Keeping the balance of production and maintenance is never an easy task, especially when it comes to hazardous environments. Here is our latest addition to Cygnus’ diverse UT range: a fantastic new accessory expanding the applications of the Cygnus 1 Ex Ultrasonic Thickness Gage. The new Cygnus High-Temperature Ex Transducer, like the Ex gage, is certified for use in all hazardous areas: Zone 0, 1 and 2. Coupled with the Ex gage, the equipment can measure wall thickness, corrosion or erosion of hot assets in-service across oil and gas, refining, energy, and process sectors.
On-stream inspection (OSI)
Developed with Ionix® Advanced Technologies, this twin-element, 5.0 MHz ultrasonic transducer measures the remaining wall thickness range from 2.5 mm to 50 mm, depending on the temperature and material. It has great wear resistance, allowing for continuous contact time on hot surfaces up to 300°C without the need for plant shutdown or isolation.
The best thing is…
No cooling period is required! This significantly reduces inspection time, eliminating any need for breaks in the testing schedule, which in turn facilitates more effective measurement and efficient testing operation.
Where can it be used?
The ATEX, IECEx and UKEX certificates permit the equipment to operate in Zone 0, 1 and 2 explosive atmospheres (also known as hazardous areas). These are locations where there are risks of fire or explosion due to the presence of ignitable or flammable substances in the air. These substances such as gases and vapours are present in the air, at concentrations high enough to produce an ignitable mixture. These areas as listed below, and often processing plants on the whole, contain multiple hot assets that require regular inspection:
- Chemical Plants
- Power Plants
- Petrochemical Refineries
- Processing Plants
- Oil and Gas Refineries.
For enhanced protection and durability, a special transducer cable wrapped in a glass-fibre outer braid has been designed for use with the High-Temperature Ex Transducer. The transducer and transducer cable are sold separately to enable lower replacement costs.