Ultrasound Essentials 1 - Applications Knowledge

Course Description

You want to implement a world-class ultrasound program and our virtual training platform empowers your technicians to learn on their terms and pace. But many training platforms can leave students with a feeling of disconnect. Therefore, our community of subject matter experts created the Ultrasound Essentials experience, a bundle of short modules designed to kickstart anyone on an engaged ultrasound journey.

Ultrasound Essentials One (UE1) is the complete learning package for any condition monitoring technician who strives to become proficient across all elements of ultrasound inspection. Led by virtual instructors, our on-demand modules can be accessed from the comfort of your home, your office, or on-the-go somewhere in between.

In UE1 students tackle three knowledge domains - Foundational, Applications, and Practical – as they gather the skills and confidence necessary to safely address every inspection task.

The Foundational Knowledge domain lays the footings for understanding ultrasound and its significant role as the first line of defense against unplanned downtime, energy waste, and unsustainable practices.

The Applications Knowledge domain connects the dots between foundational knowledge and how condition monitoring technicians use ultrasound to advance reliability of their assets while creating a winning culture.

The Practical Knowledge domain ties foundational and applications to the actual hardware and software technicians use every day in-the-field. Putting knowledge into practice engages and empowers inspectors with the skills they need to apply ultrasound solutions in the field and office.

Course Goals

Our primary goal is to transform condition monitoring technicians into competent, confident inspectors. And since competent inspectors are safe inspectors, you can expect every module to touch on essential habits for working safely.

UE1 sets the standard by upholding the unique and significant position ultrasound holds as the frontline technology for condition monitoring, energy management, quality control, and overall asset reliability.

Application Knowledge (UE1-A) - Course Modules

Within the Applications body of knowledge there are ten modules essential to creating an understanding of all that is possible with ultrasound technology from an asset condition monitoring context.

1. Intro to Ultrasound Essentials - Applications

   Module Type: video | Duration: 2 minutes | Module ID: UE1-A01

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   Introduction to Ultrasound Essentials One (Applications) provides additional insight about what to expect from the Application Body of Knowledge.

2. The Eight Application Pillars

   Module Type: video | Duration: 40 minutes | Module ID: UE1-A02

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   Ultrasound allows maintenance and reliability to hear above the noise of the factory floor. By screening out low frequency sounds, inspectors hear sounds consistent with machine system defects. These defects produce ultrasound from three phenomena. Friction, Impacting and Turbulent Flow (FIT). FIT is word play in its plainest form. If a defect symptom produces Friction, Impacting, or Turbulence, then it is a FIT for ultrasound. It’s really that simple and from FIT we identified 8 application categories for ultrasound. We call them the 8 pillars of ultrasound and they are explained in detail in this module.

3. Condition Indicators

   Module Type: video | Duration: 34 minutes | Module ID: UE1-A03

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   SDT’s unique measurements are feedback mechanisms for truly understanding the specific condition of any asset. The Four Condition Indicators (4CI) take inspections beyond the single decibel and elevate the meanings derived from static trends. Understand how 4Ci develops understanding of the four stages of bearing failure. Learn where to apply RMS (dBµV) maxRMS, Peak, and Crest Factor for trending and advanced analysis.

4. Lubrication

   Module Type: video | Duration: 20 minutes | Module ID: UE1-A04

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   Most bearings do not reach their L10 life and in most cases, it is due to poor lubrication practices. That can mean contamination, not greasing often enough, too often, or with the wrong quantities of grease. Sometimes bearings are greased with the wrong grease type, or incompatible grease types are mixed. The grease nipple feeding a bearing might be installed in the wrong place leading to grease not reaching its intended destination. Many lube departments still used outdated calculations to determine grease replenishment intervals.

5. Mechanical

   Module Type: video | Duration: 25 minutes | Module ID: UE1-A05

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   Mechanical applications where ultrasound serves as a frontline defender are vast. Many inspectors think only of rotating assets like bearings or gearboxes. For ultrasound there are many more opportunities for finding wins in assets that don’t rotate. Learn how to apply ultrasound for condition monitoring bearings, gears, chain drives, direct and flexible couplings, linear bearings, encoders, and more. Understand sensor selection, instrument settings, and data collection tricks and tips for success.

6. Leaks

   Module Type: video | Duration: 41 minutes | Module ID: UE1-A06

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   Most facilities without a compressed air leak management program don’t realize that as much as 40% of compressor capacity might be spent satisfying leakage. This course raises awareness about the true cost of compressed air leaks, discusses methods for finding, documenting, and verifying repair of compressed air leaks.

7. Electrical

   Module Type: video | Duration: 20 minutes | Module ID: UE1-A07

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   Unreliable electrical assets can cost millions of dollars per year in downtime and repairs and, they have the potential to maim and even kill unsuspecting workers. But if proper inspection techniques using ultrasound technology are taught, then inspectors can help prevent many unnecessary injuries. This short course addresses safety guidelines for inspections, what causes partial discharge and how to identify it at the source using various ultrasound sensors and techniques.

8. Valves

   Module Type: video | Duration: 30 minutes | Module ID: UE1-A08

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   Valves are critical components in most manufacturing operations, and they need to perform their engineered function when called upon. But when it comes to valve maintenance, many strategies are run-to-failure and for reliability leaders that simply isn’t good enough. This short course looks at a variety of types of valves used in industry, and the common failure modes detectable with ultrasound. In this module our instructor teaches safe inspection techniques, equipment selection, and how to identify valve function through proper sensor placement.

9. Steam

   Module Type: video | Duration: 23 minutes | Module ID: UE1-A09

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   A steam system is a complex array of components engineered to deliver steam from the boiler room to various points of use throughout the facility and many of those components can be monitored with ultrasound. But like many “silent assets” in your customer’s facility, the steam system is too often maintained on a run-to-failure strategy. Traps are an essential component in a larger, more complex system and they serve a critical role in maintaining energy efficiency, transferring heat, and maintaining pure steam. But if traps are neglected then the risk extends to the entire steam system. This module teaches maintenance personnel how to include routine inspections with effective techniques to identify faulty traps and tag them for replacement.

Course Takeaways - Ultrasound Essentials 1 - Applications Knowledge

• Discover the eight application pillars of ultrasound inspection.

• Listen beyond the single decibel learning SDT’s unique FOUR condition indicators.

• Tie Foundational knowledge to Application knowledge.

• Learn how to apply ultrasound to mechanical assets that do not rotate, but still create friction and impacting as symptoms of their failure modes.

Who Should Take This Training?

• Condition Monitoring Technicians

• Millwrights

• Lube Technicians

• Electricians

• Planners

• Supervisors

• Maintenance Managers

• Reliability Leaders

About SDT Ultrasound Solutions

SDT provides ultrasound solutions that help our customers gain a better understanding about the health of their factory. We help them predict failures, control energy costs, and improve product quality while contributing to the overall reliability of their assets.

https://sdtultrasound.com