Evaluation, Reporting and Trending of Ultrasonic Thickness

Results From Evaluating and Trending Recovery Boiler UT Data

After fifteen years of analyzing the UT data from more than 390 recovery boiler inspections we have learned that, on the average, 25% of the UT readings for a given boiler inspection are inconsistent or inaccurate. This means the UT readings do not “make sense”. example, the UT readings have a significant difference in thickness even though they came from the same section of the boiler during the same inspection. Another example, is the tube getting thicker over time. This finding does not mean UT data is of no use. It simply points out that the utilization of UT in the field, is not as accurate as industrial America has been led to believe. (Cher, use this shaded area for a pull quote)