The success of Luminant's non-destructive testing (NDT) program over the past 35 years is the result of our extremely talented employees and their trailblazing initiative to make it a successful program. Through new technologies in NDT, we've been able to prevent major equipment failures and future damages, while producing documented cost savings for the company.
WESTMINSTER, MD. - CTRL has been awarded a contract to test expanded usage of the UL101 on-board ship. The testing will be a collaborative effort between CTRL, Newport News, and NAVSEA and focuses on early detection utilizing ultrasound. The scope of work includes assessment and comparison of current methods to ultrasound, development of detailed procedures, and integration. The CTRL project was chosen from a pool of proposals by a panel for its benefits to current U.S. Naval Operations testing Ultrasound will be tested to improve safety and current diagnostic capabilities by the technician during deployment with minimal training. Ultrasound identifies problems in very early stages, requires less time, is non-intrusive, and provides the technician on-board ship with immediate information to be more proactive.
Introducing the SDT200, an ultrasound detector without compromise. From the moment you pick up the SDT200 and grip its robust chassis you know that SDT has not sacrificed quality for the sake of price. Now slip on the cushion comfort headphones and transport your senses to a world of crystal clear, high definiton ultrasonic enjoyment. Suddenly you realize that the SDT200 makes “the world of ultrasonic inspection” obtainable for every budget… without compromise.
For years, I have preached about trending motor bearing readings when using ultrasound. The most common practice is to acquire a baseline (db reading) and then follow-up at 90-, 60-, or 30-day intervals. I still recommend that you continue to trend your decibels on motor bearings.
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A half an hour long presentation by Paul Klimuc, Sales Manager, SDT Ultrasound Solutions
Ultrasound inspection is not new. In fact we've been using it for decades to find leaks; check bearings; inspect steam traps and electrical systems; and much more. In the past we came to depend on ultrasonic detection as an on-the-spot diagnostics and troubleshooting technology. Rarely was the data gathered for trending, alarming, or advanced diagnostics like it is today. Now modern ultrasound data collectors are really changing the game. We depend on them to provide real time condition based data to help us predict failures on most processes. Now we need ways to manage the data. "Anatomy of an Ultrasound Database" looks at the issues of proper database construction. Learn the dos and don'ts of building an asset library tree. Look at different ways to group assets into manageable half day or full day surveys. Observe how data is collected, transferred, trended, and alarmed in a planned survey. And then how to tie it together into a meaningful report that makes sense for multiple levels of management.
Knowledge represents power for the one. Sharing that knowledge empowers us all.
We were recently reminded of a quote from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes: "It is always dangerous to reason from insufficient data." In Part 3 of Establishing Ultrasound as a Pillar of Your CBM Program, we assert it is even more dangerous to reason from insufficient data that is poorly communicated.
Writing about ultrasound's role in helping industries operate "green," I am reminded of an article provided to Uptime Magazine in January/February 2009. The subject of that piece, "When Green is Good Business, Sustainability through Ultrasonic Energy Conservation" looked at the paradox of sustainability. The term sustainability was born of corporate social responsibility and the need for big business to be perceived as environmentally conscientious. Business was good. And so it was fashionable to invest in green programs. Reducing carbon footprint, conserving energy, and most importantly, painting a picture of responsible big business by putting the needs of the planet ahead of the needs of its shareholders' wallets were in vogue. Then it fell apart.
An hour long presentation by Adrian Messer, Manager of US Operations, UE Systems, Inc.
Airborne & Structure-borne ultrasound has evolved into a technology that many would consider to be the cornerstone of an effective maintenance & reliability program. From compressed air & gas leak detection, electrical inspection, and various mechanical inspections, ultrasound is truly a versatile tool for anyone's PdM "toolbox." One application in particular is condition based lubrication of rotating equipment. This webinar will demonstrate how ultrasound can be used to enhance current lubrication procedures, and how ultrasound assisted lubrication can reduce failures related to lubrication in rotating equipment.
I received an email from a reliability engineer and loyal subscriber to Uptime Magazine and the "Ultrasonic War Stories" newsletter. As an advocate of sound technologies, he knew I would be interested in some pictures regarding "sound collectors" that he found on the Internet titled, "Before Radar."
Sound collectors, such as sound mirrors and acoustic horns, were once used as an early warning system to detect approaching enemy aircraft. The mirrors were not parabolic, but actually spherical. Some were made of concrete, others spherical carvings cut from the side of a cliff or rock wall to collect sound. In Figure 1 (left to right), you have a rectangular 200-foot curved mirror, a 20-foot sound mirror and a 30-foot sound mirror. Note a vertical pole that held a microphone in the center of the sound mirror.
"There's lots of talk about the benefits of implementing CBM and the positive impact that condition monitoring technologies like ultrasound testing can have. It seems we all have a good grasp of what it is and why we need it. The ultimate challenge is to move from inception to launch stage. Show me HOW TO DO IT."
Recently, I traveled to Lihir Gold PNG, Ltd. (now Newcrest Gold), a mining operation on Lihir Island,to deliver my Ultrasound for Predictive Maintenance Level I Certification Class.
An hour long presentation by Thomas J. Murphy, SDT Ultrasound Solutions
This web workshop introduces Ultrasound as a pillar resource for establishing an effective CBM program. Learn why ultrasound is fast becoming the tool of choice for PdM and Reliability Managers as a first defense against unplanned downtime. Discover how to create and implement an ultrasound inspection program, identify key strengths and potential weaknesses.
This article is the second in a series of four. The first article provided a summary of how the vibration patterns change as the bearing fails. After very briefly recapping the basics, this article will discuss the detection and analysis tools that can be used to determine the nature and severity of the bearing fault: ultrasound, Shock Pulse, PeakVue, enveloping, and spectrum and time waveform analysis.
SDT International, (Brussels, Belgium) SDT International proudly announced that Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance awarded their manufacturing facility ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management System Standards. “This long awaited award reinforces our reputation amongst our peers and our customers that SDT’s commitment to manufacture high quality measurement instruments and software is stronger than ever”, stated Andre Degraeve, Managing Director of SDT International.
A four part presentation by Tom Murphy, SDT Ultrasound Solutions. Originally filmed at the CBM2011 Condition Based Monitoring Conference at the Reliability Performance Institute in Fort Myers, Florida.
In a world full of acronyms and buzzwords it is all too easy to forget the real meaning and purpose of our Condition Based Maintenance (CBM) journey. This half day short course is designed to help maintenance establish Ultrasound Testing as a pillar of your CBM program. The course will refocus the principle goals of your program by identifying what to do (and not do) first, why to do it, and most importantly, how to do it.
CorDEX Instruments, a specialist in intrinsically safe and explosion-proof instruments for non-destructive testing (NDT), introduces the UT5000 with CorDEX CONNECTTM, the first intrinsically safe handheld ultrasonic tester to deliver a comprehensive preventative maintenance system for pipelines and similar hazardous environments.
Did you know that leakage in compressed air distribution systems is common? In fact, in most compressed air systems, losses due to leakage exceed 30%. Very few users realize how costly this leakage can be.
Princeton Junction, NJ - March 7, 2011 - MISTRAS Group, Inc.‘s (NYSE: MG) Acoustic Leak Detection Device has been approved for use in meeting the EPA’s Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Rule 40 CFR Part 98. The Mandatory Report Rule (MMR) requires entities in the oil and gas industry exceeding certain emissions thresholds to monitor and report their greenhouse gas emissions to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).