Helium leak testing is one of the oldest and most developed members of the family of trace-gas-based leak testing methods. Even though the title contains the word “helium,” this article is intended as an overview of trace gas methods in general.
Well-trained NDT technicians using the right combination of ultrasonic techniques can improve plant reliability and worker safety.
June 8, 2019
It’s been nine years since a heat exchanger burst at an oil refinery in Anacortes, WA, fatally injuring seven workers and bringing renewed attention to the risks of high-temperature hydrogen attack (HTHA).
Over the last 10 to 15 years, NDT methods have grown smarter and smarter. New methods have been developed and old methods have been improved. Some of today’s NDT is leaps and bounds ahead of where it used to be.
Long-time quality professionals agree: the industry is not the same as when they started. No longer are quality managers seen as the police officers of the plant, checking to make sure nothing has gone wrong.
For medical device manufacturers, having a product that functions as designed is critical, as a person’s health—or even their life—could be at risk. It’s one thing if my Alexa won’t respond to a voice command to remind me of a task, but it may be life threatening if my asthma inhaler won’t give me the medication I need when I’m struggling to breathe.
Not long ago, IT integration projects were an intimidating task due to the historic number of failed projects. This is not the case today because the technology exists and when combined with proper implementation they are very successful.
Nondestructive testing (NDT) is the most important industry you’ve never heard of. That’s how I typically start a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) demonstration.
Advancements in technology continue to enhance the capabilities of all areas of industrial quality and process control, and this is certainly the case within the various disciplines of nondestructive testing (NDT).
Using readily available tools such as graphs, tolerances, comments, and test criteria ensures that the required tensile information is on hand when needed.