Power Plant
Reliability, availability and safety of power plants is a function of the effectiveness of the inspection regime. In the 21st century, acoustic emission technique has been effectively used in power plants in-service inspection in the developed countries with attendants increase in productivity/reliability, safety and cost effective.
The main application of AE in technology in power plants is online inspection/monitoring of
• Turbines
• Pressure vessels
• Deaerators
• Water walls
• Boilers headers/steam piping
• Transformers
Reinforced concrete/metal structures/foundation. Effective knowledge / experience of AE inspection projects in the Power Industry around the world validates that AE technology is improving operational safety, reducing maintenance costs and downtime and improving power supply. Plentiful validation tests done using other NDE methods and metallurgical investigations confirmed a high level of detectability and infallibility of the AE method.
AE inspections are performed during normal operation and this grants multiple advantages for this technology over other NDE methods. Unlike other methods, AE performs inspection over 100% of structure during operation, allows quantitative flaw monitoring over long periods of times and can be used to estimate flaw propagation rate. AE is not only used as a non-destructive test method, but it also assists to identify risk factors and operational/stress conditions contributing to origination and development of dangerous flaws. Plant operators can use this information to prevent or minimize operational risks.