Boiler Tube Inspection Device. Fiber Optics Provides Small, Flexible System for Full-Length Inspections

摘要

This Technical Document describes a shipboard boiler tube inspection system using coherent fiber optics technology to permit full length inspection of boiler tubes for maintenance and repair. A small, flexible fiber optic bundle with a wide angle lens is used to locate foreign objects, and flaws in the tube walls. A video recording unit is used to provide a visual record of each tube inspected. The fiberscope system has been used successfully aboard ship to identify problem areas such as boiler tube blockage due to foreign objects. Heretofore, boiler tubes often had to be cut open, or expensive X-ray or radiograph equipment used to locate and identify a problem. Keywords: Ship boiler tubes, Inspection, Shipboard maintenance and repair, Fiber optics.