulse Eddy Current (PEC) excites the probe's driving coil with a repetitive broadband
pulse, such as a square wave. The resulting transient current through the coil
induces transient eddy currents in the test piece, associated with highly attenuated
magnetic pulses propagating through the material. At each probe location, a series of
voltage-time data pairs are produced as the induced field decays, analogous to
ultrasonic inspection data.
Since a broad frequency spectrum is produced in one pulse, the reflected signal
contains depth information of the material. Physically, the pulse is broadened and
delayed as it travels deeper into the highly dispersive material. Therefore, flaws or
other anomalies close to the surface will affect the eddy current response earlier in
time than deep flaws.

Institut Teknologi Petroleum PETRONAS (INSTEP)

Pulse Eddy Current

The currents are detected by a receiving probe located either adjacent to or on the
opposite side of the metal sample from the exciting probe when access is possible.
The range of propagated frequencies depends on the logarithmic decrement of the
exciting circuit, and because the speed of the waves is a function of frequency,
dispersion takes place and the pulse changes in shape as it progresses through the
metal. As one would expect, the height of the peak and its time delay can be related
to the thickness of the metal.
To improve the strength and ease interpretation of the signal, a reference signal is
usually collected to which all other signals are compared. Flaws, conductivity, and
dimensional changes produce a change in the signal and a difference between the
reference signal and the measurement signal that is displayed. The distance of the
flaw and other features relative to the probe will cause the signal to shift in time.
Therefore, time gating techniques can be used to gain information about the depth of
a feature of interest.
The frequency content of the pulses depends on their lengths, and in the extreme
contains continuous spectra ranging from less than 100 Hz to 1 or 2 kHz. By
performing a Fourier transformation, the pulse obtained by the receiving probe can
be displayed in the form of the variation of amplitude (or phase) with frequency. By
sampling different delay times within a pulse, different parts of the spectrum can be
evaluated. If both amplitude and phase are measured, two parameters (i.e. presence
of defects, variations in tube thickness, and changes in fill-factor or liftoff) although,
at present, with a lower degree of precision. PEC is a relative measurement and
gives values in percentage of a calibrated measurement.
3.0 Probes and Typical Interpretation
The applied operating principle of pulsed eddy currents can vary from system to
system. In the under mentioned, the system uses a patented algorithm that relates
the diffusive behaviour in time to the material properties and the wall thickness to
obtain a quantitative reading for wall thickness. It operates on low alloy carbon steel
A probe is used to establish a pulsed magnetic field that penetrates through any nonmagnetic material in between the probe and the object under inspection. This
varying magnetic field will induce eddy currents at the surface of the object.
The diffusive behaviour of these eddy currents is related to the material properties
and the wall thickness of the object. Figure 2 is a typical illustration of a probe and its
orientation.
The eddy current signal is processed and compared to a reference signal. This
eliminates the material properties and a reading for the average wall thickness within
magnetic field area results. The signal can be logged and retrieved for later
comparison in a monitoring approach. The digitally stored data and the
measurement approach in which by standard one signal is compared to another
makes the technique suitable for monitoring.
Institut Teknologi Petroleum PETRONAS (INSTEP)

Pulse Eddy Current

Figure 2: Typical Probe Orientation

The area over which a measurement is taken is referred to as footprint. Probe design
is such that the magnetic field focuses to a minimal area at the surface of the object.
The result of the measurement is a reading of the average wall thickness over this
footprint area.
The size of this area is dependent on the insulation and object thickness, as well as
the probe design. Roughly, the footprint can be considered to be in the order of the
insulation thickness. Due to the averaging effect, detection of highly localised defects
types like pitting is not reliable with this tool.
This averaging effect as illustrated in Figure 3 shows the difference between average
and minimum wall thickness within a footprint area and a typical inspection result is
shown in Figure 4.

Figure 3: Difference between average and minimum wall thickness.

Institut Teknologi Petroleum PETRONAS (INSTEP)

Pulse Eddy Current

Figure 4: Typical inspection results showing difference in thickness measured.

4.0Applications of Pulse Eddy current (PEC) Testing
The applications of Pulse Eddy Current Testing are mainly for the inspection of
corrosion in materials under insulation such as:
Objects that are covered with fire proofing insulating materials such as skirts of
process columns and the supports of spherical tanks, without the removal of
these non-magnetic and non-conducting protection. (Figure 5)
Port structures, namely bank-protections, ports and waterworks in areas with soft
soil, consisting of steel sheet pilings. This can be done above or under water
as PEC is able to penetrate marine growth and dirt. (Figure 6)
Coated objects, namely pipelines covered in bitumen, polyethylene or epoxy that
are transporting gas and sailing ships covered in several layers of epoxy
coating.
In-service corrosion monitoring of industrial piping due to the high repeatability of
results and ability to work at elevated temperatures.

Institut Teknologi Petroleum PETRONAS (INSTEP)

Pulse Eddy Current

Figure 5: Inspection of corrosion in concrete covered support legs of spherical

storage tanks.

Figure 6: Underwater inspection of sheet piling in port structures through

marine growth.

Institut Teknologi Petroleum PETRONAS (INSTEP)

Pulse Eddy Current

5.0Advantages of Pulse Eddy Current (PEC) Testing

Has a large penetration depth, and is relatively insensitive to lift-off. Thus can be
used in inspection for deep lying sub surface defects.
No need for direct contact and hence, wall thickness can be measured through
any material that does not conduct electricity.
No sample preparations needed as no direct contact is needed. Therefore there
is no need to remove coatings, dirt or any corrosion products for up to 20mm
thickness. Hence reducing cost of inspection.
Operates at a wide temperature range from 100C to 550C. This allows tests to
be carried out on plants that are in service and does not reduce productivity
while inspections are being carried out.
Very good reproducibility of readings at the same locations with accuracy up to
0.05mm. This makes PEC very suitable for corrosion monitoring.
Inspection instrument can be operated by remote control, e.g. for the use in
Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs). This allows testing to be carried out in
areas that are difficult to reach, for example, underwater testing.

6.0 Limitations of Pulse Eddy Current (PEC) Testing

Only applicable to carbon steel and low-alloy steel materials. Therefore has a
lack of versatility is its use.
Not suitable for detecting isolated pitting defects as it integrates over a relatively
large foot print. Thus is only suitable for inspection of general wall losses.
The followings are physical limitations and requirements during the inspection
Pipe diameter > 4"
Nominal wall thickness 6 mm and < 65 mm
Insulation thickness 200 mm
Sheeting thickness 1 mm stainless steel, aluminum
Object temperature -100C~ +300C
PEC wall thickness readings are only relative values, showing variations in wall
thickness on the object being inspected. Absolute readings can only be
obtained by a wall thickness calibration at one point of the object.
PEC wall thickness readings depend on the electromagnetic properties of the
material. Variations in material properties within one object will result in
spurious variations in PEC wall thickness readings of typically 10%.
The geometry of the test object should be simple: e.g. straight sections of pipe
work. This is due to PEC not being able to inspect for corrosion under
insulation in objects that are under stream tracing, near supports or in sharp
bends.

Institut Teknologi Petroleum PETRONAS (INSTEP)