Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Some Fascinating Facts About NDT Dielectric Testing

By Sandra Parker


Dielectric components are a category of electrical insulators that have the capability to of polarization by means of an applied electric field. When it is placed in an electric field, its positive and negative charges flow into contrasting routes. The reason behind this is through its apparent polarization, which is the idea that magnetism of a component moves in specific directions when certain factors are applied.

The study of these properties has to do with the dissipation of magnetic energy in materials and its storage. NDT dielectric testing involves an assortment of noninvasive inspection methods, whose purpose is to gauge entire process units, material properties, and different components. NDT stands for nondestructive testing, and consists of two major categories which are conventional and advanced.

It is also commonly known as NDE and NDI. NDE can stand for either nondestructive examination or evaluation, and NDI means nondestructive inspection. The techniques used in this concept are handy in identifying defects and figuring out the features of the flaws. These include the shape, size and orientation.

The goal of coordinating these exams is to inspect certain elements of a material in the most safe, reliable, and cost effective way possible. This can actually be considered much more convenient than destructive methods because conducting them can be done without temporarily disabling an entire plant or operation. Another advantage is that the possibility of damaging equipment in a certain way is significantly minimized.

It can also be done while the assigned equipment is running, before or after being used depending on the situation. The most important objective here is to inspect the parts to ascertain if they have the capability to last a certain amount of time or cycle before possibly breaking down. When conducted during operation, these inspections are done to analyze the state of damage of an equipment, oversee damage mechanisms, and finally, to make informed decisions regarding these matters.

Dielectric examinations is not the only category to benefit from NDE though. There are many who other techniques that apply this practice in their field such as liquid penetrant, electromagnetic, radio graphic, ultrasonic, acoustic emission, and magnetic particle inspection. These are under the conventional category of NDE since these have been around for a long time already and are tried and tested routines. Since they have been around long enough, they have since evolved and can be backed up with codes, standards, and best practices.

The opposing category of those mentioned are called advanced and are more likely to be misinterpreted by technicians in the industry due to its diversity. The logic behind this is that since they primarily identify as up and coming technologies, technicians are still uncertain on its limitations, uses, and what kind of criteria should be met for the assigned professional. Understandably, these require a more knowledgeable professional who has his or her fair share of experience.

Nondestructive testing is usually set by a standard set of codes. These codes become the basis for the creation of components, service equipment, and safety critical parts. Fixed codes, standards, regulations, and suggested practices depend on the location of an industry. Aside from electrical ones, it is also essential in refineries, gas and chemical plants, and pipeline owners.

What makes this line of work interesting is that it is constantly evolving, and with change comes improvements. While the more advanced techniques mature over time, new subcategories of them with more advanced versions emerge to begin another cycle of technical understanding and orientation. Overall, the materialization of NDE has a multitude of advantages compared to destructive methods and should be implemented as frequently as possible.




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