Internal tube inspection
Inspect from the inside – where damage begins. FOERSTER’s Internal Tube Inspection with the LEO-iScan system combines eddy current and laser technology to measure and analyse reformer tubes from the inside. The system provides a 360° view of the internal surface, detects cracks and creep, and delivers repeatable, high-precision data for reliable life assessment.
The LEO-iScan system enables the internal inspection of centrifugally cast reformer catalyst tubes with unmatched precision. Designed and built by FOERSTER, it combines a powerful four-axis laser unit with a proprietary eddy current system. The inspection starts at the top of the tube flange and continues down to the catalyst support grid – typically performed when the catalyst has been removed.
Because the probes operate close to the inner surface, where creep damage often begins, the system can identify even early-stage deformation and cracking. Variations in electrical conductivity and magnetic permeability reveal micro-fissures, thermal fatigue and local wall damage. Simultaneously, the lasers measure the inner diameter (ID) along the full tube length, providing a 3D, 360° profile that visualises creep growth and dimensional changes.
The method detects all three major damage mechanisms – cracks without expansion, diametrical growth, and combined defects – and delivers repeatable results over multiple inspection cycles. LEO-iScan also allows the monitoring of tubes below the furnace floor or those inaccessible from the outside, offering complete coverage of the reformer assembly.
With FOERSTER’s internal inspection, operators gain detailed insight into tube condition, eliminate potential causes of failure and ensure safe, efficient plant operation.