Tube inspection is currently performed using complex and
	heavy mechanical systems where different probes are set to
	rotate very fast (6000 to 8000 rpm/min.) around a tube that
	has been given an axial movement.  This system lacks
	sensitivity, is difficult to maintain and expensive.  It
	therefore reduces productivity.
	
	The innovation of this project lies in the use of a
	technique based on phased array technologies.  From
	transducers fixed around the tube and circling it,
	sound pulses - according to a preset pattern - are sent
	towards the tube wall during its axial movement.  This very
	fast rotation does not induce any mechanical constraint on
	the probe.
	
	This technology allows the operator to inspect the tubes
	automatically, by means of information given
	permanently by a software program, concerning the detection
	of volume or dimension defects; inspection performed
	according to quality assurance requirements.
	
	The goal is to double the speed of inspection, reduce by
	4 the slack period during calibration phases, and reduce
	the cost of a system by 25% (now around 770,000 ECU).
	
	The application fields are mainly:
	* nuclear manufacturing (steam generator and fuel tubes),
	* metallurgy,
	* petrochemistry and chemical manufacturing (reactors and
	  exchanger tubes),
	* automotive engineering and,
	* the aircraft industry.
	
	Inspections are carried out on an impressive amount of
	tubes manufactured by those industrial areas to guarantee a
	level of quality (as far as both defect as well as
	dimension-related aspects are concerned).
	
	This new technology enables a new field to be supplied.
	Services in the nuclear business are now so important that
	they require ultrasonic testing of tubes by external means
	(fueltube, grape tube): new materials used inside nuclear
	power plants do not react well to Eddy Currents.
	
	Due to this new technology,the user can connect the probe
	to a simple mechanism in order to inspect radiated tubes
	easily.
	
	The commercial perspectives are quite good.  First, the
	extent of the industrial fields interested in this
	technology is important; then more and more customers -
	mainly from Western Europe - are increasing the quality of
	their manufacturing process to compete with countries with
	low labour costs.  In other respects, this technology
	allows them to control their manufacturing process in order
	to reduce production losses thereby increasing the added
	value and enhancing their own technology.
	
	The industrial perspectives are also quite good.  This
	technology transfers complexity from the mechanical to the
	electronic field, making it able to produce significant
	industrialisation processes, mainly for numerous repetitive
	functions and when mechanical devices encounter physical
	limits.
	
	Thus, the electronic system will manage between 1000 and
	2000 channels.  Mass production for only one system allows
	advanced industrialisation processes associating
	performances, reliability and low costs to be considered.

3. Participants

	Main :
	FRANCE
		- NDT SYSTEMS
	Partners :
	SWEDEN
		- SANDVIK STEEL AB
		- TSONIC
4. Main contact
	NDT SYSTEMS
		MR. DOMINIQUE BRACONNIER
		Dept. : 
		Funct.: GENERAL MANAGER
		Addr. : AVENUE DU TELEPORT, FUTUROSCOPE
		        B.P. 118
		        863 60 CHASSENEUIL DU POITOU
		        FRANCE
		Tel   : +33 5 49 49 42 10
		Fax   : +33 5 49 49 00 19
		Telex : 

5. Estimated costs
	Total project cost : 2.37 MECU
6. Timescale
	Start date : JUN 1996
	End date   : JUN 1998
	Duration   : 24 months

	FEASIBILITY PHASE    : JUN 1996 - SEP 1996  3 months
	DEFINITION PHASE     : SEP 1996 - DEC 1996  3 months
	RESEARCH STAGE       : NOV 1996 - MAY 1997  6 months
	DEVELOPMENT STAGE    : MAY 1997 - NOV 1997  6 months
	INITIAL EXPLOITATION : NOV 1997 - FEB 1998  3 months
	FULL EXPLOITATION    : FEB 1998 - MAY 1998  3 months
7. Technological developments envisaged
	Various technological developments are envisaged.
	As far as probes are concerned, it is important to define a
	standard in order to decrease the cost within the project.
	The shape and geometrical definition of probes will be
	optimised, using piezocomposite technologies.  Probes will
	consist of arrays circling the tube.  Another aspect
	involves the sensitivity which can, if it is very good,
	greatly simplify the electronics and therefore reduce
	costs.
	
	As for the probe head, a special acoustic-mechanical device
	will also be developed, based on work already done with
	simulating tools.  This constitutes a major aspect if the
	productivity has to be optimised and the costs of products
	reduced.  Acoustic paths, the relative position of probes,
	ways to insert tubes and water will be optimised.
	Materials will also be studied with a view to improving
	reliability, longevity, immunity to changes in temperature
	and performance.
	
	As far as electronics are concerned, the technological
	development will mainly involve integration (ability to
	manage more than 1000 channels to manage arrays), working
	with analogue, high frequency and high dynamics.
	Concerning digital parts, the latest version of FPGA will
	be integrated to get very high clock frequency (and
	consequently very good accuracy) and a high degree of
	integration.
	
	Interfaces working on the PCI bus standard will be used to
	work with advanced technologies.  High data flux will then
	benefit the product and enable advanced software functions
	with great amounts of data to be used.
	
	As for software technology, it is envisaged to develop
	oriented component software, able to use libraries to
	evolve and assist maintenance.
	
	Another new factor is the ability to work with digital
	data, not only for the configuration and management of the
	tools, but also to manage signal data.  With acquired data,
	working in digital mode, it is possible to considerably
	influence inspection and management attitudes.  It is
	possible to integrate directly the information of the
	different resume and report.  Instead of storing data on
	thermal paper, which is very expensive and difficult to
	work with (many customers spend each year more than 70,000
	ECU on such paper), it will now be possible to use CD or
	similar media.
	
	Multiprocessor hardware working with multi-tasks
	workstation will be used.  The main advantage will reside
	with its powerful nature and the possibility for
	customers to implement for themselves special automation
	systems connected to software, but without there being any
	risks involved in terms of maintainability, because it is a
	disconnected task.
8. Relationship to other European technological co-operation programmes
	NON
		Unknown relationship
9. Financial or other contribution of each participant to the project
	FRANCE               : 51 %
	   - NDT SYSTEMS
	     Will develop the instrumentation part and act as the manager
	     of the whole project.

	SWEDEN               : 48 %
	   - SANDVIK STEEL AB
	     Its contribution will relate to production and inspection
	     applications as it is quite essential to be able to qualify
	     the product after having perfectly defining and designed as
	     we can benefit from bench tests to fulfil maximum needs.
	   - TSONIC
	     Will provide general scientific support as well as develop
	     and design the software tools required. Later it will
	     develop software and support the design and qualification of
	     testing procedures.


10. Relevant qualifications of participants
	NDT SYSTEMS
		This company provides high performance equipment on the non
		destructive testing (NDT) market field.  Its main
		competence in acoustics, electronics and software is well
		known.
		It has two ranges of product (representing over 30
		products), the first based on conventional technologies but
		with open and modular architecture, the second based on
		phrased array technology.
		NDT SYSTEMS has many customers in Europe as well as America
		and JAPAN such as: VALLOUREC, CEZUS, GENERAL ELECTRIC,
		MITSUI ENGINEERING & SHIPBUILDING, SAQ, etc.
		It has already developed products for tube inspection
		according to conventional technologies.  This project will
		give NDT the opportunity to implement phased array
		techniques, thereby opening up a very interesting market.
		It has already developed some similar technologies
		involving the inspection of team generator tubes on the
		inside.
	SANDVIK STEEL AB
		This company manufactures tubes for various applications
		and its main markets are the petrochemical, nuclear and
		automotive industries.
		SANDVIK STEEL AB's considerable experience in tube
		inspection spans 30 years.  The Division in charge of this
		project owns more than half a dozen conventional and very
		complex systems called ROTA (produced by a project
		competitor).
		This company is empowered to request changes to the
		qualifying standards and procedures usually used in this
		field. It has both the means and qualified personnel to
		carry out the project developments.
		It will be responsible for the application aspect in the
		tube manufacturing field.
	TSONIC
		This is spin-off company related to CIRCUITS & SYSTEMS
		GROUP at the UNIVERSITY OF UPPSALA. Although founded quite
		recently, it is well known for its work in the
		non-destructive testing field, both ultrasonic and eddy
		currents.  The Group participates in two BRITE EURAM
		projects and collaborates with Swedish Industry (SWEDISH
		NUCLEAR FUEL AND WASTE MANAGEMENT CO., ABB, SAAB) as well
		as international companies (AEROSPATIALE, DASSAULT, IMRA in
		FRANCE and TWI in the UNITED KINGDOM).
		The company is well known for its expertise in the field of
		ultrasonic signal processing, array technology and
		ultrasonic modelling.  TSONIC has its own ultrasonic array
		system which can be used to verify and calibrate the
		developed equipment.
		The company, together with NDT SYSTEMS (FRANCE), will be
		responsible for the scientific part of the project.
11. Status of agreement between participants
	The partners are currently studying the agreement which
	will mainly cover the relationships between them.
	SANDVIK renounces any right to this technology, preferring
	to keep the competitive edge it will gain from using it.

PART II : ADDITIONAL MEASURES REQUESTED
12. Additional measures requested
	NO SUPPORTIVE MEASURES ARE REQUESTED
	   - No action specified
13. Competent authorities
	NO SUPPORTIVE MEASURES ARE REQUESTED
		No authority specified.

14. Authorities responsible for progress report to high level group
	NO SUPPORTIVE MEASURES ARE REQUESTED
		No authority specified

PART III : OPTIONAL SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
15. Application/market
	Two kinds of competitors are known - some rare subsidiaries
	of large companies and very small specialised teams.  In
	both cases, everybody is working according to conventional
	technologies: this means single element probes, rotating
	mechanically around the tube with very complex and
	expensive systems.  Some of those companies have been able
	to customise their products in a specific field (mainly
	nuclear or petrochemicals) but cannot match other
	specifications.  In all cases, prices cannot be changed,
	due to the difficulty in industrialising the mechanical
	components.
	
	This market is growing as tubes are used more and more in
	the industry and, furthermore, a very important tube
	replacement market (NUKEM has already set up almost 150
	systems around the world) must be added.  Also, due to the
	development of ISO standards, customers are increasing
	requiring the strict respect of inspection norms.
	
	Another new market concerns the inspection in situ of fuel
	tubes.  This will increase considerably because of the
	changing of materials used, prohibiting the use of eddy
	currents.
	
	Both cases indicate that this technology has a lot to offer
	lot, firstly in terms of cost and productivity and,
	secondly, in ease of use.  It also enables sensitivity to
	be significantly improved.
	
	The fact that we form a group of equipment manufacturers,
	scientists and main companies competent in using this
	application provides the main guarantees of success.
	
	We can project a market of more than 300 systems over the
	next ten years.
	
	NDT SYSTEMS is interested in selling the largest number
	of systems.  SANDVIK is interested in taking advantage of
	the best part of this new technology, thus putting them
	ahead of their competitors as they will acquire superior
	expertise in this technology thanks to their active
	participation to this project.

16. Location of development work
	- NDT SYSTEMS
	  at CHASSENEUIL DU POITOU - FRANCE
	- SANDVIK STEEL AB
	  at SANDVIKEN - SWEDEN
	- TSONIC
	  at UPPSALA - SWEDEN

17. Where and by whom is development to be exploited initially
	- NDT SYSTEMS
	- SANDVIK STEEL AB

	This project will first be applied by SANDVIK, in the tube
	manufacturing field.  Secondly, TECNATOM will apply it on
	services in situ, once the code has been established.  NDT
	SYSTEMS will launch it on the market once the qualification
	has been agreed upon.

18. Partners sought
	No.