Heat Exchanger Tube Inspection — NDT Technique Selector

Enter your tube parameters below and we'll recommend the most suitable Non-Destructive Testing (NDT/NDE) technique(s) for heat exchanger, condenser, boiler and air-cooler tubing — each with its advantages and limitations.

1 Tube Parameters

Please complete Material, OD, Wall thickness and Tube type.

i About the Techniques

  • ECT — Eddy Current Testing. Fast screening for non-ferromagnetic tubes; pitting & wall loss.
  • ECA — Eddy Current Array. Array probe; C-scan imaging, crack detection & sizing.
  • RFT — Remote Field Testing. Ferromagnetic tubes; equal ID/OD wall loss. Scope per ASTM E2096: OD 12.7–50.8 mm, WT 0.71–3.40 mm. HF variant for mildly ferritic tubes.
  • NFT — Near Field Testing. Ferromagnetic externally finned tubes (air-cooler, low-fin, HRSG); ID corrosion/erosion.
  • NFA — Near Field Array. Array version of NFT; C-scan imaging of finned-tube ID.
  • MFL — Magnetic Flux Leakage. Alternative for air-fin cooler tubes ; localized/pitting wall loss.
  • FSEC — Full Saturated Eddy Current. Mildly ferritic tubes (Duplex, Monel, 3RE60, Sea-Cure, 400-series SS); all ODs, WT limit depends on OD.
  • IRIS — Internal Rotary Inspection System (ultrasonic). Any material; quantitative wall thickness. Requires WT > 1 mm, OD ≤ 76.2 mm, tube ID ≥ 8.5 mm.
  • RVI — Remote Visual Inspection. Video probe/borescope; direct view of the tube ID surface.
Recommended Techniques

Listed primary first, with each technique's advantages and limitations.

This tool provides a preliminary recommendation based on standard industry practice. Final technique selection should be confirmed by a qualified NDT Level II/III inspector considering tube condition, access, defect mechanism and applicable codes (ASME, API 570/579, EPRI).