Airborne Ultrasound Technology
Airborne ultrasound is used throughout the world for condition monitoring,
energy conservation and quality assurance programs.
Airborne ultrasound technology provides solutions for locating
a variety of potential problems in plants. The three main areas are leak detection,
mechanical inspection/trending and electrical inspection.
Instruments based on airborne ultrasound sense high frequency sounds produced
by leaks, electrical emissions and mechanical operations. They translate these
sounds down into the audible range by an electronic process called heterodyning
where they are heard through headphones and observed as intensity increments,
typically decibels, on a display panel.
Since ultrasound is composed of high frequencies that are not heard by the
human ear, the heterodyning process allows users of airborne ultrasound instruments
to “hear” an accurate translation of these sounds helping them identify
subtle changes in operating equipment that might normally be overlooked, providing
early warning capability.
In addition, the heterodyning process enables users to record sounds either
on-board the instrument equipped for this process or by connecting an airborne
ultrasound detector to a recording device. These recorded sounds can then be
used for sound analysis in spectral analysis software.
Portable airborne ultrasound instruments are available as either analog or
digital models. While data management is possible with both types, digital instruments
provide on-board data logging and utilize software that automatically places
the data in appropriate data fields when downloaded to a computer. The software
can be used to generate trend reports, for data analysis or to identify failure
modes in equipment.
Portable airborne ultrasound instruments:
Analog:
Ultraprobe 100
Ultraprobe 201 Grease Caddy
Ultraprobe 550
Ultraprobe 2000
Digital:
Ultraprobe 9000
Ultraprobe 10,000 Ultrasonic
Inspection System
On-line continuous monitors:
UCA-586
Ultratrak 750
ECM 586 (to monitor enclosed
electric cabinets for arc flash potential alert)
Typical applications for airborne ultrasound instruments:
Mechanical Inspection
Bearing analysis and trending
Condition Based Lubrication (Prevent over lubrication, identify need for lubrication)
Gear & Gear Box testing
Cavitation
Pumps
Motors
Electrical Inspection
Arc Flash prevention
Arcing, Tracking, Corona detection
Partial discharge
Test low, medium and high voltages
Leak Detection
Compressed Air Leaks
Generic gas leak detection
Negative pressure (vacuum) leaks
Valve leaks
Steam trap leaks
Ultrasonic “Tone Test” (uses a transmitter in enclosures with no
pressure or vacuum)
Air infiltration
Tanks
Heat Exchangers
Condensers
| 
