EDDY CURRENT SPECIFICATION SPECIFICATION

1. Scope:

This standard is applicable to eddy current testing of inconel tubes.

This size of tubes covered is upto a diameter of ¾” (19 mm ) and wall
thickness upto 2 mms. The conductivity of the material will be 1.76%
IACS ± 10 %.

2. Principles of Test:

2.1 The test is conducted using one of three general techniques shown in
Fig .1. One of these techniques employs one or more exciter and
sensor coils which encircle the pipe or tube and through which the
tubular product to be inspected is passed. Some circuit configurations
employ separate exciter and sensor coils; whereas other
configurations employ one or more coils that concurrently function as
both exciters and sensors. Alternating current passes through the
exciting coil which by reason of its proximity induces current in the
tubular product. The sensor coil detects the resultant electromagnetic
flux related to these currents. The Presence of discontinuities in the
tubular product will affect the normal flow of currents and this
change is detected by the The sensor. encircling coil technique is
capable of inspecting the entire 360 º expanse of the tubular product.

2.2 Another technique employs a probe coil with one or more exciters
and sensors which is brought in close proximity of the surface of the
tubular product to be inspected. Since the probe is generally small
and does not encircle the article being inspected , it inspects only a
limited area in the vicinity of the probe. If it is desired to inspect the
entire volume of the tubular product or the probe.

2.3 This method is similar to 2.1 above except bobbin type coils will be
used for sensing eddy current changes. The self comparison type
differential arrangement of coils should also be possible to use.

2.4 Changes in electromagnetic response caused by the presence of

discontinuities are detected by the sensor, amplified and modified in
order to actuate audio or visual indicating devices, or both, or a
 mechanical marker. Signals can be caused by outer surface, inner
surface, or subsurface discontinuities. The eddy current test is
sensitive to many factors that occur as a result of processing (such as
variations in conductivity, chemical composition, permeability, and
geometry) as well as other test factors not related to the tubing. Thus,
all received indications are not necessarily indicative of defective
tubing.

3. Apparatus

3.1Electronic Apparatus – The electronic apparatus shall be capable of

energizing the test coils or probes with alternating currents of suitable
frequencies and shall be capable of sensing the changes in the
electromagnetic response of the sensor. Equipment may include a
detector, phase discriminator, filter circuits, modulation circuits,
recorders, oscilloscopes and signaling devices.

3.2The test coils of all of the three types, i.e. encircling, bobbin and
probe type should be capable of inducing eddy currents in the tube
and detect the changes in eddy current.

3.3Drive Mechanism – A mechanical device capable of passing the tube

through the test coil or past the probe. It shall operate at a uniform
speed with minimum vibration of coil, probe, register or concentricity
with the probe or test coil. Where required, the mechanism shall be
capable of uniformly rotating the tube or probe.

3.4Reference Standard I – The standard used to adjust the sensitivity

setting of the apparatus shall be sound and the of the same nominal
alloy, temper, and nominal dimensions as the lot of tubes or pipes to
be tested on a production basis. It shall be of sufficient length to
permit the required spacing of the artificial discontinuities (at least 4 ft
(1.22 m), and preferably longer). Artificial discontinuities made in
the tube shall be centered as nearly as possible on outside diameter
surface of the tube and shall be of one of the following types:

(a) 3 holes of 0.3mm dia through wall

(b) V notches 0.1mm depth and 25mm long along the length 3 Nos.

Reference Standard II – This also will be made from tbe as per

Reference Standard I. But will have artificial defects of Flat Bottom
 Holes of depth 20%, 40%, 60% and 80% of wall thickness from
outside, and a through wall hole of 0.8mm dia.

3.5The configuration, orientation and dimensions (diameter of holes and

the width, length and depth of notches) of the artificial discontinuities
to be used for establishing acceptance limits should be subject to
agreement between supplier and purchaser.

4. Procedure:

All the tubes will be tested with encircling coils as per following
procedure

4.1 Calibrate the testing apparatus at the start of the test run using the
reference standard. Recalibrate atleast once every hour of continuous
operation or whenever improper functioning of the apparatus is
suspected. If improper functioning is found, recalibrate the apparatus
and retest and the pipes tested during the period since the last.

4.2 Pass the lot of tubes or pipes to be tested through the test coil of the
apparatus adjusted to the sensitivity as described in Section 5. Set
aside tubes or pipes with discontinuities indicated by the apparatus. It
is recommended that tubes with discontinuity indications are
reexamined or retested in accordance with this specification.

4.3 Tubes or pipes may be tested in the final drawn, annealed, heat
treated, as-welded, or other step in processing. The point in
processing at which inspection is made should be agreed upon by the
supplier and the purchaser. The tubes should be free of any substance
that may interfere with the test.

5. Tubes gain of the equipment is adjusted such that the artificial defects
of Reference Standard 1 gives a signal of 50% of screen height in
oscilloscope or 50% of the meter scale. The alarm operations and
markers will be adjusted to mark the tubes at the location of
imperfection giving an indication of more than reference defect.

6. Reexamination: The tubes rejected as per 4.2 will be reexamined with

the bobbin coils and probe coils. With bobbin coils the equipment
will be calibrated by using reference standard II. The equivalent wall
thinning of defect in tube will be worked out and if wall thinning is
less than 60% of wall thickness, it will further be examined by probe
coil to pin point the defect. If no opening on the surface is found, the
tube will be accepted. All other tubes will be rejected.

Note: The frequency selection in the test is such that in case of

encircling coil testing gives almost identical response for defect from
O.D. or I.D. while in case of bobbin coil testing the phase angle
spread for defect is 90 degree and it is possible to identify the nature
of defect.
1 The specification is applicable for tubes of material
a. stainless steel
b. inconel
c. inconel 600
d. inconel 800.

2 The tube with following dimension can be tested as per specification.

a. 25 mm OD * 2.5 mm WT
b. 15 mm OD * 1.5 mm WT
c. 1/2" OD * 0.049 “ WT
d. Both A & C
e. Both B & C

3 Frequency for encircling coil is to be selected so to have :

a. best signal to noise ratio.
b. Almost identical response for O.D and I.D defects.
c. Lowest gain satting.
d. Phase angle spread of 900

4 The tube which do not meet requirement at first inspection are tested
with
a. Encircling coil
b. Bobbin coil & probe coil
c. Encircling coil & Bobbin coil
d. A & B

5 The reference standard is passed through test set up

a. every one hour
b. every shift
c. every four hour
d. once only

6 The reference standard I will contain artificial defect of

a. through wall holes
b. Notches
c. A & B
d. A or B

7 The reference standard II contains artificial defects

a. drilled from OD
b. drilled from ID
c. drilled from OD and ID
d. None of above
8 Any tube that gives an indication corresponding more than 50% of
screen height in scope is
a. accepted
b. rejected
c. reexamined
d. reworked

9 Any tube which does not have any surface opening marks on OD and
is giving an indication more than 50% on screen mark will be
a. accepted
b. rejected
c. reexamined
d. No sufficient data to decide

10 The tubes are tested in …………. Condition

a. Final drawn
b. Final annealed
c. As welded
d. As agreed upon by supplier and purchaser
e. Not specified.

11 This standard is applicable for

a. absolute probes
b. Feed through probe
c. Bobbin probe
d. All
e. None

12 Electronic equipment needed contain

a. Detector
b. Display device
c. Frequency selective circuits to remove unwanted frequency
d. All
e. None

13 Referrence standard should have

a. same material
b. same dia
c. same length
d. a& b
e. b & c

14 Length of the reference std can be

a. Should be minimum 4 feet
b. Maximum 4 feet
c. Same length the actual test piece
 d. All
e. None

15 Frequency selection for the bobbin coil should be such that

a. 3ρ / t ²
b. 3µ/ρ t ²
c. ID and OD response
d. None

Q.NO. ANSWER
1 B
2 D
3 B
4 B
5 A
6 D
7 A
8 C
9 C
10 D
11 D
12 D
13 D
14 A
15 A