The current assessment of refractory linings in industrial vessels is generally undertaken visually or audibly. The ring tone of the hot-face is generally indicative of a crack in the refractory hot-face. A serious drawback with these techniques is that they cannot quantify the extent of refractory damage.
It has been shown that the FRF statistical procedure developed by Palmer Technologies Pty Ltd using the P-Response NDT is a valid methodology for structural damage detection.
The analysis of refractory and concrete structures using the patented P-Response® technique is a powerful tool for monitoring damage, defects and undertaking "fitness for purpose" assessments of industrial process vessels lined with refractory and concrete structures.
It is clear that there is a growing demand for structural health monitoring (SHM) for aerospace, civil and mechanical engineering infrastructures for improved safety and economical benefits.
The assessment of the refractory linings to determine the damaged condition before vessel entry, as a quality control tool during repair and as a condition monitoring tool for better maintenance is critical to improving plant reliability.
A number of laboratory and field case studies have been presented showing that FRF testing of large structures is a valid tool for determining the extent of damage to refractory lined vessels and concrete structures.
The results demonstrate that the P-Response® technique is an accurate method in determining damage of refractory structures. It has also been found that the technique can be used from outside the vessel as well as inside the vessel.
It is concluded that the combined FRF statistical analysis approach is a valid method for detecting damage to concrete and refractory structures.
The P-Response NDT system recognises that the FRF (frequencies and mobilities) and the statistical results will vary from structure to structure. For example, a thinner structural element will have a different response to the much thicker structural element. It also recognises that baseline reference points are required for good data analysis. To overcome this problem the P-Response software uses a separate data analysis program. This program allows the user to define the type of structure and set the statistical parameters for the particular structure being tested.
In summary, extensive testing with the latest version of P-response® has demonstrated that it can be used to determine,
