Skyriders provides NDT inspection at Eskom power stations

May 2018 News

Rope access specialist Skyriders has been honing its non-destructive testing (NDT) expertise since 2002, having received approval from Eskom to conduct this specialist service at its power-station fleet.

NDT forms part of a holistic wear failure system that Eskom has in place for the maintenance and repair programme at its power stations. This ranges from visual inspection through to ultrasonic wall-thickness measurement (UT) and dye-penetrant or magnetic particle testing, to name a few. “All of these inspection methods are aimed at determining the current condition and any defects in the various components,” explains Skyriders marketing manager, Mike Zinn.

As a large electricity utility, Eskom has rigorous processes and procedures with regard to repair and maintenance. While the bulk of its NDT services are provided by contractors using traditional scaffolding, Skyriders comes into its own where confined spaces and difficult to reach areas are concerned.

The bulk of Skyriders’ work for Eskom is based on UT wall-thickness measurement and visual inspection, with dye-penetrant and magnetic particle testing a close second.

The importance of NDT for maintenance purposes is underlined by the fact that, if a power-station boiler experiences a tube rupture due to wear, it can cause extensive damage, which necessitate a shutdown for inspection and repair. This can translate into load losses for the national grid.

Skyriders offers a full suite of inspection services, from NDT to rope access. Its in-house expertise includes concrete repair, confined spaces, painting, bolting, rigging and welding, general work at height and the use of collision tolerant drones. “Our technicians are not only qualified and highly skilled in rope access, but also have expertise in critical inspection methodologies such as NDT,” concludes Zinn.

For more information contact Mike Zinn, Skyriders, +27 (0)11 312 1418, [email protected], www.ropeaccess.co.za

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