Ref No.

AGPL-QP-RFT-03
General Procedure

Rev. 03 Remote Field Testing (RFT)

Date: 22-06-2018 of Ferromagnetic Tubes

GENERAL PROCEDURE
Remote Field Testing (RFT)
of Ferromagnetic Tubes

AGPL-QP-RFT-03

Prepared by Reviewed by Authorized by

Name: Sabari Selavan Name: Sumit Lamba Name: Tawfik Mohamed
Position: ANDT Engineer Position: Technical Manager Position: GM Advanced NDT
Date: 22nd June 2018 Date: 22nd June 2018 Date: 22nd June 2018

Revision History:
Rev No Doc Release Dates Prepared by Reviewed by Authorized by
00 11-Feb-2013 Sabari Selavan Sumit Lamba Tawfik Mohamed
01 12-Jan-2015 Sabari Selavan Sumit Lamba Tawfik Mohamed
02 15-August 2017 Sabari Selavan Sumit Lamba Tawfik Mohamed
03 22-June-2018 Sabari Selavan Sumit Lamba Tawfik Mohamed

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 Ref No.
AGPL-QP-RFT-03
General Procedure

Rev. 03 Remote Field Testing (RFT)

Date: 22-06-2018 of Ferromagnetic Tubes

1. Purpose
The puspose of this procedure is to establish the general requirements for RFT
inspection on ferromagnetic tubes and also includes - tube preparation and cleaning,
probes selection, calibration process, equipment set up process, reporting, etc.

2. Scope
This procedure is applicable to Remote Field Testing (RFT) of ferromagnetic tubes
with an internal diameter of between 8mm and 120mm.

3. References
3.1 ASME BPVC Section V -2015 ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code

3.2 ASME BPVC Section V -2015 Remote Field Testing (RFT) Examination
Article 17 Method
3.3 ASTM E 2096 – 08 In-Situ Examination of Ferromagnetic
Heat Exchanger Tubes Using Remote Field

4. Personnel
Non-destructive Testing personnel conducting inspections, analyzing data and
reporting results shall be qualified & certified ASNT NDT ECT level 2 with AGPL’s
Written Practice established in compliance with SNT-TC-1A (2015) or equivalent
(BS EN or ISO or AINDT Level II).

5. Equipment
• The equipment selected shall as a minimum be capable of displaying results on
impedance plane readout, and be capable of discriminating phase and amplitude.
• Within this procedure the following tube inspection equipment is considered:
Eddyfi Ectane 2, Olympus MS5800 or equivalent.
• Inspection system shall be capable of operating in single or multi frequency, in
both absolute and differential modes.
• Probes selected shall be suitable for the minimum required fill factor of not less
than 70%.
• The probes suitable for RFT inspection of heat exchangers and boilers are
specified in Attachement 1.

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 Ref No.
AGPL-QP-RFT-03
General Procedure

Rev. 03 Remote Field Testing (RFT)

Date: 22-06-2018 of Ferromagnetic Tubes

• Probe must be selected in accordance with tube diameter, however the gap 1-
1.5mm between probe and tube internal diameter must be considered for
allowing probe to go through.
• Probes shall be capable of detecting the wastage in the calibration tubes at the
required frequencies selected for the inspection.

6. Preparation and cleaning requriements

Ferromagnetic tubes must be prepared in advance for tube inspection:

• Access to tubes must be provided from at least one side.
• Tubes should be cleaned from deposites and debris (by hydro jetting/equivalent to
ensure that there are no loose debris/particles inside the tubes).
• Tubes must be dried (by air blowing to ensure there is no stagnant water inside) prior
to commencement of RFT testing inspection.

7. Standard Calibration Tube

Calibration tube standards shall comply with the following requirements:

• Standard Remote Field Testing tube should be of the same nominal dimensions,
material type and grade as the tubes to be examined.
• Artificial flaws should be demonstrated to be similar as defects to be detected.
• A flaw characterization standard should be used to distinguish between pit like
indications, short and long wastage as per the drawing below.

Examples for calibration tubes drawing are below:

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 Ref No.
AGPL-QP-RFT-03
General Procedure

Rev. 03 Remote Field Testing (RFT)

Date: 22-06-2018 of Ferromagnetic Tubes

Example #1

Example # 2

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 Ref No.
AGPL-QP-RFT-03
General Procedure

Rev. 03 Remote Field Testing (RFT)

Date: 22-06-2018 of Ferromagnetic Tubes

8. System Set Up
The test equipment shall be set up in accordance with this procedure and the onboard
Wizard on the equipment. The following information shall be contained within the
instruction:
• Description of equipment being inspected including (client, item and item number).
• Specification of tubing being inspected including (tube material, tube diameter,
tube wall thickness, tube length).
• Test probe specification including (probe diameter, fill factor, test mode –
differential / absolute).
• In case of a suitable calibration tube not available, alternative procedure could be
followed as provided by Level III after client’s acceptance.
• Select a frequency such that the signal from the support plate lies horizontal on the
voltage plane.
Data analysis shall be carried out by using the attenuation spiral in the Multiview or
Magnifi Software.

9. Equipment Calibration before Inspection

Calibration shall be carried out immediately prior to the start of the inspection.
• The test equipment shall be calibrated in accordance with this procedure detailing
signal settings and amplitudes as well as data capture settings.
• The equipment shall be balanced with the probe in the calibration tube on an area
with no defects.
• All defects in the calibration tube shall be calibrated as per the process channels of
the software.
• Any change in probe, extension cable, test instrument or any other part of the
examination system shall be cause for a re-calibration.
• The test equipment response shall be checked and verified by use of the calibration
tube standards as follows:
At least once every four hours.
At each change of operator or any probe, cable or inspection equipment.
Whenever malfunctioning is suspected.

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AGPL-QP-RFT-03
General Procedure

Rev. 03 Remote Field Testing (RFT)

Date: 22-06-2018 of Ferromagnetic Tubes

When a new log file is opened, and the last tube in the previous log file shall
be re-inspected to check that no significant change in differential or absolute
response has taken place.
If, during any check, it is determined by the data analyst that the test equipment is
out of calibration the equipment shall be re-calibrated and a new data file opened.
The data analyst shall determine tubes, if any, are to be re-examined.

10. Operating Frequency

• Set the frequency to obtain a difference of 50° to 120° between the reference
through hole and 20% circumferential groove.
• Set the frequency such that the signal from the support plate lies horizontal on the
voltage plane.
• The phase angle difference between the 40% and 60% external grooves shall be
between 12° and 18°.
• If the angle is too small, increase the frequency.
• If the angle is too high, reduce the frequency.

11. Evaluation Guideline

• The tube data response signals shall be similar to the response obtained during
calibration.
• Consistent high baseline noise levels shall be investigated to the extent of
determining the source of noise i.e. scale, electrical interference etc.
• Indications of potential wall thinning can be verified by the means of an IRIS
inspection as requested by the client.
• Wall loss shall be classified in 20% increments (i.e. 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and
100%).

12. Calibration
Calibration of the test equipment and relevant modules shall be undertaken in
accordance with manufacturer’s procedures or an authorized Agent of the equipment
being utilized. The period between calibrations shall not exceed 1 year.

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 Ref No.
AGPL-QP-RFT-03
General Procedure

Rev. 03 Remote Field Testing (RFT)

Date: 22-06-2018 of Ferromagnetic Tubes

13.Reporting
The following information is required for the report as a minimum:
• Customer, location, equipment tested and serial numbers.
• Size, material type and grade as well as the configuration of tubes being inspected.
• Tube numbering system.
• Extent of examination, location of tubes (to inspect drawing) and length.
• Personnel and qualifications.
• Equipment used and accessories (in the technique sheet).
• Calibration standards used (in the technique sheet).
• Outline of the technique used.
A copy of all the inspection data and reports shall be handed to the operations
inspection division of the client.

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 Ref No.
AGPL-QP-RFT-03
General Procedure

Rev. 03 Remote Field Testing (RFT)

Date: 22-06-2018 of Ferromagnetic Tubes

ATTACHEMENT 1

Selection of the RFT probes

1- RFT Probe List
The following table lists the probe diameters required for each RFT model in
conjunction with the selected tube OD and thickness. Please note that the probe
diameters in this table are in part-number format (for example, 120 is a 12 mm
outside-diameter probe).
TUBE WALL THICKNESS (BWG, mm, in)
BWG 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

mm 6.05 5.59 5.16 4.57 4.19 3.76 3.40 3.05 2.77 2.41 2.11 1.83 1.65 1.47 1.24

in 0.238 0.220 0.206 0.180 0.165 0.148 0.135 0.120 0.109 0.095 0.083 0.072 0.065 0.058 0.049

Recommended RFT Probe Diameter

12.70 mm 0.500 in – – – – – – – – – – – – – 085 090
15.87 mm 0.625 in – – – – – – – 085 090 100 100 110 110 110 120
19.05 mm 0.750 in – – – 090 090 100 110 110 120 120 130 130 140 140 140
Tube OD

22.22 mm 0.875 in 090 100 100 110 120 130 130 140 140 150 160 160 160 170 170
25.40 mm 1.000 in 120 120 130 140 150 150 160 170 170 180 180 190 190 190 200
31.75 mm 1.250 in 180 180 180 200 200 200 220 220 220 240 240 240 240 240 260
38.10 mm 1.500 in 220 240 240 260 260 260 280 280 300 300 300 300 300 300 300
50.80 mm 2.000 in 340 360 360 380 380 380 400 400 400 420 420 420 420 420 440

2- RFT Probes for Boiler Tubes

The following table lists the probe diameters required for each RFT model in conjunction
with the selected tube OD and thickness. Please note that the probe diameters in this table
are in part-number format (for example, 120 is a 12 mm outside-diameter probe).
TUBE WALL THICKNESS (BWG, mm, in)
BWG 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

mm 7.62 7.21 6.58 6.05 5.59 5.16 4.57 4.19 3.76 3.40 3.05 2.77 2.41 2.11

in 0.300 0.284 0.259 0.238 0.220 0.206 0.180 0.165 0.148 0.135 0.120 0.109 0.095 0.083

Recommended RFT Boiler Probe Diameter

38.10 mm 1.5 in – – – – – – – 260 260 260 260 260 260 260
Tube OD

50.80 mm 2.0 in 260 320 320 320 320 320 360 360 360 360 360 360 360 400
63.50 mm 2.5 in 400 400 400 400 450 450 450 450 450 450 450 500 500 500
76.20 mm 3.0 in 500 500 500 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 600 600 600 600

Note: Frequency of probe (LF, MF, and HF) will depend on combination of the
material and thickness of the tubes.