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Contact us

Contact us

info@vermeerreliability.com

+32 (0)475 65 96 07

Stuyfbergen 13
9220 Hamme
België

Ultrasound can detect certain mechanical and electrical faults by sensing subtle changes in ultrasonic amplitude, ultrasound is excellent for finding early stage premature bearing faults, air and gas leaks, lubrication problems, steam traps, valve passing and ‘tightness test’.

While ultrasound allows early determination of asset health condition for accurate analysis and detection of faults, it is essential that the surveying equipment is being operated by a trained engineer who is not only certified to carry out ultrasound assessments but also has applicable experience of various asset types.

Big savings can be achieved by detecting air or gas leaks and it can be used as an entry level of condition monitoring. Ultrasound is very effective for measuring bearings quickly.

Ultrasound airborne – Leak Management

Ultrasound is an essential part of a proactive reliability as it can reduce or eliminate wasted compressed air through leak detection and repair.

What Are Ultrasound Airborne Leak Detection Surveys?

Ultrasound Airborne Leak Detection Surveys cover a wide range of leaks: pressure or vacuum of any type of gas. Sound dependent, ultrasound instruments detect the turbulent flow produced as the fluid (liquid or gas) moves from the high-pressure side to the low-pressure side of a leak. Ultrasound leak inspection is especially beneficial in areas where there is a saturation of gases or where a wide variety of gases, pressurized vessels and vacuum processes exist. For this reason, ultrasound leak detection is used in many facilities for safety, environmental, energy or quality assurance programs.

We can provide Airborne Leak Detection Surveys to identify the compressed air or gas leaks at your plant. The survey includes detailed reporting to help you repair each leak, which will save a lot of money in energy consumption.

Ultrasound can also be used to secure the ‘tightness’ of vessels, tubes, pipes, heat exchangers, hatches, automobiles, aircraft. If water of air pressure is not an option. We use a ultrasound ‘tone generator’ and search for defects. 

Valve passing is also detectable trough ultrasound. Ultrasound detects turbulent flow. The production and amount of turbulence is affected by viscosity and differential pressure. There needs to be sufficient turbulence in order to determine flow direction, partial blockage or bypassing valves. The best method is called the ‘A, B, C, D & sometimes E’ method. 

 

Ultrasound Lubrication

Vermeer Reliability can provide Ultrasound Lubrication, a Preventive Maintenance (PM) service, to assure proper lubrication of the rotating equipment bearings in your plant with routine surveys.

This technology is used to survey the greased bearings in a plant and indicate which bearings need lubrication. Ultrasound Technology is then used during the lubrication process of greased bearings to assure proper levels of lubrication. This technology measures the ultrasonic sound decibels and prevents over or under lubrication, which provides each individual bearing the proper amount of grease.

 

Rotating machinery

Ultrasound technology can be used on rotating equipment of all types including very slow speed i.e. <1RPM, to identify mechanical faults and underlying conditions. It can also determine the lubrication status of the bearings to indicate if they are over or under lubricated.

Ultrasound on rotating equipment can be implemented alongside other techniques such as vibration analysis to assist in failure identification and determination of remaining asset life expectancy.

 

Electrical systems

Electrical systems can often be affected by Corona, Partial Discharge (Tracking) and Arcing which ultimately leads to safety issues and efficiency loss with associated downtime. Transformers, insulators or switchgear as particularly susceptible.

Partial discharge/tracking, arcing and corona all produce ionization which disturbs the surrounding air molecules. Ultrasound equipment detects high frequency sounds produced by these emissions and translates them (via heterodyning) down into the audible ranges. The specific sound quality of each type of emission is heard in headphones while the intensity of the signal is observed on a display panel. These sounds can be recorded and analysed through ultrasound spectrum analysis software for diagnosis & reporting.

Normally, electrical equipment should be silent, although some equipment such as transformers may produce a constant 50 cycle hum, or some steady mechanical noises. These should not be confused with the popping sound of an electrical discharge.

An electrical system ultrasound (non-intrusive) inspection can be carried out by us and provide repeatable inspection, analysis and verification of asset condition that ensures quick identification of any early and late stage electrical failure.

We are trained to: Ultrasound Air-borne Category I/II (ISO 18436-8)