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GE Introduces The Latest Addition to Its PACE Pressure Instrumentation Platform

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 13:29:18 GMT

GE Introduces The Latest Addition to Its PACE Pressure

Instrumentation Platform

The PACE 1000 Offers High Precision and Stability

Groby, Leicester – 8 November 2011. The PACE 1000 pressure indicator is the latest in the new generation of PACE high precision, modular pressure instrumentation for rack-mounting, test bench or bench top applications from the Sensing business of GE Measurement & Control solutions. It is available in three grades of precision performance and a choice of pressure ranges, pneumatic and hydraulic, and features internal data logging as standard. It will find application throughout the industrial, process and metrology sectors and an aeronautical option provides all pressure indications in aeronautical units.

As Mark Singleton, product manager for the new PACE 1000, explains, “This is an exciting addition to the PACE platform and establishes GE’s Sensing business as a leading player in the precision pressure indicator market. As well as being a versatile and flexible stand-alone solution, the PACE 1000 also integrates seamlessly with our recently launched 4Sight , web-based calibration and maintenance software to provide a fully automated and powerful workstation.”

The inherent precision and stability of the PACE 1000 is derived from the instrument’s incorporation of GE’s range of digitally-characterized, piezo-resistive and resonant pressure sensors. This has allowed three grades of accuracy, up to 0.005% of full-scale deflection, to be offered to suit specific requirements, while long term stability is up to 0.01% of reading over a year. The instrument’s internal logging feature simplifies tasks such as sensor- and leak-testing and data is available through an on-screen display or can be downloaded to a PC.

Pressure ranges are available up to 1000bar (14500psi) gauge and absolute and up to three individual channels can be displayed on the instrument’s high resolution touch screen. A touch screen and a high-resolution ¼ VGA display ensure that the PACE 1000 is extremely easy to operate and read. A simple icon menu allows easy and intuitive set-up of controller parameters and connectivity is via RS232, IEEE, Ethernet and USB providing for easy PC and peripherals connection, the use of set-up software and diagnostics downloads for technical support. A wide range of options includes a leak test facility, a switch test capability for automating the testing of pressure switch devices, volt-free contacts for control of peripheral devices such as vacuum pumps and ovens and analog output to allow the instrument to interface with PC or PLC I/O cards,remote displays or other data logging equipment.

About Measurement & Control Solutions

About GE

GE (NYSE: GE) is an advanced technology, services and finance company taking on the world’s

toughest challenges. Dedicated to innovation in energy, health, transportation and infrastructure, GE operates in more than 100 countries and employs about 300,000 people worldwide. For more

information, visit the company's Web site at www.ge.com.

GE serves the energy sector by developing and deploying technology that helps make efficient use of natural resources. With more than 90,000 global employees and 2010 revenues of $38 billion, GE Energy www.ge.com/energy is one of the world’s leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technologies. The businesses that comprise GE Energy—GE Power & Water, GE Energy Services and GE Oil & Gas—work together to provide integrated product and service solutions in all areas of the energy industry including coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy; renewable resources such as water, wind, solar and biogas; and other alternative fuels.

GE Energy

http://www.ge-mcs.com/en/co2/wall-mount/ventostat-8000-series.html

GE’s New Pressure Sensor is First With New TERPS Technology

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 20:15:04 GMT

GE’s New Pressure Sensor is First With New TERPS Technology

Offers High Accuracy, Stability and Flexibility

GROBY, LEICESTERSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM—October 12, 2011—GE’s (NYSE: GE) Trench Etched Resonant Pressure (TERPS) technology is now available for the first time in a range of new pressure sensors from the sensing business of GE Energy, Measurement & Control Solutions. The RPS 8000 and the DPS 8000 resonant silicon pressure sensors offer accuracy and stability greater by a factor of ten over existing piezoresistive pressure sensors and significantly extend the pressure range capability conventionally associated with resonating pressure technology (RPT) sensors. The new sensors feature physical isolation from the pressure medium through a metallic isolation diaphragm and an oil-filled chamber, and this enables a very robust packaging, suitable for harsh environments. A wide selection of electrical and pressure connectors is available to suit specific requirements. Typical applications range from aerospace to sub-sea and from process engineering and metrology to industrial instrumentation.

As Ian Abbott, product manager for pressure sensors, explains, “Through our Druck product line, we have been able to offer a resonant silicon product, the RPT Series, for some years. The new TERPS technology is the result of extensive research and development into the design and manufacture of silicon resonating pressure sensors both within GE and in collaboration with universities. The RPS 8000 and DPS 8000 sensors incorporate this technology and feature all the inherent features of resonant silicon, but with significantly greater capability in terms of pressure range (up to 70 bar), temperature range (-40°C to +85°C) and mechanical packaging. In addition, the bulk micromachining of the silicon, a technology we have migrated from our advanced sensors business, greatly improves product delivery dates.”

The new sensors operate in essentially the same way as an RPT sensor. The silicon structure is driven into resonance by the application of an electrostatic field and when pressure is applied to a diaphragm, the silicon resonator is stretched, changing the frequency, much like a guitar string. This change in frequency relates directly to the applied pressure. The RPS 8000 and the DPS 8000 sensors differ only in their respective outputs. The DPS 8000 incorporates an integral microprocessor and RS485/RS232 outputs to provide direct digital output. The RPS 8000 delivers a TTL frequency output and a mV temperature measurement from an integral temperature diode. These can be combined in a customer’s own digital equipment to provide a pressure reading. The RPS 8000 is ideal for OEMs and systems developers who wish to incorporate high accuracy, stable pressure measurement

The TERPS technology employed by the new sensors uses three major manufacturing and packaging techniques. Deep reactive ion etching allows the creation of complex and arbitrary geometries within the resonating structure. This optimizes the design and performance of the resonator to make higher pressure and temperature ranges possible. The use of silicon fusion bonding allows for the machining of separate components of the sensor to be processed separately and then fused together retaining the properties of single crystal silicon. This provides greater flexibility in the design of the sensor element making higher pressure and temperature ranges possible. A new frequency detection method that provides a much stronger signal from the resonator has made it possible to package the sensor element in a way that can be mechanically isolated from the process media. This is a significant advancement for a sensor of this performance class over other high accuracy technologies that are typically limited to dry non-corrosive gases. In addition, associated electronics can be further from a TERPS sensor, which permits operation in higher temperature environments.

Download a photo of the sensor here: http://www.ge-mcs.com/en/news-and-press/press-photos.html.

About Measurement & Control Solutions

Measurement & Control Solutions delivers accuracy, productivity and safety to a wide range of industries, including oil and gas, power generation, aerospace, transportation and healthcare. It has more than 40 facilities in 25 countries and is part of GE Oil & Gas. For further information, visit www.ge-mcs.com.

About GE

GE also serves the energy sector by providing technology and service solutions that are based on a commitment to quality and innovation. The company continues to invest in new technology solutions and grow through strategic acquisitions to strengthen its local presence and better serve customers around the world. The businesses that comprise GE Energy—GE Power & Water, GE Energy Management and GE Oil & Gas—work together with more than 100,000 global employees and 2010 revenues of $38 billion, to provide integrated product and service solutions in all areas of the energy industry including coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy; renewable resources such as water, wind, solar and biogas; as well as other alternative fuels and new grid modernization technologies to meet 21st century energy needs.

PRESS CONTACTS

David Jervis
GE Energy, Measurement & Control Solutions
+44 1925 604095
+44 7720 557346(mobile)
david.jervis@ge.com

GE news
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New Wall Mount Telaire Humidity and Temperature Transmitter from GE

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 17:30:06 GMT

New Wall Mount Telaire Humidity and Temperature Transmitter from GE

Can prevent condensation and help improve HVAC efficiency

Billerica, MA - 24 October 2011 - The new, Telaire T8700 wall mount humidity and temperature transmitter from the Advanced Sensors business of GE. Measurement & Control Solutions can help to control building energy efficiency, maintain a comfortable environment and minimize condensation problems. It offers accurate and repeatable measurement and transmission and its easy installation fits it for application in a wide range of commercial buildings.

“Precise data on humidity and temperature is vital for efficient and safe HVAC control,” says Chris Ranwell, Global Product manager for the Advanced Sensors business, “Condensation can lead to mold and associated building decay and health risks. Moreover, considerable energy savings can be made by closely controlling the relative humidity, as this can prevent unnecessary air cooling. The new Telaire T8700 complements our line of award winning Ventostat’s for CO2 demand control ventilation and give customers simple low cost options for humidity control.”

The new transmitter uses GE's own ChipCap sensor that has very fast response times and long-term stability. The plug-in ChipCap sensor module also allows quick and simple field replacement eliminating the need to replace or return the complete transmitter for recalibration. The transmitter has an accuracy of +/- 2.5% and has standard analog outputs, including 0-5V and 4-20mA, that are all user selectable. Temperature measurements can be made by the active signal conditioned output as well as the standard passive 10K Type II thermistor.

The T8700 is available in two sizes to suit the European and US markets and is offered in display and non-display options. All models are easy to install, through a two-piece enclosure and simple terminal blocks.

For further information, please visit:

http://www.ge-mcs.com/en/moisture-and-humidity/relative-humidity-building-automation-transmitters.html

About Measurement & Control Solutions

About GE Energy

GE (NYSE: GE) is a diversified infrastructure, finance and media company taking on the world’s toughest challenges. From aircraft engines and power generation to financial services, health care solutions and television programming, GE operates in more than 100 countries and employs about 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com.

GE serves the energy sector by developing and deploying technology that helps make efficient use of natural resources. With nearly 85,000 global employees and 2010 revenues of $38 billion, GE Energy www.ge.com/energy is one of the world’s leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technologies. The businesses that comprise GE Energy - GE Power & Water, GE Energy Services and GE Oil & Gas - work together to provide integrated product and service solutions in all areas of the energy industry including coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy; renewable resources such as water, wind, solar and biogas; and other alternative fuels.

GE Energy

Non-destructive testing is a technique employed in a number of different industries to verify structural integrity, but what requirements are specific to aviation, and what equipment and expertise are used to satisfy them? Joanne Perry went in search of the answers.

GE NDT solutions featured in the Aug/Sep 2011 issue of Aircraft Technology Engineering and ...

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 13:09:42 GMT

Testing times for structural integrity: NDT to the rescue

Download the article

In April this year, Southwest Airlines flight 812 from Phoenix to Sacramento in the US came close to disaster when the skin of the 737-300 tore open at 34,000ft. The aircraft landed safely at Yuma International Airport, Arizona, with only two minor injuries sustained, but the incident sparked a major investigation which caused the cancellation of 300 Southwest flights. Seventy-nine Southwest 737 aircraft were subsequently checked for the lap-joint fatigue cracking which caused the depressurisation incident.

The method stipulated by Boeing’s service bulletin (SB), enforced by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness directive (AD), was high-frequency eddy current testing. This classic non-destructive technique proved its usefulness by detecting cracks in five other aircraft, which were then removed from service for repairs.

Non-destructive testing (NDT) can be defined as the assessment of material integrity without compromising future use, for example by taking samples for analysis. It is a collection of processes used across a number of different industries, such as power generation and construction as well as transportation. The simplest form is a visual inspection, aided by remote visual inspection (RVI) equipment such as borescopes for areas that would be inaccessible without disassembly. However, this method is only useful for superficial problems and is heavily dependent upon the skill and dedication of the technician.

The American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT) lists six basic methodological categories: mechanical and optical; penetrating radiation; electromagnetic and electronic; sonic and ultrasonic; thermal and infrared; and chemical and analytical testing. The ASNT supplements these with image generation and signal image analysis. Varieties of NDT too numerous to mention branch out from each main type.

In aviation, NDT is used not only during post-incident investigations as in the case of Southwest, but during component manufacture, to preclude flaws, and in the maintenance and repair of both airframes and engines to detect not only cracks but disbonding, corrosion, scratches and other problems or damage.

Steven Shepard, president of Thermal Wave Imaging (TWI), based in Michigan, US, explains some of the requirements of aerospace NDT: "Speed and economy are essential for NDT equipment in almost any industry in today's economy. However, aviation requires a higher degree of accuracy and reliability than most". The Southwest incident provides a timely example of the important role NDT has to play in verifying the airworthiness of aircraft and the safety of passengers. Mike Fortman, president of NDT service provider Aerotechnics in Minnesota, US, says that "nearly all aircraft components require some sort of special attention or detailed inspection". With a constant
drive to reduce aircraft weight because of its impact on fuel burn, parts are called upon to perform their respective functions at high load relative to material strength. They must furthermore withstand the stress created by repeated loading and unloading of the aircraft, temperature and pressure changes, and other atmospheric conditions such as lightning strikes.

The need for NDT does, however, vary across the aircraft. As Mark Ginn, chief inspector at Delta TechOps, explains, many components "require special attention when receiving NDT as a result of their criticality to safe flight", whether they are located in the engines, landing gear or airframe. Albrecht Maurer, senior product manager testing systems, at GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies agrees that the difference in safety requirements is the main factor in determining the intensity of the NDT which is conducted. "Primary structures receive more NDT attention than secondary or tertiary structures," he states.

Shepard adds that, in an additional complication for the aerospace industry, many aviation inspections "involve large areas in which the component construction may vary considerably". A central aspect of this variation stems from the material used in manufacture, but further considerations are the nature of the suspected flaw and the conditions of inspection, says Philippe Boiteux, COO managing director of NDT Expert, an NDT solutions provider based in France. The latter include the expertise of the company and technicians concerned, and whether it is a manufacturing or maintenance operation performing the NDT. Maurer points out that the choice of NDT technique is also governed by manufacturer and certifier approvals.

MRO provider Delta TechOps maintains a broad portfolio of NDT capabilities in order to balance out the strengths and weaknesses of the different methods: eddy current; magnetic particle; fluorescent penetrant; ultrasonic; radiographic; and infrared testing. As an example, Ginn explains that the magnetic particle method, which involves the dusting of a magnetised surface with iron particles to highlight anomalies, cannot be applied to non-ferrous materials. In addition, although magnetic particle NDT can be used to identify subsurface defects, its effectiveness decreases with depth. It also requires the removal of paint from the test surface. Meanwhile, eddy current testing, which involves the generation of electrical currents by a changing magnetic field and the noting of any flow disruption, cannot be performed on non-metallic materials such as composites.

NDT for composites

"Infrared (thermal imaging), ultrasonic testing (resonance, low frequency pitch-catch, pulse echo, through transmission), and radiography (digital or film x-ray) need to be used to find flaws in composite materials," according to Fortman. GE Sensing & Inspection’s Maurer believes that for such applications ultrasonic testing (UT) "is the most reliable method with least technical restriction, i.e. minimum/maximum thickness and complexity of structure".

In UT, both geometric surfaces and internal integrity can be analysed by the transmission of high-frequency sound waves into the test material. Resonance testing in its most rudimentary form consists of a "tap" test, which is what the name suggests, but is computerised at the highest levels. In through transmission, a transmitter is positioned on one side of the test material and a receiver on the other, while pulse echo is a single-sided technique for less accessible areas, and in the pitch-catch method the transmission occurs at an angle and is useful for the testing of non-linear objects. Linear array UT involves a single source of transmission, while a more complex and more commonly used version with multiple pulsing elements - phased array - creates a kind of steerable "searchlight" for inspection.

Newly launched NDT products in the UT category include the "Bondtracer" unveiled by GE in May this year in collaboration with Boeing. This is a portable composites inspection tool which is designed to enable mechanics to assess minor impact damage at an airport gate. The quick feedback produced by "Bondtracer" determines whether an aircraft is fit to fly or requires further investigation and repair.
In radiographic testing (RT), gamma or X-rays - which one depends upon the thickness of the material in question - are directed through the test object onto a film, which produces a shadowgraph depicting internal features. As in the well-known medical application, variations in density are represented by lighter and darker areas. Radiography has the advantage of removing disassembly requirements, but brings with it the disadvantage of safety concerns. Owing to the hazardous nature of X-rays and radioactive isotopes such as iridium 192, which produce gamma rays, extra precautions must be taken when using this technique, such as protective equipment and warning systems.

Shepard asserts that thermography is also a good option for composites, because "the cost of a large-scale thermography system is significantly less than the alternatives". As a result, "many companies have replaced C-scan [UT] systems with thermography". In thermography, the test material is heated so that the temperature decay can be observed over time, with structural anomalies disrupting normal cooling. However, Shepard notes that the unprocessed images from the standard infrared camera used to detect the thermal patterns "are not sufficient for many aviation NDT requirements".

TWI therefore uses a thermographic signal reconstruction (TSR) processing method which analyses the time evolution of each pixel, enabling not only the identification of anomalies but quantitative measurement of thickness, thermal diffusivity or porosity. He says this effectively allows a user to "drill down" into the test item. "This combination of fast area coverage and the ability to ‘self-validate’ image results using time response is a unique advantage of thermography," he states. Other advantages include a fair tolerance of non-planar geometries, surface characteristics and ambient conditions. "The most fundamental limitation is the one imposed by the physics of diffusion, which requires that the diameter of a subsurface feature is larger than its depth," states Shepard.

Maurer says that, in summary, the NDT methods which can be used for composites are "ideal to detect lack of bonding (delamination) as well as porosity over the whole area of each component without impacting its properties". This is because composites “rely strongly on the perfect bonding between individual layers and on absence of pores which may develop during the hot curing process".

Flaw characteristics and inspection conditions

The properties of material flaws which impact on NDT include size, depth and accessibility, says Fortman. He gives the example of rotating engine parts such as turbine blades and discs, which may contain very small defects that require the use of special penetrants and/or automated scanning. In penetrant testing (PT), a simple NDT method based on the capillary action of liquids, a solution of visible or fluorescent dye is applied to the test object, before the excess solution is removed to highlight any breaks in the surface. A developer is used to draw the penetrant out of the defects. Visible dyes rely on colour contrast between the penetrant and the developer, while fluorescent dyes are activated by ultraviolet light. However, as Ginn points out, a key drawback is that penetrants can only detect superficial discontinuities. The chemicals may also damage composite materials. Care must be taken in any case to properly clean off the penetrant, or risk misleading results. This method, like magnetic particle testing, also necessitates the removal of paint from the test material.

As regards the differences between NDT for manufacturing and maintenance applications, Maurer explains: "Parts with MRO-testing requirements demand instant image output rather than time consuming scanning processes, e.g. impact analysis through shearography [optical NDT], remote visual inspection and in special cases UT testing with portable scanners." TWI, for example, provides large-scale thermographic systems for manufacturing contexts and portable/ handheld products for in-service use. There is some crossover, however. GE's Phasor XS and DM phased array UT products can be used for volumetric inspection during both manufacture and maintenance, as can the company's range of RVI equipment.

In light of the pros and cons of different NDT methods, it can be necessary to use multiple techniques during inspection. For example, the emerging NDT technique of process compensated resonance testing (PCRT) offers a high degree of objectivity through the compilation of statistical data - but relies on a known sample set to establish basic parameters. In this method, samples of defective and defect-free parts identified by destructive analysis or another NDT technique are used to build a customised software algorithm, based on the contrast between a series of natural frequencies or resonant responses from the two groups. As Greg Weaver, director of operations at Vibrant Corporation in New Mexico, US, explains: "The software is defining not only the absolute response differences, but more importantly the relationship difference across multiple responses." The system can be “taught” to recognise acceptable and unacceptable differences between components of the same type, compensating for the unintentional variation generated by even the most modern manufacturing processes.

Like other NDT types, PCRT possesses a mixture of good and bad points. On the negative side, although PCRT can detect a decline in structural integrity, it does not specify the defect type or location as would magnetic particle testing and phased array UT. However, Weaver says the technique does challenge FP and X-ray NDT, and at a comparable cost. One of the key advantages, he explains, is that PCRT can detect more than one defect type, internally and externally, in a single inspection. Additionally, it is "the only NDT method that can detect metallurgical issues such as alloy overtemp and intergranular attack". The inspection time is also impressive - between four and six seconds for the resonance test itself. Importantly, PCRT can be applied to both metallic and non-metallic parts including composites, during either manufacture or maintenance processes. "A PCRT test at the front of an MRO receiving process could save companies an enormous amount of time and money," states Weaver. "The same goes for blade manufacturing, where PCRT can not only be used as an inspection tool, but also as a process control measurement.”

In aviation, PCRT is mainly used for turbine components, including solid and hollow turbine blades, silicon nitride bearing elements and forgings/castings. Weaver believes that PCRT "should become a dominant inspection in the turbine blade world” and that it might be included in most OEM standard practice manuals within five years, bearing in mind the difficulty of making predictions. Delta TechOps received FAA approval for PCRT in September 2010, and Ginn views the technique as "an important capability in years to come and an important part of the Delta TechOps NDT portfolio".

The latest on NDT

"Even conventional techniques are permanently moving on," Boiteux observes. One of the biggest sources of change in the NDT business is the trend in airframe manufacturing toward greater proportions of composite materials. Jeff Stetson, senior product manager, ultrasonics, at GE, says that on the UT side, “composite airframes are driving some changes in equipment”. According to Boiteux, the increase over the past decade has led to an expansion of UT, thermographic and shearographic capabilities. As the composite level rises, “NDT methods such as ultrasonics, radiography, and infrared inspections become more valid,” notes Fortman. “Established methods
such as penetrant testing, magnetic particle testing, and eddy current are nearly obsolete or unusable on composite materials”.

At Delta TechOps, Ginn has witnessed the growing importance of UT, “with ultrasound being the method of choice for many composites”, but also a similar trend in eddy current testing. He adds that eddy current NDT, UT, RT and infrared testing have all “benefited from technological advancements over the last few years”.

Referring to NDT as a whole rather than composites-focused NDT, Ginn says the use of mature methods such as magnetic particle testing and FP “has remained fairly constant”. Stetson adds that for engine inspections one of the most noteworthy technological advancements has been the “huge transition from film to digital RT”, for which GE has developed products such as the DXR 250P, a digital and portable RT solution for on-wing inspections.

There is clearly a wealth of NDT equipment and expertise on the market. If the near-disaster of flight 812 is anything to go by, it is more a question of ensuring that these services are called upon as appropriate. Although eddy current testing detected cracks in a number of Southwest aircraft during the fleet-wide investigation, prior to the incident only visual inspections were required for the 737 Classic serving the flight. Nor was this the first such incident involving a Southwest aircraft; something of a track record had even led to a $7.5m settlement in 2009 for missed fuselage inspections. It seems safe to say that a little more non-destructive testing on the ground could prevent a whole lot more destruction in the air.

GE's James Chandler authored ”The Expanding World of Shrinking MEMS and Sensors” in this ...

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 15:26:03 GMT

GE Launches Turbo and Pump Symposium Tradeshow Application for iPhone and Android

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 15:13:51 GMT

GE Launches Turbo and Pump Symposium Tradeshow Application for iPhone and Android

New Application Allows Conference Attendees Connect with GE Staff and Products

Billerica, MA —September 12, 2011—GE gives Turbo and Pump Symposium attendees an exciting way to learn more about its asset monitoring, remote visual inspection, controls, and oil & gas solutions with the release of the Turbo Symposium mobile application for iPhone and Android devices. Available in the Apple App Store and Google Marketplace for free, this mobile tradeshow guide highlights GE Bently Nevada, Control Solutions, Inspection Technologies, and Oil & Gas products and gives users the ability to interact with GE staff attending the symposium.

Visit the Apple App Store to download for iPhone or the Google Marketplace to download for Android devices.

About GE MCS

Measurement & Control Solutions is a leading innovator in advanced, sensor-based measurement, non-destructive testing and inspection and condition monitoring, delivering accuracy, productivity and safety to a wide range of industries, including oil & gas, power generation, aerospace, transportation and healthcare. It is part of GE Energy Services, which provides cleaner, smarter, more efficient solutions for its customers. For further information, visit www.ge-mcs.com

About GE Oil & Gas

GE Oil & Gas (www.ge.com/oilandgas) is a world leader in advanced technology equipment and services for all segments of the oil and gas industry, from drilling and production, LNG, pipelines and storage to industrial power generation, refining and petrochemicals. GE Oil & Gas also provides pipeline integrity solutions, including inspection and data management, and designs and manufactures wire-line and drilling measurement solutions for the oilfield services segment. GE Oil & Gas exploits technological innovation from other GE businesses, such as aviation and healthcare, to continuously improve oil and gas industry performance and productivity. GE Oil & Gas employs more than 20,000 people worldwide and operates in over 100 countries.

Fabio Pianini

GE Oil & Gas

T +39 055 423 8872

E fabio.pianini@ge.com

Alison Koistinen

GE Energy

Measurement & Control Solutions

T + 1 775 215 2226

M + 1 404 576 5117

E alison.koistinen@ge.com

GE Introduces First Compact 300 kV CT System with less than1 µm Detail Detectability

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

GE Introduces First Compact 300 kV CT System with <1 µm Detail Detectability

Wunstorf, Germany – 8 September 2011. The new phoenix v|tome|x m from GE’s Inspection Technologies business is the industry’s first compact 300 kV Computed Tomography system for 3D metrology and failure analysis with less than 1µm detail detectability.

The system offers excellent magnification and resolution for high absorbing metal samples. With up to 500 W it comes with also enough tube power to examine a broad range of parts, including light metal castings in just a few minutes. Its optional dual tube configuration allows high resolution nanoCT^® of low absorbing samples. This versatility ensures the new system a wide spectrum of applications in materials science, industrial failure analysis, process control and 3D metrology in industrial sectors ranging from castings and electronics to plastics, geology and aerospace, including turbine blade inspection.

As Oliver Brunke, CT product manager for GE’s phoenix radiography product line, explains, “This new CT system extends our v|tome|x series and our unique 300kV/500W microfocus x-ray tube is now available for the first time in a compact lab system, complementing our large v|tome|x L walk-in version and our compact v|tome|x s. The phoenix v|tome|x m’s superior image quality is a result of its use of in-house technology for all hardware and software core components, including GE’s high-resolution X-ray tube technology and temperature-stabilized digital DXR X-ray detector arrays.

GE’s new CT system is suitable for 500 x 600 mm samples with a field of view up to 300 mm diameter and 600 mm in height and up to 50 kg in weight. It features granite-based manipulation and a temperature-controlled cabinet for extremely high measurement accuracy and repeatability and it is equipped with phoenix datos|x 2.0 CT software which allows fully automated data acquisition, volume processing and display, using the software’s click & measure|CT functionality. 3D reconstruction results are available within minutes with the system’s velo|CT.

The system’s high magnification derives from GE’s design of its 300kV microfocus unipolar tube, whose minimum working distance from the focal spot to the X-ray beam exit window is just about 4.5 mm. This contrasts with conventional, bipolar tubes which have longer minimum working distances, increasing the focal spot to target object distance and hence limiting magnification. For particularly high resolution scans, an optional 180 kV high power nanofocus tube can be selected at the touch of a button.

Image captures:


Image 1: GE’s powerful 300 kV phoenix v\|tome\|x m dual\|tube CT system	Image 2: 3D turbine blade inspection performed with Computed Tomography

About Measurement & Control Solutions

Measurement & Control Solutions delivers accuracy, productivity and safety to a wide range of industries, including oil & gas, power generation, aerospace, transportation and healthcare. It has over 40 facilities in 25 countries and is part of GE Energy Services, which provides cleaner, smarter, more efficient solutions for its customers. For further information visit, www.ge-mcs.com or www.ge-mcs.com/phoenix

About GE Energy

Media Contact:

David Jervis

PR & Media Manager, EMEA

GE Energy

Measurement & Control Solutions

T +44 1925 604095

M +44 7720557346

F +44 1925604096

GE’s UNIK 5000 Pressure Sensing Platform Now Carries FM and FMc Approvals

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 14:13:12 GMT

GE’s UNIK 5000 Pressure Sensing Platform Now Carries FM and FMc Aprovals

Sensors are Now Suitable for Hazardous Environments Globally

Groby, UK.- 26 August 2011 - The UNIK 5000 pressure sensing platform from the Sensing business of GE Measurement & Control Solutions now carries FM and FMc Approvals in addition to its existing IECEx/ATEX Intrinsically safe certifications. As a result, UNIK 5000 pressure sensors can now be used worldwide in hazardous zone applications in the oil and gas and process industries, as well as in mining. With its flexibility, versatility, accuracy and reliability, the UNIK 5000 platform has already made a significant impact throughout the industrial, aerospace, power generation and instrumentation sectors, as a pressure measurement range, that is available at short lead times to satisfy the majority of user requirements.

As Ian Abbott, product manager for the UNIK 5000 range, explains, "We have already made significant inroads into the oil and gas sector with our existing intrinsic safety certifications. The achievement of FM Approvals means that we can now satisfy hazardous zone requirements on a global scale."

By combining silicon technology and analogue circuitry with modular design and lean manufacturing techniques, the UNIK 5000 platform offers custom-built pressure sensors from standard components, matching accuracy and specification to meet individual requirements.

The high quality, piezo-resistive sensors in the UNIK 5000 platform offer high levels of performance without the use of digital electronics, so that the sensors are suitable for sensitive applications such as those requiring low power, pulse power, and fast response. They are available in a range of pressures from 70 mbar (1psi) to 700 bar (10,000psi) and in three grades of performance: industrial, improved and premium. These offer a range of accuracies from ±0.04% FS to ±0.2% FS. A choice of pressure connectors is available and electrical connectors may be selected to suit most environments with operating temperature ranges from -55°C to +125°C. A suite of eight electronics boards allows outputs suitable for most applications and a further configurable option is to allow individual specification of voltage output. All 5000 Unik sensors feature low noise and high over-pressure capability and are constructed from stainless steel.

About Measurement & Control Solutions

Measurement & Control Solutions is a leading innovator in advanced, sensor-based measurement, non-destructive testing and inspection, condition monitoring and control, delivering accuracy, productivity and safety to a wide range of industries, including oil & gas, power generation, aerospace, transportation and healthcare. It has over 40 facilities in 25 countries and is part of GE Energy Services, which provides cleaner, smarter, more efficient solutions for its customers. For further information, visit http://www.ge-mcs.com/.

About GE

GE (NYSE: GE) is an advanced technology, services and finance company taking on the world's toughest challenges. Dedicated to innovation in energy, health, transportation and infrastructure, GE operates in more than 100 countries and employs about 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.ge.com.

GE serves the energy sector by developing and deploying technology that helps make efficient use of natural resources. With more than 90,000 global employees and 2010 revenues of $38 billion, GE Energy www.ge.com/energy is one of the world's leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technologies. The businesses that comprise GE Energy - GE Power & Water, GE Energy Services and GE Oil & Gas - work together to provide integrated product and service solutions in all areas of the energy industry including coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy; renewable resources such as water, wind, solar and biogas; and other alternative fuels.

GE Energy