University of Ultrasonics developed the Ultrasonic Examination Qualification Program called Performance Demonstration Qualification (PDQ) ™. The PDQ ™ Program is a performance- based qualification program for Advanced UT Systems, such as Time of Flight Diffraction, Phased Array, and AUT systems.
The ultimate goal is to qualify a PAUT or TOFD procedure (PQ) to demonstrate its ability to detect flaws of acceptable length and height, while the Examiner Qualification (EQ) demonstrates his/her ability to detect, characterize and locate rejectable flaws in pipe and plate components, and to size cracks effectively.
The PDQ ™ Program is a useful tool to help individual companies qualify their procedures to ASME or API standards. The program has also been found to be a highly successful tool to improve quality for end- users by making sure personnel that come onsite have the capabilities and proficiencies to provide reliable inspection results. We handle everything from material research to design and implementation of test samples and qualification examinations to make this process simple and efficient.
The PDQ ™ Program is based upon two specific qualifications:
1. The Procedure Qualification (PQ)
The PQ Program is designed to qualify a Phased Array or TOFD Procedure to meet ASME Code Case 2235 for Vessels, ASME Code Case 181 for B31.3 Piping, and API standards. In addition, the program is designed to meet the new requirements of Article 4 of Section V, 2010 Edition for Fracture Mechanics based evaluation or Workmanship Standard evaluations. The PQ qualification is based upon the design and manufacture of testing samples to meet the acceptance criteria of the code cases with very specific flaw aspect ratios for height and length.
Davis NDE designed and manufactured an inventory of PQ Qualification Pipe and Vessels samples with Code Case dimensioned flaws which meet the criteria of tables in CC 2235 and 181. The qualification is based upon minimum diameter and maximum diameter, as well as minimum thickness and maximum thickness. Currently, Davis NDE has inventory of qualification samples from 1.5 inch diameter and .145 thickness to 36 inch diameter and 2.75 inch thicknesses.
2. The Examiner Qualification (EQ)
The EQ Program is designed to ensure that competent and confident PAUT and TOFD operators have the proper inspection skill sets by administering practical demonstrations to inspect welds and size cracks. This is a set of core qualification test samples for Weld Inspection ranging in diameter and thickness from 8 inch to 24 inch dia pipe, and a ½” and 1” inch plate samples. The EQ Examiner must correctly detect 80% of the flaws, characterize 80% and position 80% of the flaws. In addition, the (EQ) Examiner must size 12 crack samples to within a 10 % RMS.
In 2010, U of UT introduced a new qualification program for Pipe Line Integrity, (PLI). The PLI examination is a Crack Sizing Examination for ID and OD connected, thin wall materials less than .500 inches. The PDQ PLI program requires the Examiner to effectively size ID and OD Cracks in material thicknesses of .187, .250, .312 and .375 inch thicknesses. The degree of accuracy is to achieve a sizing RMS of 7.5 % or less on the 20 PDQ crack sizing test samples.
For additional information, please contact us at any time.
