GE Announces First Phased Array Corrosion Inspection Solution

Billerica, MA, USA —September 14, 2009 —The new Phasor CV/DM from GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies is the first phased array inspection device for corrosion spot identification in the marketplace. Corrosion spots are small, isolated areas where corrosion has reduced a pipe’s wall thickness and can compromise its ability to safely hold pressure and its contents.

Part of GE’s field-proven phased array family, the Phasor CV/DM provides extensive inspection coverage with every scan, and even the smallest corrosion pit can be identified, measured and evaluated. Concurrently, inspection times are significantly reduced. The Phasor CV/DM has application in the oil and gas, process, aerospace, power generation and general engineering sectors.

“Corrosion spots are difficult to locate because they are very small and, using other inspection methods, are easily missed, just like looking for a needle in a haystack,” says Patrik Rooman, Product General Manager for Ultrasound at GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies. “With the phased array technology, multiple ultrasonic beams are extended to provide more quality data to identify potential corrosion spots.”

GE’s Phasor DM software comprehensively displays inspection data, optimizing the potential of the specially developed multi-element phased array probe. The probe has 28 adjacent and discrete elements to allow extensive linear coverage, while the software allows the user to select and display thickness measurement in each discrete beam, the minimum thickness in a current view and the minimum thickness recorded during a current scan since the last time the instrument was reset. There is also the ability to freeze a topview inspection image, similar to a conventional C-scan, and an A-scan is provided to confirm the readings in a traditional format. All data captured by the instrument can be downloaded by SD card in jpg format for subsequent analysis and printing. The instrument’s onboard memory is sufficient to store the data of a meter scan.

The Phasor instrument platform offers the familiar features of its sister GE portable flaw detectors, such as thumbwheel controls and function buttons. It is sealed to IP65 for operation in the most hostile environments and weighs less than 10 lbs (4.4kg) for ease of carrying. Its long-life battery can be re-charged on board and its large display screen allows superior image viewability in all conditions.

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