TPT March 2009

T echnology U pdate

Chinese manufacturer of ERW/API tube and pipe mills

Magnetic Analysis Corporation, USA, has expanded its line of Echomac ® rotary ultrasonic test systems to handle 220mm diameter tube and pipe, often used for OCTG applications. Previous models handled up to 180mm diameter. Rotary ultrasonic systems have the advantage of allowing high throughput speeds combined with full body coverage. The 220mm Echomac seal-less rotary spins the UT transducers and water couplant at speeds up to 850rpm about the tube as it is fed through the test. The seal-less Shijiazhuang Zhongtai Company is one of the top manufacturers of ERW/API tube and pipe tube mills in China. Over the last decade, the company has focused on development and innovation in tube making technology. In China, the company launched the first manufacturing unit for special railway steel, the first production equipment for wide steel sheet, and the first multi-functional production line for welded pipe. In addition, the company has introduced China’s first ZTF forming production line, the first production line for direct-forming for square/ rectangle tube, and China’s first API steel pipe production line. Last year, Zhongtai signed a large contract with Hebei Wenfeng Iron & Steel Group, which involves the provision of a complete

production line for ERW steel pipe. This line can produce pipe of up to 355mm OD and is used in oil and gas transport lines. After installation, this line will provide great support to oil and gas transport across North China, where there is a

 Shijiazhuang Zhongtai is the manufacturer of ERW/API tube and pipe mills secured the company a dedicated customer base. Shijiazhuang Zhongtai Pipe Technology Development Co Ltd – China

newly discovered oil field near Bohai Sea. Zhongtai has exported tube mills to Middle East, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Africa. High-quality equipment, advanced tech- nology, and perfect after-sales service have

Fax : +86 311 8595 6358 Email : ztml@ztzg.com Website : www.ztzg.com

MAC introduces 220mm rotary ultrasonic tester

The 220mm system uses Echomac FD-4 instrumentation with 14 transducer channels to detect longitudinal, transverse, and known angle oblique defects, wall thickness, ID/OD measurement and variations such as ovality. Using FD-4’s EchoHunter ® software, each channel can be easily configured for any combination of thickness, dimensional measurement, and flaw detection. Features include simultaneous A-scan and strip chart display of all channels showing peak values of signals within each gate, and full network support for remote viewing and control. The flicker free A-scan captures non-repetitive events or flaws of short duration, even in very high speed UT scanning systems, typical of rotating transducer heads. A recent computer controlled Echomac 220mm UT system shipped to a tube mill in India includes controls for sorting, marking, and adjusting the automatic test bench and all test and mechanical components to allow for variations in speed. The system for India also includes Rotoflux ® transverse and longitudinal flux leakage tests that comply with API standards. Magnetic Analysis Corporation – USA Fax : +1 914 699 9837

design ensures minimum maintenance, and the shear wave transducer holders are designed to allow for easy and accurate reconfiguration for different diameter tube through a simple rotational adjustment of the transducer offset. The pulser electronics, located on the rotary, allow for very low noise signal processing as the transducer pulse and initial detection is accomplished close to the transducer. Following this, it goes through the rotary transformers to the Echomac FD-4 instrumentation.

 Magnetic Analysis Corp’s Echomac ® ultrasonic rotary inspection system designed for 220mm diameter tube. Pinch stands are used for driving and accurately positioning the tube are on either side of the UT rotary

Email : jgould@mac-ndt.com Website : www.mac-ndt.com

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M arch 2009

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