Acoustic emission testing on pressure vessels and machinery

Faster and more effective: acoustic emission testing

Technical malfunctions and failure caused by leakage, cracking, corrosion or defects pose serious risks for managers and operators of plants, pressure vessels and machines. Acoustic emission testing (AET) is a non-destructive test (NDT) method that reliably recognises impending problems and defects before they become serious.
Acoustic emission testing is not only ideal for localising cracks and leakage and for identifying corrosion and faults. It is also recommended for mandatory periodic technical inspections of pressure vessels and tanks in accordance with the German Regulation on Health and Safety in the Use of Work Equipment (BetrSichV), and in particular as a special test method replacing

• visual examination within the scope of internal inspection,
• hydrostatic strength testing by means of an AET-verified gas-pressure test.

Acoustic emission testing can generally be performed using the fluid stored in the tank. This has the advantage that pressure vessels or tanks need not be opened and drained prior to testing, so that AET is faster as well as more cost-effective and involves less organisational effort than conventional test methods.

Acoustic emission testing – ideal for all types of equipment: