Finite Element Modeling of Remote Field Eddy Current Phenomenon

T. Jayakumar[1], B. Purnachandra Rao[2], C. K. Mukhopadhyay[3], B. Sasi[2], V. Arjun[5], S. Thirunavukkarasu[2]
[1]Metallurgy and Materials Group, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam 603 102, TN, India
[2]Nondestructive Evaluation Division, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam 603 102, TN, India
[3]EMSI Section, Nondestructive Evaluation Division, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, TN, India
[5]NDE Division, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam 603 102, TN, India
Published in 2013

Remote field eddy current (RFEC) technique is a method of detecting defects in ferromagnetic tubes. This is based on low frequency eddy current, which employs an exciter coil and a receiver coil separated by a characteristic distance. The exciter is fed with a low frequency sinusoidal current and the receiver coil senses the perturbation of the magnetic fields caused by the eddy currents in the tube. The amplitude and phase of the induced voltage in the receiver coil is correlated to the presence of defects or anomalies in the tube wall. The RFEC phenomenon was solved at different excitation frequencies using COMSOL Multiphysics®. The predicted vector potential values were used to calculate the induced voltage in a fictitious receiver coil unit positioned at different axial locations.