EASY – Electromagnetic Advanced Sensor Yoke for Safety-Critical High Temperature Plant Component Inspection

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The global industrial economy remains critically dependent on the continued safe operation of high temperature, high pressure industrial plant such as refineries, chemical, petrochemical and power generation plant. The specialist alloy steels developed for these onerous applications are resistant to damage, but over time, the alloy microstructure can degrade in a process known as creep. If creep damaged components are not promptly identified and repaired, cracking and potentially catastrophic failure can ensue.**EASY** (**E**lectromagnetic **A**dvanced **S**ensor **Y**oke) will provide a modern, innovative solution to the global problem of plant creep damage detection. **EASY** utilises novel advanced electromagnetic sensor technology developed at the **University of** **Manchester**, exploiting the interaction between magnetic fields applied to the material and micron-scale creep cavity damage features. The **EASY** inspection system can potentially detect creep damage in real time with much faster and more comprehensive plant inspection coverage than "surface replication", currently the only available technique for detection of early-stage micron-scale damage. Unlike replication, **EASY** can give results instantaneously to enable urgent plant repairs during the on-going plant outage, and can potentially be digitised and automated. Its low frequency magnetic field can also penetrate the inspected component and identify problematic **sub-surface creep damage**. These developments could have wide impacts on plant inspection, safety and lifetime extension in the UK and worldwide.**EASY** is supported by a global Industrial Users Group (**IUG**), representing plant operators from the UK, Japan, Asia and South Africa. The **IUG** will provide crucial end user perspectives on the practical applicability of **EASY** technology. **IUG** members will also give valuable access to ex-service and in-service plant components for **EASY** testing, demonstration and verification.The project is led by **ETD**, an innovative SME offering R&D and consulting in plant inspection and life management worldwide. **EASY** stems from a series of smaller projects conducted over the last 6 years by **ETD** and **Manchester**. These provided proof of concept through tests on standard laboratory specimens and large welded pipes subjected to interrupted creep testing, showing clear correlations between measured electromagnetic parameters and creep damage. This project will build on this work, refining **EASY** technology and developing on-site inspection equipment for deployment on the uneven surfaces of components, including damage-prone branch and Tee-piece weldments.On project completion, **ETD** will offer **EASY** alongside its parallel inspection and technical services for worldwide plant operator clients, in agreement with **Manchester**, with the aim of forming an "**EASY-NDT-Co**" joint venture company.