ISO 25902-1:2009

Titanium pipes and tubes - Non-destructive testing - Part 1: Eddy-current examination

ISO 25902-1:2009 specifies a method for the eddy-current examination for detecting flaws in titanium seamless tubes and welded tubes. Titanium tubes are now used as steam surface condensers in steam-power plants, anatomic-power plants and desalination plants. Therefore, the quality of titanium tubes is very important and this is why the eddy-current inspection method was established. This method also applies to titanium alloy tubes.

Canalisations et tubes en titane — Essai non destructif — Partie 1: Contrôle par courants de Foucault

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 01-Feb-2009
• ICS: 77.040.20 - Non-destructive testing of metals
• ICS: 77.150.50 - Titanium products
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 79/SC 11 - Titanium
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 79/SC 11 - Titanium
• Current Stage: 9093 - International Standard confirmed
• Start Date: 30-Aug-2021
• Completion Date: 13-Dec-2025

Overview

ISO 25902-1:2009 defines an eddy‑current non‑destructive testing (NDT) method for detecting flaws in titanium seamless and welded tubes (including titanium alloys). It targets quality assurance for titanium tubes used in critical heat‑exchange applications - the standard text specifically cites use in steam surface condensers for steam‑power plants, “anatomic‑power plants” (as printed in the document) and desalination plants. The standard sets requirements for equipment, reference pieces, test procedures, acceptance criteria and reporting.

Key topics and requirements

• Applicable dimensions: tubes with outside diameter 10–150 mm and wall thickness 0.3–10 mm are covered; the standard highlights that detection sensitivity varies with outside diameter and uses a 38.1 mm division when specifying reference standards.
• Test method: encircling (concentric) test coil of self‑comparison type; eddy‑current frequencies from 1 kHz to 512 kHz - select a frequency that detects the chosen reference standard.
• Reference standards: two classes - rectangular groove (N) and drilled hole (D). Materials and surface condition of the reference piece must match the tubes under test. Dimensions and tolerances for grooves/holes are specified and used for instrument sensitivity setting.
• Apparatus & verification: eddy‑current instrument (oscillator, signal processor, display/recorder), tube feed device, automatic alarm/recorder. Performance verification and periodic checks are required (see ISO 15548‑1 for instrument verification).
• Sensitivity & adjustment: instrument sensitivity adjusted so the reference standard gives about 50% of the recorder scale; sensitivity confirmation at least every 4 hours, after interruptions or at end of operations.
• Acceptance criteria: tube is accepted if no signals equal to or greater than the reference‑standard signal are detected, except for benign signals from straightening marks, ring marks, rough surface, dents, or similar harmless features.
• Reporting: date, inspector, tube grade, dimensions, equipment, reference standards used, test coil and frequency, detection conditions (feed speed, sensitivity, phase) and results.

Applications and users

Who uses ISO 25902-1:2009:

• NDT technicians and inspection engineers in tube manufacturing
• Quality managers and purchasers specifying acceptance for titanium heat‑exchanger tubing
• Third‑party inspection bodies and plant operators (power plants, desalination plants)
• Designers and maintenance teams responsible for condenser and piping integrity

Related standards

• ISO 25902‑2 - Titanium pipes and tubes, Part 2: Ultrasonic examination (complements eddy‑current testing for longitudinal flaw detection)
• ISO 15548‑1 - Equipment verification for eddy‑current instruments (normative reference)

Keywords: ISO 25902-1:2009, eddy-current examination, titanium pipes and tubes, non-destructive testing, titanium tube inspection, reference standards, NDT, condenser tubing.

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 25902-1
First edition
2009-02-01
Titanium pipes and tubes —
Non-destructive testing —
Part 1:
Eddy-current examination
Canalisations et tubes en titane — Essai non destructif —
Partie 1: Contrôle par courants de Foucault

Reference number
©
ISO 2009
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ii © ISO 2009 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
1 Scope.1
2 Normative reference.1
3 Terms and definitions .1
4 General .2
4.1 Applicable dimension range.2
4.2 Summary of examination method.2
4.3 Personnel .2
5 Apparatus.2
6 Reference piece .3
6.1 Purpose .3
6.2 Materials .3
6.3 Reference standards .3
6.4 Fabrication of reference standards .5
6.5 Number and interval of reference standards.5
7 Test method .5
7.1 Test frequency .5
7.2 Test coil .5
7.3 Settings.5
7.4 Confirmation of sensitivity of eddy-current test instrument .7
8 Acceptance criteria .7
9 Test report.8

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies
(ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO
technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been
established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and
non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards
adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an
International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO 25902-1 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 79, Light metals and their alloys, Subcommittee
SC 11, Titanium.
ISO 25902 consists of the following parts, under the general title Titanium pipes and tubes — Non-destructive
testing:
⎯ Part 1: Eddy-current examination
⎯ Part 2: Ultrasonic examination for the detection of longitudinal flaws

iv © ISO 2009 – All rights reserved

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 25902-1:2009(E)

Titanium pipes and tubes — Non-destructive testing —
Part 1:
Eddy-current examination
1 Scope
This part of ISO 25902 specifies a method for the eddy-current examination, hereafter referred to as the
“examination”, for detecting flaws in titanium seamless tubes and welded tubes, hereafter referred to as the
“tubes”.
Titanium tubes are now used as steam surface condensers in steam-power plants, anatomic-power plants
and desalination plants. Therefore, the quality of titanium tubes is very important and this is why the
eddy-current inspection method was established. This method also applies to titanium alloy tubes.
In this part of ISO 25902
⎯ the minimum wall thickness is 0,3 mm,
⎯ the rectangular groove and the drilled hole are permitted as reference standards,
⎯ as the outside diameter of the titanium tube increases, the detected flaw also increases. The limit of the
outside diameter of the titanium tube is 38,1 mm.
2 Normative reference
The following referenced document is indispensable for the application of this document. For dated references,
only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including
any amendments) applies.
ISO 15548-1, Non-destructive testing — Equipment for eddy current examination — Part 1: Instrument
characteristics and verification
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1
straightening mark
circumferentially spiral micro-dimensional variation which is generated by a straightening roll when a tube
bend is straightened
3.2
ring mark
circumferential-like micro-dimensional variation which is generated by the stop of a roll when materials are
cold rolled
3.3
rough surface
partial variation in roughness on the surface of a tube, which is the residue of a surface-finish trace
3.4
dent
partial variation on the surface of a tube, which is generated by mechanical shock
4 General
4.1 Applicable dimension range
The range of the applicable dimensions of a tube shall be 10 mm to 150 mm outside diameter and 0, 3 mm to
10 mm thickness.
4.2 Summary of examination method
The examination shall be carried out by using an encircling coil (hereafter, referred to as the “test coil”).
4.3 Personnel
This inspection shall be carried out by suitably trained operators and supervised by competent personnel
nominated by the manufacturer. In the case of third-party inspection, this shall be agreed between the
purchaser and manufacturer.
5 Apparatus
5.1 Test apparatus, composed of a flaw detector, a test coil, a tube feed device (including a coil-holding
table), and an automatic alarm system or a r
...