New White Paper on the Benefits of Handheld XRF Analysis

Phil Black - PII Editor 06/04/2010

90 1 minute read

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A white paper has recently been published by Niton UK, in association with Tom Anderson and Jon Shein of Thermo Scientific in the US, highlighting the benefits of portable, handheld XRF instruments for positive material identification. With this becoming a requirement, both on site, under the API 510 / 570 / 653 standards, and also for suppliers to the petrochemical and process industries, handheld instruments have an increasing part to play.

The white paper identifies why PMI is now a necessity, owing to significant accidents that have occurred at plants where components of the wrong materials have been fitted. Items such as valves and flanges, pipes and pumps, even fasteners need to be made of the correct material, and not be substituted, even accidentally, to maintain the integrity of the plant installation.

The paper includes sections on the science of XRF; the latest advances in detector technology; the ability to now analyse the welds and filler material used to join components; plus the facility to take digital images for reference and evidence. Also included is a discussion of the role of handheld XRF in PMI testing, including the need for suitable operator training, again to the latest API standard.

The only truly safe method of implementing PMI is to inspect and evaluate 100% of all components being utilised in the critical elements of an installation. The most appropriate and the safest time to undertake this is not only as the component parts arrive on site or are taken from the store, but also once they have been physically installed.

Instruments such as the newly introduced Niton GOLDD handheld XRF analysers are compact and lightweight, allowing operators and inspectors to carry and utilise them in almost all situations, including when working at height or similar. Their operation is also much faster, providing a laboratory quality chemical analysis and a positive identification in only 2-5 seconds.
The white paper is available as a printed or an electronic PDF file from Niton UK.

Please send a request to E-mail: info@nitonuk.co.uk or call 01256 397860. Alternatively, details of Niton’s handheld XRF instruments can be seen at www.nitonuk.co.uk.