INDUSTRY
PERFORMANCE
Applied Ultrasonics Ultrasonic Impact Technology (UIT) has been successfully employed with proven results since 2002 in the United States and 2008 in Australia. In that time thousands of projects have been completed with no rework required. The application of our technology to this work has resulted in millions of dollars of savings for our customers through fewer repairs, reduced repair costs and the life extension of the infrastructure being repaired.
Applied Ultrasonics UIT has been used by a diverse group of customers across a wide range of industries which are listed below. The listings provide a sample of the applications that take place within the industry.
INDUSTRIES
REFINERIES
Applied Ultrasonics has been active in the Aluminium refinery industry. Well over 200 jobs have been completed in several refineries with work being carried out on tanks particularly where stress corrosive cracking needed to be addressed. Other parts of the refinery where UIT was applied include pipes and valves. UIT is approved by Rio Tinto Yarwun to be used in weld repairs. UIT has also been successfully used in oil and gas refineries in the United States.
MINING
All the world’s leading mining companies have employed the use of UIT on their infrastructure, both fixed and mobile. Over a one thousand jobs have been completed with significant savings in repair costs and the life extension of the assets being repaired. These assets include truck bodies, dragline buckets, conveyor lines, excavators, vibrating screens, crushers, and draglines.
RAIL
Progress Rail a division of Caterpillar Inc has used UIT extensively when carrying out maintenance repairs to its locomotive diesel engine blocks. These repairs have taken place worldwide. This program is ongoing as Progress Rail uses UIT in its repair procedure to meet the ever-increasing demands of its customers to move vast tonnage of mined metal to transport hubs for further processing. Applied Ultrasonics has also used UIT to conduct repairs to rail wagons and rail track.
STRUCTURES
Applied Ultrasonics UIT has been used to repair bridges in the United States and Australia. UIT was first used to treat a highway bridge in 1995. Since the first bridge dozens of bridges have been treated in the US resulting in the technology being endorsed by the American Association of Sate Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). In addition, extensive research has been undertaken by Lehigh University, the University of Texas, Stuttgart University, and the University of Waterloo in Ontario Canada which all support the technology.
OIL & GAS
In the oil and gas industry Applied Ultrasonics UIT has been used to improve weld repairs on drill ships, pipes, jack rigs and semisubmersibles. UIT has been incorporated into the weld procedures for the industry and is in the American Welding Society under water welding code. UIT was also used to repair cracking in derrick base of drill ship Deepwater Pathfinder.
RENEWABLES
One of the new areas where Applied Ultrasonics UIT is being used is in the application of the technology to repair wind turbines and wind turbine structures. Many wind farms are now entering into the final stages of their life cycle and asset owners are looking at ways to extend this life cycle while they determine their investment approach for the future.
ENERGY
The UIT process has been used in the power generation industry in repair and new construction. The application of the UIT process has be applied manually during weld repair and robotically in manufacturing and new construction. Applications have ranged from standard weld repairs, heat exchangers, and fusion reactors.
MANUFACTURING
The UIT technology has been used extensively in the manufacturing of parts for industry. Typically, the UIT equipment has been adapted to work with robotics to provide a repeatable process that can operate at a 100 percent duty cycle. The technology has been applied to such things as gears, crankshafts, and bearings. Bespoke applications have taken place for organisations such as Oakridge National Laboratory and Green Bank Observatory.
MILITARY
UIT has been used on weld repairs to navy vessels for both the United States and Australian navies; these repairs covered stress corrosion cracking and hull modifications. Applied Ultrasonics was also involved in a modification program for Australia’s armoured personal carriers and is currently trailing UIT with elements within the Australian Army. Significant research using UIT has also been carried out with the US Department of Defence.
AEROSPACE
NASA employs Applied Ultrasonics UIT across several programs including the Orion Manned Space Mission to Mars. UIT is also used at Boeing and Lockheed Martin to strengthen welds on airframes.
