Some steps from Acoustic Emission testing (AT) during hydrotests till today AE Monitoring at TUV Austria

摘要

Since 1977 the TUV Austria has tested different pressure equipments with acoustic emission during hydrotests and later on during pneumatic loading (gas pressure tests). The aims for these tests have been different for various applications such as: first hydrotests, periodic inspection, leak detection and the detection and evaluation of corrosion. As examples for successful applications the following test objects shall be mentioned: -Gas storage spheres -Flat bottomed storage tanks (leakage and/or corrosion testing) -Steam drums (dryers) in paper mills -Leak detection with an acoustic pig At the beginning of this century based on potential of the new technology we started to perform the first test to use the potential of the AE-technology for permanent monitoring of different structures. This step will enlarge the application of AT within an "new" type of predictive maintenance and inspection technology, which will give us the opportunity to detect the defects on-time and perform the maintenance more cost effective only when it is necessary and not based on a time-span basis. This new concept of the on-coming application shall be presented on pressure equipments for the petrochemical industry and an EU-funded project for different transport products (like ships, trucks and railway cars). This concept will enlarge the safety and competitiveness of the industry. At the end the newest concepts of standardisation of AE within the European and International standardisation organisations shall be presented and discussed (CEN/TC138 WG7 and ISO/TC135 SC9).