Testing of steam sterilisers

Eddy current testing of steam sterilisers

Conventional testing of welds in steam sterilisers is carried out using penetrant testing (PT). This is a proven non-destructive testing method, but PT has one significant drawback: cleaning. The testing products are often oil-based, and even water-based penetrants may only be discharged after dilution and approval. In addition, the effort required to restore sterilisers to operational condition after testing is considerable.

Since 2020, we have offered eddy current testing (ET) as an alternative to this established method. Like penetrant testing, eddy current testing is used to detect surface defects and cracks in the material. As this method induces alternating currents beneath the surface, it requires no testing consumables. The effort and cost of cleaning are eliminated, and the downtime before the equipment can return to service is greatly reduced.

Eddy current testing (ET) at a glance

Eddy Current Testing

Eddy current testing has been one of the standard non-destructive testing (NDT) methods since the middle of the 20th century. Due to its physical operating principles, the method is generally used to test

material surfaces for defects
coating thicknesses
material properties (conductivity/permeability).

As testing uses hand-held or automated probes on the component surface, together with induced alternating currents and alternating fields, no additional testing consumables are required.

Unlike ultrasonic, penetrant or magnetic particle testing, no additional chemical products are therefore needed for testing.

Further information at https://www.werkstoff-service.de/materialpruefung-zfp/wirbelstrompruefung/