Furnace Tube Inspection System (FTIS®)

• Improves heater reliability and decreases failure risk
• Improves maintenance accuracy through remaining life assessment
• Eliminates the need for most conventional NDT methods
• Minimizes offline status with time efficient inspections
• Field reports typically generated within 24 hours of inspection completion

• Process or fired heaters
• Steam generators
• HRSG boilers
• Steam reformer convection sections
• Steam cracker convection systems
• Various coil configurations (serpentine, arbor, etc.)
• Multiple fired heater tube diameters throughout coil length
• Fired heater coils containing plug headers (mule ears)
• Coils connected to common headers using Quest Integrity’s Header Delivery System (HDS)

Q: What is the Furnace Tube Inspection System (FTIS), and what types of assets does it inspect?

A: FTIS is a non-tethered, free-swimming inline ultrasonic inspection tool that uses ultra-high-resolution technology to detect and quantify metal loss and deformations in piping and coils. It is widely used across the refining and petrochemical industries to inspect fired heaters, furnaces, and steam-generating assets.

Q: How does FTIS technology improve furnace reliability and safety?

A: By using ultra-high-resolution inspection technology to identify flaws and defects, FTIS provides a highly accurate assessment of the condition of piping and coils. This level of insight enables safer, more reliable, and uninterrupted operation of critical assets.

Q: How does FTIS compare to competitor offerings?

A: FTIS combines advanced technology with extensive industry experience to deliver highly accurate and comprehensive inspections. While many smart pigging providers claim to detect localized wall loss such as pitting and fretting, only a few technologies, including FTIS, can consistently detect and quantify both metal loss and deformation.

This capability leads to more accurate results, improved maintenance planning, and reduced risk of unexpected tube failures. FTIS is supported by nearly 30 years of experience in damage detection and tube failure prevention. No other provider offers the same depth of condition assessment data for fired heaters and furnaces, or the same expertise in collecting, interpreting, assessing, and reporting inspection findings.

Q: What is the inspection process and typical turnaround time for FTIS projects?

A: FTIS requires minimal support from customers during planning and execution. The tools are portable and can be mobilized globally within 24 to 48 hours. The system is propelled through piping coils using pumps and a medium such as water and requires only a single access point for both insertion and retrieval due to its bidirectional capability.

Ultra-high-density data is collected at speeds of 2 to 4 feet per second, or 0.6 to 1.2 meters per second, allowing most coils to be inspected within 15 to 30 minutes. Critical findings can be made available within hours upon request, and a detailed preliminary report is typically delivered within 24 hours after all coils have been inspected.

Q: How are inspection results delivered and used for maintenance planning?

A: Inspection results are delivered in tabular format, supported by executive and detailed summaries, along with graphical representations of the coils. Each indication is classified with detailed wall loss and deformation categories, providing insight into the type of damage and supporting improved root cause analysis, engineering assessments, and future mitigation strategies.

Examples of reported conditions include internal pitting, fretting, bulging, dents, internal fouling, lamination, and suspected carburization. This level of detail enables more effective maintenance planning and exceeds the level of reporting typically provided by other inspection methods.