Eddy Current Theory
Eddy Current Theory
Eddy Current Theory
Eddy Currents are closed loops of induced current circulating in planes perpendicular to the magnetic flux. They normally travel parallel to the coil's winding and the flow is limited to the area of the inducing magnetic field. Eddy Currents concentrate near to the surface adjacent to an excitation coil and their strength decreases with distance from the coil i.e. Eddy Current density decreases exponentially with depth. This phenomenon is known as the skin effect and the explanation is shown in Diagram 1
Diagram 1:
AC
Skin effect arises when the Eddy Currents flowing in the test object at any depth produce magnetic fields which oppose the primary field, thus reducing the net magnetic flux and causing a decrease in current flow as the depth increases. Alternatively, Eddy Currents near the surface can be viewed as shielding the coil's magnetic field, thereby weakening the magnetic field at greater depths and reducing induced currents. Eddy Current is used in the inspection of ferromagnetic and non-ferromagnetic materials. The principle of Eddy Current based inspection is explained below.
Depth of penetration
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Diagram 2:
sek 1
i u
x
x
prim
x
sek 2
Alternate current induces a primary field in a coil The primary field induces Eddy Currents in the tube wall The Eddy Currents induce a secondary field, which has an affect to the coil impedance Defects in the tube wall are changing the secondary field and consequently the impedance of the coil The change of the coil impedance can be measured in input/output phase and amplitude
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The differential channel is ideal for detecting local defects while the absolute channel is ideal for detecting gradual defects. Diagram 3 shows the Eddy Current signal response of a differential and absolute coil system to local and gradual defects. The differential channel shows two sharp peaks for local defects while the absolute channel defines the local defects with a big peak. Diagram 4 shows the phase angle analysis of defect signals with different depths.
Diagram 3:
Signal Amplitude
Signal Amplitude
Diagram 4:
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1
0 rf
0 r f
= = = = =
Standard Depth of penetration [mm] 2 Material electric conductivity [ /mm ] Absolute permeability Relative permeability Frequency
Non ferromagnetic materials have relative and absolute permeability value of 1. The standard depth penetration of the Eddy Current field lines depends on the material electric conductivity and the selected frequency. Therefore, non ferromagnetic materials can be well inspected with the modes and channels as described in the Multiple Frequency Eddy Current Technique. Ferromagnetic materials, on the other hand, have relative and absolute permeability values far larger than 1. Consequently, the Eddy Current field line depth of penetration is very limited. This is sufficient for surface defect detection such as surface braking crack detection in carbon steel materials. This formula shows that the conventional Eddy Current technique is not capable of inspecting and detecting on either side of the ferromagnetic tube walls. Therefore, other extended Eddy Current techniques like the Magnetic Biased Eddy Current Technique and Remote Field Eddy Current Technique are used to overcome the described limitation.
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