impulse
November 2014
‘Meeting challenges... safely’
Be the best WORKING TOGETHER FOR SAFETY
Safety – A Metaphor of Operational Excellence
KEY ROLE FOR APPLUS RTD ROPE ACCESS CENTRAL (UK)
The Queensferry Crossing
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
New support facilities in Norway
Colophon
Welcome to issue number 16 of Impulse. In this number, as usual we focus on the expertise and prblem solving activities of our specialist teams all over the world. Importantly too, we highlight the recent third Applus RTD Global Safety Day. Using the theme of ‘Working together for Safety’ it confirmed the organization’s focus on the value of being safety conscious in all that we do. Other articles focus on global activities and developments (like the new RTD Plant Master monitoring system), as well as recent awards for outstanding achievements. Maybe you also have ‘a tale to tell’ and would like to share your experiences with our many global readers? If you do, just contact your local Applus RTD representative, or the Impulse Editorial Team. We look forward to hearing from you.
For further information on any of the articles, please contact the Editorial team. We will arrange for you to receive that information via the author of the article. Other questions, comments and suggestions should be sent to:
T +31 10 716 61 13 F +31 10 716 63 73 impulse@applusrtd.com www.ApplusRTD.com
Care has been taken to ensure that all information contained in Impulse is correct and up-to-date. However, Applus RTD accepts no liability for any inaccuracies or changes to published material.
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Be the Best Be Interested Be Valuable Be Open Our values represent who we are today and who we aspire to be
Anouska Kroon Company Journalist
Impulse Editorial Team Applus RTD Postbus 491 2900AL Capelle aan den IJssel, The Netherlands
Be Responsible
Index
4
NOVEMBER | 2014
6
10
12
OOKING TO THE FUTURE L New support The Queensferry facilities in Crossing Norway
WORKING TOGETHER FOR SAFETY
KEY ROLE FOR APPLUS RTD ROPE ACCESS CENTRAL (UK)
Safety – A Metaphor of Operational Excellence
→ 10
→4 ADVANCED NDT AND SUBSEA INSPECTION
A new team Down Under! →6 DEMO AT RANGE RESOURCES
Innovative technologies on show
16
MEMORIAL CONSERVATION
Remembering Iwo Jima → 12
→ 16 WORLD PORT DAYS IN ROTTERDAM
Spreading knowledge → 19
PROFESSIONAL RECRUITMENT WEBSITE FOR NEW TALENT
Success brings its own challenges → 14
→9
RTD PLANT MASTER
Enhancing asset integrity through Plant Master monitoring → 20
A NEW FACE FOR
APPLUS RTD
ESSO TURNAROUND 2013
FUTURE CHALLENGES
CERTIFICATION
ESSO EXCELLENCE
NEW REGIONAL
KEY RECOGNITION
AWARD 2013
DIRECTOR FOR REGION
→ 15
→ 18
WESTERN EUROPE (WEUR) →8
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WORKING TOGETHER FOR SAFETY
Safety – A Metaph Operational Excelle On 9th October 2014 Applus RTD organized its third Global Safety Day. The theme for 2014 is ‘Working together for Safety’. Why… and how do we at Applus RTD approach this key subject?
The two previous versions of this worldwide event focused heavily on the importance of performing (last minute) risk assessments and the importance of having effective communications about safety. These themes were mainly aimed at improving safety management at the frontline of our operations. The theme for 2014 is ‘Working together for Safety’.
Meeting challenges… safely The frontline employees of Applus RTD are sometimes confronted with very challenging situations when it comes to getting safe access to, and egress from, objects that need to be tested or inspected. They heavily depend on the support of others, and in particular those who are involved in the bidding and planning stages of NDT projects. These individuals have to think about and prepare for these challenging situations to ensure that our employees are not faced with a fait accompli which might force them to use their ‘stop work authority’, thus causing undesired and costly delays. We have to make sure that in every project the safety hazards and risks are considered at the earliest and every subsequent stage. Because everybody has a role to play in this vital focus on safety, the theme has been selected… “Working together for Safety”. ↑ Poster Safety Day
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hor of ence Better safety means a better performance Good safety management is key to a better overall performance of projects. If for example, during the bidding stage we agree with the client on the necessary arrangements for the safe performance of the project and who is responsible for which arrangement, we can avoid extra cost, delays and other quality issues later on. If during the planning stage all involved are informed about the safety hazards and agree on the controls that need to be implemented to manage the associated risks, NDT testing can be performed both safely and efficiently. Needless to say, at the worksite during the execution stage, our teams still need to stay vigilant and look out for any unexpected hazardous situations. Finally it is vital to learn and improve from our experiences in the evaluation stage.
What applies to safety management, applies equally to quality management and in the end to business management as a whole. In other words… safety can be regarded as a metaphor of operational excellence.
Looking to the future This is the first year that Safety Day is organized in all Applus Divisions, and not just Applus RTD. Our colleagues have recognized the value of having a special day devoted to Safety and adopted our theme. And we are confident that in the future all will strongly benefit from the co-operation between the different divisions of Applus. It helps too, if people from different national and organizational cultures think independently about the same theme. While the implementation of different creative ideas will help to improve our safety and overall performance.
↑ Because everybody has a role to
play in this vital focus on safety, the theme has been selected ‘Working together for Safety’
Richard van Sonsbeek Divisional HSQE Manager Applus RTD
Working together for Safety ↑ Richard van Sonsbeek
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ADVANCED NDT AND SUBSEA INSPECTION
A new team Down Under! Applus RTD Australia has recently announced a further expansion of its specialized NDT capabilities with a re-energized and dedicated team... Advanced NDT & Subsea Inspection. This new facility is designed to support global subsea operations from its local Applus RTD Perth base. Partnership... the way forward For some 15 years, the Advanced NDT Group has been providing a range of subsea inspection services which have been supported by the company's Applications and Technology Center Perth. With continuing growth in the global market however, the need for subsea inspection activities combined with asset integrity management has grown too. This has led to the creation of a dedicated division focused on this critical
area for inspection services... Advanced NDT & Subsea Inspection. Key to the success of this new operation is the way inspection technologies can be used with deployment vehicles and working together with colleagues in the USA, Applus RTD is currently exploring options for partners, while searching for ways to develop a greater share of what is an important developing area of activity.
Expansion and development plans for 2014 will include responsibilities for: Design and development • Mechatronics • Interfacing and integration of equipment, modules and Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) deployment • Subsea advanced inspection methods • Technical support (Procedure, Level 3 Consultancy) • Diver and ROV deployment tools • Qualification and validation (code compliant inspection methods) for reliable inspection results • Project management
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Increasing the range of advanced inspection engineering for underwater applications • Pipeline thickness analysis without the need to remove coatings • Full inspection of subsea welds, including discontinuities, anomalies, cracking, and weld corrosion • Analysis of external surface discontinuities • Splash zone inspections • Engineering solutions for underwater inspection equipment • Subsea camera and image systems – both off-the-shelf and custom built
Existing subsea technology • ToFD (Time of Flight Diffraction) • Ultrasonic C-scan Mapping • RTD INCOTEST (Pulsed Eddy Current) • Riser and caisson inspections • Phased array • External ring scanners/internal plug scanners • Vision systems
‘This particularly challenging project was carried out in several hundred locations over a 9 kilometre length of subsea pipeline.’
↑ Perth | Subsea inspection →
The success of the new Advanced NDT and Subsea Division's capabilities can be clearly demonstrated by case studies on two challenging projects: RTD INCOTEST... 500 meters subsea in the Gulf of Mexico Applus RTD has recently completed a subsea inspection operation using RTD INCOTEST in the Conger and Penn State deep fields in the Gulf of Mexico, USA. The purpose of the inspection was to test for evidence of corrosion under marine growth plus external coating and internal wall loss at selected locations on a 13.5 kilometre subsea flow line. This involved inspection of the various flow lines connecting subsea wells, manifolds and risers in a complex network. The inspection took equipment down to depths of up to 500 meters (1650 feet) below sea level, and as such utilized a third party ROV to deploy the specialized subsea RTD INCOTEST equipment which had been developed by the Australianbased Applus RTD Advanced NDT and Subsea Division team. RTD INCOTEST has the distinct advantage over other NDT techniques in that the inspection could be performed without the need to remove any protective coating from the pipework.
To ensure that the RTD INCOTEST equipment would integrate with the ROV once offshore, an integration test was performed at the NASA Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory in Houston. This provided an exceptional opportunity to ensure a seamless integration between RTD INCOTEST equipment and the ROV, and to make certain that the project could be completed within the designated time frame and without incident. The inspection operation was a great success - it was completed on schedule and within budget.
The RTD INCOTEST inspection was performed in-service, on 8” and 10”diameter pipelines and pigging loops located in the Subsea Field in Equatorial Guinea, West Africa. The inspection was carried out using a third party ROV, and was intended to detect evidence of corrosion on the pipelines with insulation and external cladding up to 60mm thick. The original scope of the work was extended to cover various jumper line intersections, and the complete project which was carried out in water 800 metres deep (2640 feet), was a success and delivered valuable data and inspection results.
RTD INCOTEST... 800 meters subsea in Equatorial Guinea, West Africa This particularly challenging project was carried out by ROV-deployed RTD INCOTEST facilities in several hundred locations over a 9 kilometre length of subsea pipeline. Most of the lines were in places that proved difficult to access, as well as being insulated by a covering of marine growth. RTD INCOTEST proved to be the ideal solution for inspection requirements as it allowed testing of thickness profiles of the lines, bends and valve arrangements. impulse impuls I
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| A NEW FACE FOR FUTURE CHALLENGES |
New Regional Director for Region Western Europe (WEUR) Applus RTD has recently welcomed Sytze Voulon as the new Regional Director for the Region Western Europe. He succeeds the Interim Director Dirk van der Put and will be responsible for the operations of Applus RTD Netherlands, France, Denmark and Norway. Dirk van der Put will resume his responsibilities as Controller. Sytze Voulon has extensive experience and expertise in the fields of industrial equipment and also the maritime industry. He has worked with concerns including Rolls Royce, Stork Technical Services and Imtec in positions such as Marketing & Sales Director and Regional Director. He is ambitious and looking forward to applying his considerable
background and experience, to the benefit of Applus RTD’s clients while helping to further develop sustainable relationships. The appointment of Sytze Voulon as the new Regional Director for Western Europe is anticipated as strongly supporting Applus RTD in its aims for developing a clear insight of clients’ installations and activities.
Extensive knowledge and experience ↑ Sytze Voulon
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DEMO AT RANGE RESOURCES
Innovative technologies on show The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania based Range Resources is one of the leading oil and gas companies in the Marcellus and Utica Formations, and they recently invited the Applus RTD East team to demonstrate a range of innovative technologies and advanced services.
Currently, their operations with Applus RTD largely comprise NDT (conventional RT and UT) at well pads and compressor stations. Several months ago, the Range Resources team were introduced to some of Applus RTD’s advanced services and the positive response led to a demonstration being arranged.
Advanced services At the Range Resources demonstration, which was also attended by a number of invited local oil and gas engineering companies including EQT, MarkWest, and Consol. A number of advanced services were demonstrated and discussed.
These included Computed Radiography (CRT), phased array and INCOTEST. Applus RTD also provided geo-related demonstrations for pipeline investigations. These included Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and seismic refraction. In addition a number of 30-minute detailed technical presentations on CRT and GPR were made.
A VERY WORTHWHILE DAY… As Program Manager of Shale Development, Martin Derby stated
“All in all, it was a great day for demonstrating our advanced services to the Range team. The well attended event provided the Range engineers and managers (and others) with hands-on demonstrations of our advanced services and capabilities”.
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‘The longest three tower cable stayed bridge in the world and by far the largest to feature cables which cross span’
Forth Crossing Artists impression ↑
KEY ROLE FOR APPLUS RTD ROPE ACCESS CENTRAL (UK)
The Queensferry Crossing The Queensferry Crossing is being built alongside the existing Forth Road Bridge and will be a spectacular new road bridge in Scotland. Becoming one of the biggest road bridges in the United Kingdom it will develop into a globally unique bridge which forms the centre piece of a major upgrade to the important cross – Forth transport corridor in the east of Scotland. Rope Access Central (UK) has landed a major role working on the steel delivery phase on this project. The 1.7 mile structure will be the longest three tower cable stayed bridge in the world and by far the largest to feature cables which cross span. The towers will reach over 200m high, approximately 25% higher than the towers on the Forth Road Bridge. Constructing such towers demands teamwork with a great deal of grit, persistence and skill from those involved.
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Over 28,000 tonnes of steel is being delivered on huge 250 meter long ships signalling the start of a major new phase in the project. The sheer scale of the operation has become very clear with the tower structures and the v-shaped viaduct piers visibly rising from the Forth for all to see.
250 tonnes and will be used to construct a considerable bulk of the bridge including; the foundation caissons, the bridge deck and viaduct structures, the vehicle restraint systems, the stay cables and the anchor boxes which will be used to connect the towers to the bridge deck.
Steel has been used in bridge construction for over 150 years and is the leading construction material in the world. Each steel deck unit weighs
Each steel deck unit weighs 250 tonnes and are used to construct the drivable deck surface of the bridge. This deck is supported by the 200m high towers
along with embedded anchor boxes and stay cables. The deck sections will connect with land via the north and south viaduct structures. These steel deck units will carry 4 lanes of traffic which will be protected by vehicle restraint systems and will be guarded from the wind by a specially design wind screen system. Our Rope Access team are providing their expertise in a range of industrial services including access solutions, mechanical cutting, grinding, rigging of the bridge sections to the heavy lift crane assembly ready for removal from the ship and burning of sea fixings. The first phase shipment docked into Rosyth port on a strict seven day timescale with no room for delays.
Our experienced rope access team worked round the clock to ensure that the shipment was successfully brought safely onto the dockside within the very tight timescale required by our client. The activities in the Rosyth port provide a major logistical challenge (similar to a giant, three dimensional game of chess). All sections of steel have to be moved about and stored in the correct order for transportation to allow assembly in the required sequence. To ensure the continuing success of this project the coordination both on and off site is carried out with precision and in a timely manner. It is testament to all Applus RTD employees involved that due to their hard work and effort the project has gone without a hitch.
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MEMORIAL CONSERVATION
In February 1945, after a long and hard fought battle, the US Marines secured the strategic Pacific island of Iwo Jima and raised their flags on Mount Suribachi. The second, and larger of the two flags, later became a part of an iconic photographic image captured by Pulitzer Prize winner Joe Rosenthal.
This was subsequently immortalized in a Memorial for the Martine Corps by sculptor, Feliz de Weldon. The Memorial, which was created in 1952, is located at the US Marines Parris Island Recruit Depot, SC and due to its age, plus where it stands beside the ocean, consequent degradation demanded a condition assessment.
Applus RTD’s associate company JANX was requested by the United States Marine Corps (USMC) to deploy sophisticated NonDestructive Evaluation (NDE) techniques to provide a comprehensive analysis of the condition of the Memorial. ↘
Remembering Iwo Jima Careful assessment leading to successful solutions Before any decisions as to how the task could be optimally solved, questions had to be answered. What was the material type and thickness? What were the manufacturing processes involved? Was there adequate accessibility to carry out testing operations? The historical importance of the memorial was such that the JANX East Coast General Manager Jim Barrett was not prepared to take any chances. Following extensive assessment, it was decided to utilize a combination of NDE methods which included Computerized Radiography (CR) and 3D Laser Scanning. This approach would enable both visual images with measurements of the internal rebar to assess corrosion, as well as provide 3D reverse engineering capabilities should repairs to the memorial be required. A final deliverable was then requested with the disposition of a memorial status which included the conservation approach as well as repair costs etc.. The unique challenge of the task demanded that JANX should work in partnership with the specialist Terre Mare Conservation organization.
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LEST WE EVER FORGET For JANX, the opportunity to carry out the inspection of the Iwo Jima Memorial was a truly exciting experience and during the work, JANX specialists were able to meet marines from a number of different generations. For those serving in 1945 in particular, the Memorial today represents a piece of history that should never be forgotten.
← J AN X-ray services have performed Computed Radiography (CR) on the Iwo Jima Memorial located at the USMC Recruit Depot - Parris Island, SC. The intention of performing the CR was to locate armature/rebar which serves as the infrastructure and assess the condition.
Computerized Radiography… the first task In order to generate optimal images, JANX specialists selected Iridium-192 Gamma Radiation, which enabled source and phosphorous imaging plates for the capture of energy. The approximate source strength was 92 Ci. From around 100 CR images, plus the results of various Radiographic (RT) techniques, the desired image quality was achieved. The ranges from source to object distances were between 24”and 82”. The various distances are due to geometry, thickness ranges and accessibility of the features in question. Measurement functions with material data, were then performed on relevant CR images (not all of them).
equipment from Creaform plus technical engineers to complete the 3D scanning for the project. The results of the work indicated that there were areas of concern, but that these could be remedied without too much trouble.
‘A piece of history that should never be forgotten’
3D Laser Scanning… the second task To enable the desired results, the Iwo Jima Memorial was scanned with both a 3D long range Scanner and a Handy Scan 700. The files generated were provided in .stp format and made accessible via AutoCAD for engineering purposes. To carry out this work, JANX made use of
↑ The Iwo Jima Memorial was scanned with two 3D laser scanners; a long-range Scanner and the HandyScan 700.
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PROFESSIONAL RECRUITMENT WEBSITE FOR NEW TALENT
Success brings its own challenges In recent years, thanks to a committed policy of always striving to deliver the best, in terms of service and solutions, Applus RTD has expanded its global organization through a process of careful staff selection and acquisition. Today, the need for more specialists to serve our clients is growing and the company has recently announced a recruitment program aimed at finding a further 500 people who will take Applus RTD forward to meet the challenges that lie ahead.
Recruitment project The search for additional technical support is a global activity with a main focus in our key growth areas. To find and employ the additional 500 specialists, HRM together with Global Recruitment has set up a special project with an
international project team from multiple disciplines. This team has already successfully implemented an applicant tracking tool together with a fitting induction program to introduce all new employees to Applus RTD.
A professional recruitment website is also being established which will make job applications with Applus RTD more attractive. To find out more, check out our new recruitment website:
http://applusrtd.recruitmentplatform.com
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| APPLUS RTD CERTIFICATION |
Key recognition
Applus RTD is proud to be able to announce that its division Applus RTD Certification has been notified by the Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment and European Commission for: • Conformity assessment of pressure equipment according to PED Module A1 (which in the new PED is Module A2) • Approval of permanent joining personnel This recognition, which has been registered in the NANDO-database as NB2556, means that there are now two valuable support services in the Applus
RTD portfolio. Most importantly, with this first notification the company has become a Notified Body for Pressure Equipment.
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The Applus RTD Demo Truck at the very successful ONS exhibition in Stavanger ↑
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
New support facilities in Norway As part of its goal to become the largest inspection company in Norway with by 2017, some 400 employees, Applus RTD is opening up a base in Straume, Bergen in October 2014. Already a global leader in the provision of integrity technology services, this new facility will enhance the company’s capabilities for providing non-destructive testing (NDT) services in the region. Vital client support The new base, comprising an office and test facility, will initially be staffed by 24 specialists. Further growth plans will be covered by recruiting local personnel. Serving the local market – both onshore and offshore – the new Bergen
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operation offers in-house and on-site NDT, metallurgic field work plus a range of inspection services including rig, paint, derrick and hull inspection. At the opening of the new operation, the Applus RTD Demo Truck was present and provided clients with a good opportunity
to become more familiar with the expertise and facilities available. As Applus RTD’s Norway Manager, Erik Bjorheim states “It was an obvious step for us to create a strategic growth plan for Norway, in order to meet the demand for our services, and underline our
Projects offshore To date, the company has been involved in a number of Norwegian projects including carrying out vital NDT work at the Vigra Spoolbase, using Applus RTD radiographic pipeline technology… RTD Rayscan. In addition to Rayscan, Applus RTD is also developing a number of revolutionary technologies to drive improved reliability and efficiency throughout the testing process. Rayscan has in fact, recently been shown at the ONS exhibition in Stavanger, along with RTD IWEX (Inverse Wave Field Extrapolation) and the RTD Plant Master (see special RTD Plant Master article elsewhere in this issue of Impulse).
Rayscan ↓
‘The new headquarters will feature a test facility’ commitment to the Norwegian energy sector. With the new Bergen office we will now be able to provide on-site support for our existing client base”.
A focus on growth “The organic growth of the company will continue throughout next year as we also plan to open up a base in Hammerfest next February, followed by our headquarters in Stavanger next summer. The new headquarters will feature a test facility and offshore department designed to support our operations in the Norwegian North Sea”.
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| ESSO TURNAROUND 2013 |
Esso Excellence Award 2013 Recognition for safety and performance
For its outstanding performance during the Esso Turnaround 2013 the efforts of the Applus RTD team has been recognized by the company’s prestigious Excellence Award. For Esso to remain optimally operational during this critical turnaround period, it requires suppliers and support services to demonstrate knowledge, specialist skills and an ability to work as a team. Out of a total of 80 contractors involved, just 8 have been awarded ‘A’ status and Applus RTD is proud to have been one of them.
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The Applus RTD Demo Truck on the World Port Days ↑
WORLD PORT DAYS IN ROTTERDAM
Spreading knowledge The Applus RTD Demo Truck was recently seen on the World Port Days in September. This is a very large event held in and around one of the largest Harbours of the World: Rotterdam. On the first day of the three day event Applus RTD specialists had the opportunity to transfer some of their knowledge and expertise to a range of students from high schools in the region. As well as demonstration, the event gave Applus RTD the opportunity to tell the visitors more about the company’s services and organization.
Making a good impression A number of demonstrations of Applus RTD’s advanced techniques made a big impression on the visitors from the Demo Truck. These included the IWEX, P-scan and Thermography camera. Needless to say, following the demonstrations to the students on Friday it was interesting to get an impression of how things were received… so a quiz was organized for them. It turned out that the female students had paid the most attention, and had the most correct answers!
On the more serious side, the event also provided the opportunity to see what chances there might be for the possible recruitment of tomorrow’s talent. Throughout the weekend there were high levels of interest for our company from a variety of target groups including ex-colleagues, those who were seeking jobs, students and other professionals from the business. No less than 20 worthwhile potential colleagues registered their interest at the Demo Truck, and these will most certainly be followed up.
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RTD PLANT MASTER
Enhancing asset integrity through Plant Master monitoring For operators of offshore platforms, refineries, chemical plants and power plants, for decades a major concern has been the successful management and safeguarding of the integrity of their assets. To ensure this integrity is achieved in the most cost effective and safe manner for both upstream and downstream facilities, NDT inspections are often carried out using an RBI (Risk Based Inspection) approach. Now, that inspection performance can be further enhanced using Applus RTD’s RTD Plant Master system… a permanently installed monitoring system that utilizes ultrasound technology.
First assess the challenge Paul Deckers, Product Manager RTD Plant Master explains… “In some situations, components are inaccessible to NDT technicians due to the extremely high or low temperatures experienced in operation. This can require a shutdown prior to performing inspection. In addition, components may also require special arrangements to be made to enable inspection like the provision of scaffolding, or the removal of insulation… and this usually means additional high costs”. “During inspection, by definition manual measurements are inconsistent with the variations depending upon the skill of the individual technician, the inspection technique used, and thye difficulty in
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determining the correct spot to measure. All of which makes finding correlations between process changes and erosion patterns extremely difficult”.
RTD Plant Master… the costeffective and reliable answer To optimally resolve those issues which might present problems during inspection, Applus RTD has invested heavily in the research and development of the RTD Plant Master permanently installed monitoring system. In operation, RTD Plant Master employs high temperature piezo-ceramics. Sensors are applied to ultra-thin foils which results in flexible ultrasonic transducers which can be permanently
dry-coupled directly to the surface of a component. The transducers are then used for single-point pulse echo measurements of the component’s wall thickness. Thanks to a remarkably small footprint of just 1”x 1” a higher density of sensors can be achieved when compared to other available solutions. Its low profile of only 12mm also means the probes can be easily placed under insulation, while dry-coupling of the sensors removes the need for couplants, adhesives or welding. Up to 64 sensors can be connected to a single controller (or mote). This provides a high level of coverage of a single component and/or the ability to monitor multiple components. Each sensor provides repeatable and highly accurate
RTD Plant Master… the cost-effective and reliable answer
←↑ RTD Plant Master
measurements of the wall thickness, with a resolution of 0.1mm or better. In addition, the sensors are capable of providing optimum performance for many years, at temperatures of up to 250º C/480º F. Versatility of the RTD Plant Master is further enhanced as probes can be clamped in a variety of configurations for straight pipes, elbows, headers, large diameters and flat surfaces. In addition, up to 100 controllers can be managed by
a single gateway, using a flexible and secure wireless connection. This removes the need for a hard-wired network. Each controller can also act as a range extender thereby greatly increasing the operating area. The controllers are fully self-contained and battery powered. This gives a life of minimum 5 years maintenance-free operation. They are also intrinsically safe and ATEX Zone 0 certified, with FTM certification pending.
RTD Plant Master… the solution with user benefits For operators, RTD Plant Master delivers an impressive range of user benefits. It enables installations to be monitored remotely without the need to periodically transport NDT engineers to the location… thereby reducing risks and costs. Monitoring can also be done in critical areas, which means necessary maintenance can be postponed and downtime is minimized.
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→ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21
Further important benefits with RTD Plant Master include the ability to increase control by monitoring key areas and making any necessary adjustments to the production process, in real time. Mandatory inspections can also be performed without the need for costly scaffolding, rope access or the removal of insulation on things like vessels and columns. Performing mandatory inspections in this way means that the risk from aspects such as tank tops and acidic vapours for NDT inspectors is also reduced.
The user benefits The user benefits with the RTD Plant Master now mean that it provides a permanent monitoring system which can supplement manual NDT inspection of components, thereby greatly enhancing a user’s ability to manage the integrity of his assets, increase efficiency and reduce both costs and risk.
ISO 9001 certification and beyond The IS Team behind the introduction of the RTD Plant Master is proud to have achieved the recognition of the award of an ISO 9001:2008 (Phase 1 and Phase 2) audit from Dekra. The purpose of the audit was to verify the effectiveness of the implementation of the Quality Management System of the Team based on the ISO 9001 standard. During the audit, no non-conformities were reported and based upon the results the Certification Manager will be advised by the auditor that an ISO 9001 certificate should be granted to the Plant Master IS Team. This is seen as the first step on the way towards achieving both ATEX and FM certification for the RTD Plant Master. The next milestone for the Team will be the ISO 80079 phase 1 audit covering essential requirements of the ATEX directive. This would be followed by the Phase 2 audit. The Team is confident that these goals will be achieved, thus completing the quality part of ATEX certification.
RTD Plant Master; the costeffective and reliable answer →
‘An impressive range of user benefits’ ‘A life of minimum 5 years maintenance-free operation’ 22 impulse I 16-2014
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