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Inside this Issue: |
September
2007 |
- Case
Studies and User Tips
- Avoiding
a Transformer Outage at Gerdau Ameristeel
- Equipment Tip - Shielding
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- Archived
i-presentations for FREE download
- Level 1 Training
Chicago, IL
- Win a
Conference Pass and Air Fare to IMC2007, Daytona Beach,
FL Dec 7th 2007
|
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Send us
your case studies and user tips |
Allan Rienstra, Editor
The Ultrawave Technology Report
 |
There are more
certified ultrasound inspectors then ever walking the plant
floor listening to the magic sounds that exist above our
human hearing range. This year alone SDT has produced over
350 ASNT Level 1 certified inspectors. With so many of you
out there finding small problems before they become big
problems I suspect there are a few good case studies just
waiting to be shared.
Just a few weeks
ago I was contacted by the SDT representative for
Kentucky/Tennessee. Dennis Mullins called me up to see if I
could help his ultrasound customer interpret some sound
files captured with his SDT170 during a routine combination
Infrared/Ultrasound scan of some heavy duty step down
transformers. The IR pictures came back with no fault found
but ultrasound scans revealed some corona activity, and
worse... baby tracking.
When I
received the files we went straight to work to help guide
the customer towards an educated diagnosis. We turned this
analysis into a pretty interesting case study which is
discussed further along in this newsletter.
Do you have
interesting stories about inspections conducted at your
plant that you would like us to share with the ultrasound
community at large? Send me an
email and let's get the ball rolling. |
|
New i-Presentation:
"Avoiding Transformer Outage at Gerdau Ameristeel" |
Choose the right technologies to inspect
transformers for faults like tracking, arcing,
and corona and make more successful diagnosis
and fewer missed calls. Successful diagnoses may
go unrewarded but missed calls always require a
scapegoat and a review of test procedures. This
presentation illustrates a successful diagnosis
of a transformer failure caught at an early
stage and the proactive maintenance done to keep
the equipment in service. Skip Young of Gerdau
Ameristeel shared the infrared and ultrasound
scan data for this success story. This
presentation provides priceless information to
be applied at any facility. It demonstrates how
relying on a single inspection technology is
never as effective as combining multiple tools
to arrive at a consensus diagnosis. In this case
ultrasound helped reveal an electrical fault
that was at an early, but potentially dangerous
stage.
Click here to download the PowerPoint
Presentation (32 mbs)
|
Thermal
images alone don't always tell the whole story. This
image shows a transformer with no apparent hot spots
but a concurrent ultrasound scan revealed some
corona discharge and baby tracking events |
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Equipment
Tip - Distance and Attenuation |
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Attenuation is an important concept to understand
when recording ultrasound files for future analysis
in the time or spectrum domain. When a problem is
found, and fixed, its good to capture before and
after sound files so the results of the maintenance
can be compared in AVM Ultranalysis, or other signal
analysis software.
For
electrical inspections of substations, transformers,
and T&D lines where the sound wave file is captured
through the air medium its important to pay
attention to the distance between the detector's
sensor and the inspection point. If the before
signal is captured at a distance of 35 yards, but
the after signal is recorded at a distance 45 yards,
the time wave comparison of the two signals will not
be apples to apples. This is solely a result of
sound attenuation which is even greater when
capturing low energy ultrasound pressure waves. Air
as the medium of transfer for the sound pressure
waves suppresses ultrasound so the signal travels
short distances but is extremely directional.
A
second factor to consider for electrical inspections
is the relative humidity. More humid days tend to
intensify corona activity. |
Pay
attention to the distance between sensor and object
if comparative sound files are being taking before
and after maintenance
 |
|
Level 1
Training - Chicago, IL - November 13-15, 2007 |
|
Join our fast
growing list of Level 1 Certified Ultrasound Inspectors and
receive 1.8 Continuing Education Units from ASNT. Those who
complete our training write back to tell us about the many
wins made with their new borne ultrasound program
Our next
class is filling fast. Don't miss the final class to be
offered in Chicago in 2007. Click on the Register button to
request more details.
 |
7800 Kingery
Hwy
Willowbrook
Illinois, 60527
Phone:
630-325-6400
Fax:
630-855-8587
SDT
Corporate Rate: 109.00/night **
Reserve
prior to Oct 23, 2007
|
Do you have what it takes to
become a
Bionic Tradesman? |
|
IMC2007
Giveaway - Free Conference Pass, Round Trip Airfare and
Hotel Stay |
 Join
SDT for the premier ultrasonic learning event of the year
with a grand opening at the IMC-2007 Welcome Reception
beginning at 4 pm Wednesday December 5.
The SDT Ultrasound Learning Lab will also be in full
operation all day on Thursday December 6 and Friday December
7 till 1 pm. All IMC-2007 attendees are welcome to
participate for as little as 15 minutes or as much as
camping out for the entire 3 days!
The state of the
art Ultrasound Learning Lab includes four interactive
workstations where
visitors will experience hands-on:
-
Compressed air leak detection
- Bearing
condition monitoring
- AVM
Ultranalysis and wave file management - you can even
make MP3s to store on your iPod!
- Acoustic
lubrication of motor bearings
- Valve
and steam trap trouble shooting
-
Electrical fault inspections
- And
more.
Click here to find out how you can win
one of two Free
Trips to participate in the SDT and ALL TEST Pro Learning
Labs at IMC-2007 - including Round Trip Airfare (From USA
and Canada only), Airport Transportation, Hotel and Two day
IMC-2007 Pass. |
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We take
your privacy seriously |
|
The Ultrawave
Technology Report is published regularly by SDT North
America and is intended to provide information to anyone
with an interest in this technology about current and future
events. If you have questions about this email or the
format in which its received please contact Allan Rienstra.
If you do not wish to receive these updates you can request
removal from the list at anytime by sending an email to
allan@sdtnorthamerica.com.
You can also
reach us by telephone at (905) 377-1313 (International) or
1-800-667-5325 (USA & Canada)
SDT North America, PO Box 682, Cobourg, ON - K9A 4R5 |
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