Application · Tube & Heat-Exchanger Inspection
Tube & Heat-Exchanger Inspection
Detect wall loss, pitting and cracks in tubes without pulling the bundle.
The inspection problem
Heat exchanger and condenser tubes fail from pitting, wall loss, dents and cracks — and unplanned tube failures shut plants down. Turnaround windows are short, so inspection must be fast and reliable.
Why it matters
Getting the right method reduces the number of tubes to plug or replace, and gives operations a defensible view of remaining life.
Which method fits your part?
Every method has a sweet spot and a limitation. Choose based on defect, geometry, throughput and access — not on habit.
Eddy current (ECT / ECA)
When it fits: Non-ferromagnetic tubes: brass, copper alloys, stainless.
Limitations: Not for ferromagnetic tubes.
Remote-field testing (RFT)
When it fits: Ferromagnetic tubes such as carbon steel.
Limitations: Lower sensitivity to small pits than ECT.
IRIS (ultrasonic)
When it fits: Quantitative wall thickness mapping in all tube materials.
Limitations: Requires clean, water-filled tubes and longer scan time.
Technology hubs behind these methods
Eddy Current Testing
Eddy current testing finds surface and near-surface defects in conductive materials quickly and cleanly — suited to high-speed crack detection and sorting.
Learn moreNon-destructive testingUltrasonic Testing (UT, PAUT, TOFD)
Ultrasonic testing — including phased array and TOFD — detects and sizes internal defects in welds and thick sections with traceable, imaging-rich results.
Learn morePrincipals whose equipment solves this
Selection is driven by the application — not the other way around.
Where we deploy this application
Energy
EMUS helps energy manufacturers and operators verify the integrity of turbines, pressure parts and welds where failure is not an option.
Learn moreMetal Processing
EMUS equips metal-processing operations with metrology, material analysis and surface inspection that keep tolerances tight and customers satisfied.
Learn moreEngineering support behind the equipment
- Method selection matched to tube material and defect population.
- Training and inspection support during turnarounds.
- Calibration standards and long-term support.
You may also need
Porosity & Inclusion Detection
Locate, size and classify internal defects in metal components.
Learn moreWeld Inspection
Match the inspection method to the weld — code, geometry, access and defect type.
Learn morePAUT, TOFD & TFM Inspection
Advanced ultrasonic techniques with imaging, sizing and recorded data.
Learn moreCorrosion Mapping
Locate and quantify wall loss on pipes, tanks and pressure equipment.
Learn moreEddy-Current Crack Detection
Detect surface and near-surface cracks in conductive parts — manual, portable or fully automated.
Learn moreGrinder-Burn Detection
Reveal heat damage on ground surfaces that undermines fatigue life.
Learn moreTalk to an EMUS Engineer
Share your part, defect type and throughput target — we'll match the right method for tube & heat-exchanger inspection.