Another area of Queensland Ship Surveyors is QSS ULTRASONICS
Apart from Marine Surveying, Graeme Normington uses the specialised testing equipment which enables him to fault find and diagnose without destructive and invasive means. The equipment utilises technology to detect airborne ultrasound.
The following tests can be conducted:
- Bearing Testing – High speed bearings and Low speed bearings
- Pressure Leak Detection
- Vacuum Leak Detection
- Valve leakage and bypass
- Hydraulic system fault detection
- Heat Exchanges and Condenser Leak detection
- Steam Trap and Valve Fault detection
- Transmission Fault detection
- Steam Pipe Leak detection
- Hatch and Door Leak Detection
- Cockpit & Window Leak Detection
- Underground Liquid and Air Leak Detection
- Electrical Corona, Arcing and Tracking Detection
BEARING TESTING – HIGH SPEED BEARINGS AND LOW SPEED BEARINGS
Ultrasonic inspection and monitoring of bearings is the most reliable method for detecting insipient bearing failure. Ultrasonic warnings appear before a temperature rise or increase in driving torque.
Ultrasonic inspection of bearings is useful in recognising:
- 1. The start of fatigue failure
- 2. Brinelling of bearing surfaces
- 3. Lack of or flooding of lubricant
PRESSURE LEAK DETECTION
Why do we check for leaks? Economics, Environment, Safety and Performance. Pressure leaks can occur on equipment such as high pressure or low pressure air lines, steam lines, pressure cylinders and liquid lines, etc. There are several factors that make a leak detectable using airborne/structure-borne ultrasound. Putting up with leaking systems can be costly to business as firstly, the system is inefficient and secondly extra energy is required to make up for the air or steam leaking through from the system.
VACUUM LEAK DETECTION
Vacuum leaks can be difficult to locate by conventional means. The use of ultrasonic airborne leak detection technology can be used to locate leaks in pressure systems regardless of the type of gas used. This especially beneficial in areas where there is a saturation of gases or where a wide variety of gases in pressurised vessels and vacuum processes exist.
Equipment may be tested on line. For example, a vacuum leak in a refrigeration system may be searched for and located without ceasing production or shutting down the system.
VALVES
There are a number of different valves used in various types of systems. These mechanical devices control flow or pressure in a pipe or between components of a machine. Essentially there are three groups of valves: flow control, pressure control, and fluid logic.
Valves typically operate two ways. They are either modulating or are an on/off design. On/Off valves are usually checked for position, open or closed, or for leakage in the closed position. The testing of a modulating valve is the same as an on/off valve to determine proper seating of the valve. However, we can also test a modulating valve during set up to ensure proper stroking of the valve which can be critical information in some applications.
HYDRAULIC SYSTEM FAULT DETECTION
Similar to Valves and other systems, by use of a contact probe, one can determine whether or not there is any hydraulic leakage or bypass through a valve or control system where leakage should not be occurring.
HEAT EXCHANGES AND CONDENSER LEAK DETECTION
Ultrasonic inspection of heat exchanges is not only fast and accurate, it is also quite simple. Heat exchanges may leak at various fittings, by the header(s), through the tubes, or even through the tube rolls.
STEAM TRAP AND VALVE FAULT DETECTION
Steam traps are manufactured by many different companies. There is predominantly four different designs of operation:
- 1. Mechanical
- 2. Thermodynamic
- 3. Thermostatic
- 4. Fixed orifice
Ultrasonic detectors are successfully used in many steam trap maintenance programs. Steam can escape from many areas in a typical steam system. Malfunctioning steam traps often over heat, undercook and exceed operating parameters, potentially shutting down production. A single failed steam trap may cost over $1000 per year in lost energy. Multiply this expense by the number of traps in the facility and you have an enormous expense.
