TECH TIPS NEWSLETTER

This newsletter is dedicated to you, the reader with the goal of improving your ultrasonic inspection skills and enhancing your value to your company or clients. As always, we welcome your participation. If you have questions or seek advice about your inspection techniques or programs, or if you wish to share your experiences with others, please e-mail your contributions to us at info@uesystems.com.

Steam Quiz
The response to last month's quiz was so enthusiastic that we decided to try again. As we all know energy costs are continuing to rise. The challenge we have is to find ways to reduce our energy consumption. There are many simple things that we can all do to improve energy waste. Some of these include a re-education program for all personnel about what they can do personally such as remembering to turn off lights when leaving a room, turning off equipment when not in use and reporting leaks. The US Department of Energy has programs and tips that can be useful for all of us in keeping energy use under control and creating efficiencies. Their Office of Information Technology has a useful website that we encourage you to utilize: www.eere.energy.gov/industry

Tech Tips Newsletter UE SOUND BITES . . . The Ultrasound Newsletter published by UE Systems, Inc. Information… Product News… Advice… Dialog Volume 6, Issue 4 June, 2005
T O P I C S Steam Quiz Ultraprobe Tip Comments & Contributions Ultrasound Training Schedule	This newsletter is dedicated to you, the reader with the goal of improving your ultrasonic inspection skills and enhancing your value to your company or clients. As always, we welcome your participation. If you have questions or seek advice about your inspection techniques or programs, or if you wish to share your experiences with others, please e-mail your contributions to us at info@uesystems.com. Steam Quiz The response to last month's quiz was so enthusiastic that we decided to try again. As we all know energy costs are continuing to rise. The challenge we have is to find ways to reduce our energy consumption. There are many simple things that we can all do to improve energy waste. Some of these include a re-education program for all personnel about what they can do personally such as remembering to turn off lights when leaving a room, turning off equipment when not in use and reporting leaks. The US Department of Energy has programs and tips that can be useful for all of us in keeping energy use under control and creating efficiencies. Their Office of Information Technology has a useful website that we encourage you to utilize: www.eere.energy.gov/industry
And now for this month's quiz: There are 3 primary types of steam traps. a. Thermodynamic, thermo-transfer, mechanical b. Thermostatic, thermodynamic, mechanical c. Thermostatic, bi-directional, mechanical d. All of the above What is Steam? a. Hot water b. Water and gas c. High pressure hot water d. The vapor phase of water High pressure steam a. Transfers heat at a faster rate than low pressure steam b. Transfers heat at the same rate as low pressure steam c. Transfers heat at a slower rate than low pressure steam d. Does not add to the heat transfer process Testing Steam Traps should be performed just after start up to assure all traps can be accurately tested. a. True b. False For a "quality" steam trap inspection program it is important to minimize variables and plan. This will require: a. producing a detailed trap map b. a system of tagging and identifying traps c. methods for identifying test points d. All of the above e. None of the above The best method for inspecting the condition of steam traps includes a. Ultrasound b. Temperature c. Vibration analysis d. A and B e. All of the above When inspecting steam traps, to get the best results touch with the contact probe of the ultrasound instrument: a. 7-10 pipe diameters upstream side of the trap b. At the immediate downstream side of the trap c. 7-10 pipe diameters downstream of the trap d. A and B e. All of the above The US Department of Energy has programs for improving energy efficiencies through: a. A Compressed Air Challenge b. A Steam Challenge c. A Motor Challenge d. All of the above Process heating in industrial manufacturing facilities accounts for an average of more than ___% of thermal energy use, which is predominantly in the form of steam. What is the percentage: a. 60% b. 70% c. 75% d. 80% Process heating accounts for a significant portion of controllable operating costs and is one of the few areas of opportunity where management can reduce these costs and improve profits. a. True b. False The answers are at the end of the newsletter.
Ultraprobe Tip: When inspecting steam traps and valves there are situations in which the piping is covered with insulation. Ultrasound will not effectively pass through standard insulation and therefore, it will be necessary to devise other strategies. One is to carefully create a test hole in the insulation. Before doing this it is advisable to check with your safety coordinator to be sure there are no harmful materials in the insulation (such as asbestos) that can become airborne. Another is to gently tap a metal rod down to the pipe (not through the pipe) and leave it there. If a more permanent solution is desired, during an outage remove (again coordinate with the safety officer) and permanently mount a wave-guide to the pipe. Place the insulation back and keep the tip out for inspection. One other method is to purchase commercially available test ports. They contain a "hatch" that is lifted for the test and closed after the test. They are easily installed and help make the test rounds go by safely and quickly. EPD Technology has one on their website. http://www.epdtech.com/valvetest/valvetip.htm Comments and Contributions: We'd love to hear from you. Many of you have written to us with some great stories. If you have a story you'd like to share or a useful tip for inspection, send it to us at info@uesystems.com. Your information will very useful in helping others use the technology effectively. Speaking of helping others use the technology, one of the best forums available is at a conference where there is open discourse about the practices and principles of ultrasound. It is a great opportunity to learn from others and to network with fellow inspectors. Such a forum is this year's Ultrasound World II Conference in Clearwater Beach Florida, November 6-9. It's a wonderful location for learning and a great place to bring your family. For more information call us: 1-800-223-1325, send an email: info@uesystems.com or go to the Ultrasound World website: http://www.uesystems.com/ultrasound-world/UWC.html Training Schedule: The Level I classes are filling up fast. We strongly recommend that you register early to get into the class of your choice. Level I: In addition to our scheduled Level I classes, if your company would like to have a class on their site, call us or send an email to get full details. Phone: 1-800-223-1325, International: +914-592-1220, email: info@uesystems.com. June 28 - July 1, 2005: Singapore August 8 - 12, 2005: Portland, OR September 19 - 23, 2005: Buffalo, NY October 10 - 14, 2005: Irwindale, CA November 14 - 18, 2005: Charlotte, NC November, 2005: UK (location to be determined) Level II July 11-15, 2005: Elmsford, NY Don't forget to put the most exciting learning experience of the year on your calendar: ULTRASOUND WORLD II Conference, Clearwater Beach, FL November 6-9, 2005 Answers to quiz: 1: b 2: d 3: a 4: b 5: c 6: d 7: b 8: d 9: a 10: a 1-2 Wrong: you're great, 3-4 wrong: consider UE Training, 5 or more wrong: you definitely need to attend a Level I class! More articles will be posted periodically. Please check back. If you do not wish to continue to receive this newsletter, please let us know via email. Contact us at info@uesystems.com.

Tech Tips Newsletter

UE SOUND BITES . . . The Ultrasound Newsletter published by UE Systems, Inc.