Sample Remote Visual Testing Report:
Exchanger Tubes
Other applications such as process vessels, pressure safety valves, coating inspections, boilers, and rotating equipment can be found in their own sample reports. See the RVT Applications page.
Maverick RVT Department Summary
This report contains examples of the effective use of Remote Visual equipment. Although videoscopes have typically been employed for emergency diagnostics of problems, the real cost benefits of this type of inspection are found during scheduled shutdowns. Using the arsenal of RVI equipment now available to determine the necessity for disassembly, cleaning, or entry of plant equipment can streamline maintenance tasks and result in time and money being directed where it is most needed.
Remote Visual Inspection or Testing, also called Video Inspection, involves different sorts of probes, camera systems, scopes, robotics, and other devices to collect images from hard to access areas. Maverick Inspection uses non-contact measurement software, image capture devices, digital recording mediums, built-in line locators, retrieval tools, and other technologies to maximize the abilities of this equipment. We have rated explosion proof and intrinsically safe equipment, specialized tube inspection cameras, robotic pan/tilt/zoom cameras, and a wide range of custom built systems. Maverick owns enough equipment for almost all of the possible applications we come across, without the need to bring in outside equipment. This allows us to react quickly to emergency calls, and we do not have to transfer large rental costs to our clients.
Maverick Inspection pioneered Remote Visual Testing in Western Canada, and we have provided service for more than a decade and gathered a lot of experience. We grew as the demand grew, putting together an array of unique equipment to meet our clients' unique inspection needs. We offer complete inspection services, sales, and rentals of remote visual and equipment from videoscopes to robotics to fiberscopes. Our Remote Visual Department is complemented by Ground Penetrating Radar and Infrared Thermography.
You may contact us by EMAIL or phone (780) 467-1606 for more Remote Visual Testing information.
A videoscope is often used to look at exchanger tube sheets through small thread-o-lets to determine if disassembly or cleaning is required during a shutdown.
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This image shows heavy corrosion and wall loss noted on the inside diameter of a fin cooler tube. This image was taken using a high resolution 50 foot video system designed specifically for exchangers.
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Video scopes are excellent tools for probing the shellsides of exchangers for fouling, corrosion, or other concerns. This image shows the growth of bacteria on the shellside of a cooling water exchanger. This bacteria is associated with corrosion and wall loss.
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Videoscopes are a perfect tool for determining the cleanliness of overhead cooler tubes, assessing the need for or effectiveness of cleaning.
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Maverick regularily inspects cooler tubes with a videoscope to locate and identify tube failures.
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A high-resolution image and high-intensity lighting is required to detect dark, oily fouling on exchanger internals.
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During shutdown inspections, images are captured and stored showing the general condition of the equipment to be used as part of predictive maintenance and life assessments.
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The build-up inside exchanger tubes is often visible during tube sheet inspections, even though access is limited.
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This is a close-up view of ice and fouling in a condenser tube.
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This image shows deep pitting on the inside diameter of an exchanger tube. Using non-contact measurement software, Maverick is able to provide size measurements of features such as pitting.
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This image shows the inside of an exchanger tube after mechanical cleaning. Not all of the fouling has been removed by the process. The effective path of the mechanical cleaning is apparent by the "corkscrew" pattern down the tube. Maverick is often required to verify the effectiveness of cleaning procedures of tubes, piping, vessels, and other facility equipment.
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This image shows the build-up of deposits on the inside of a heat exchanger tube. Foreign material is also evident in the tube.
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Wall thinning led to this catastrophic failure of an exchanger tube. Remote visual probes provide a valuable video record of the appearance of a failure in its untampered state. This aids in root cause investigations, life assessments, and PdM program reviews.
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This is an image of a sales gas exchanger with cluster pitting from sour glycol. Using non-contact measurement software, Maverick is able to provide size measurements of features such as pitting.
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This image shows the outside diameter of a tube bundle. There is significant cluster pitting on the shellside of these tubes.
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This shellside view shows complete tube wall failure due to thinning.
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This image shows fouling on the inside diameter of a chiller tube.
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This image shows a completely plugged exchanger tube.
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This image shows corrosion on the inside diameter of stainless steel exchanger tubes. Using non-contact measurement software, Maverick is able to provide size measurements of features such as pitting.
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A waterproof camera with pan, tilt, and zoom abilities allowed a leaking tube to be identified as the shell side of an exchanger was filled with water.
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A videoscope is useful for performing shell side inspections on exhangers. This exchanger was completely fouled, severely limiting heat transfer.
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This image shows a flow rod in a corroded exchanger tube.
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A robotic pan and tilt camera with zoom capabilities provided complete coverage of the bottom tube sheet of this large vertical exchanger.
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This image shows erosion at the rolled end of a fin fan cooler tube.
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This image shows erosion of the tube internals near the tube sheet.
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This image shows erosion at the rolled end of an exchanger tube.
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This ruptured cooler tube was identified using a fifty foot videoscope.
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This image shows scaling and corrosion on the inside diameter of a cooler tube. Using non-contact measurement software, Maverick is able to provide size measurements of features such as scaling or pitting.
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This image shows heavy corrosion on the inside diameter of a cooler from an older sour gas plant.
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This image shows heavy build-up in the inside diameter of a cooler tube.
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This image shows fouling at the start of the tube in the header box.
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After the leak was located, Maverick used a videoscope to verify the cause of the failure. In this case, the tube had froze and burst.
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This image shows a shellside view of a severely ruptured exchanger tube.
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The shellside baffle is evident through the large hole in this exchanger tube.
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The loss of coating on this exchanger tube is evident using Mavericks Remote Video Testing equipment.
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Similar to the image above the loss of coating is recorded using the Remote Video equipment.
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The video clearly shows a rupture in the bottom right corner of the image. This rupture was caused by a mechanical device.
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In this exchanger hard deposits and fouling are clearly shown in the image.
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Due to wall thinning a crack has occured which can be seen in the bottom right corner.
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Other applications such as process vessels, pressure safety valves, coating inspections, boilers, and rotating equipment can be found in their own sample reports. See the RVT Applications page.
You may contact us by EMAIL or phone (780) 467-1606 for more Remote Visual Testing information.
