Exceptional Laser NDT Prep
Who and where
Project Laser, utilising West Australian-designed PulseTech Laser cleaning machines, assisted
Worley Power Services / BHP during a scheduled shutdown at Pilbara Power Station. The
project scope involved providing laser cleaning surface preparation services to allow NDT
technicians to conduct statutory inspections of various assets and equipment. This preparation
was essential for subsequent visual inspection, magnetic particle inspection and ultrasonic
thickness testing.
What was required
The scope of work included:
● Magnetite removal within steam drums, deaerators, and external piping
● Hematite removal
● Surface corrosion and surface residue removal from both internal and external assets
● Surface preparation of assets to the required roughness profile requirements for NDT.
Statutory inspections
These activities were performed to ensure optimal conditions for inspection by Applecross
Electrical & Testing Services to AS3788 and AS4037 requirements. The inspectors were highly
impressed with the quality of the surface finish achieved, noting that all conditions complied with
the specified standards.
Benefits of laser cleaning for NDT Prep
Laser cleaning for statutory inspections
Laser Cleaning Technology
Laser cleaning technology operates by injecting infrared energy into the surface, which causes
contaminants such as corrosion, paint, magnetite, and hematite to detach, vaporize, or burn off.
The released particulate matter is then captured at the source through a three-stage extraction
unit. By adjusting the laser parameters, different levels of surface preparation and various surface
profiles can be achieved.
This technology is effective in removing contaminants from within the toe of a weld, cracks, and
surface defects. This enhances the visibility of defects during Magnetic Particle Testing (MPI). Our
systems can achieve an SP4 or SP2 surface finish to allow Ultrasonic Testing (UT), while also
producing a clean metal surface for MPI.
Benefits of laser cleaning
Advantages of Laser Cleaning
Laser cleaning offers several unique advantages:
1. Accessibility: As long as the correct focal length can be maintained, laser light can
access and clean surfaces, including corners, between tubes, and other restricted areas
that traditional angle grinders cannot reach.
2. H&S: When conducting laser cleaning through licensed and trained laser operators, the
cleaning methodology significantly mitigates the amount of potential hand injuries, manual
handling and strains that would otherwise be encountered through manual grinding
activities.
3. Dry, Abrasive Free Process: Laser cleaning is a dry process that does not introduce
blast media into the job site, making it particularly suitable for confined spaces. This
eliminates secondary contamination, minimizes downstream issues, and reduces health
and safety risks associated with close-proximity blasting.S
Conclusion
Project Laser extends its gratitude to our clients for being among the pioneering
power plants globally to utilize laser cleaning for surface preparation. The collaboration
demonstrated the efficacy and advantages of laser cleaning technology in enhancing the quality
and reliability of non-destructive testing process whilst greatly reducing H&S safety issues
encountered with traditional grinding methodology.