DR10 ITR Tube Deposit Rater

A new instrumental method of quantitative measurement of tube deposits has been developed by AD Systems, in which the thickness of the deposit is accurately determined by an automatic instrument, reducing test subjectivity. The innovative DR10 instrument uses an interferometry technique (ITR) for precise measurement of deposit thickness in nanometers. This stand-alone compact instrument can be easily installed in any location in minutes. The operation is based on a powerful light source, a spectrometer with fiber optic probe and specially designed application software.

The DR10 test is simple and straightforward. The heater tube is prepared according to ASTM D3241 test procedure and is then placed in the test chamber of the DR10. Using an intuitive graphical interface with touch screen panel, the operator enters sample information and starts a tube scan. Specific light is emitted and directed onto the surface of the heater tube. The reflected light is collected and the interference created by the deposit is monitored by the spectrometer. The software analyzes the interference and calculates the deposit thickness. Precise thickness measurements are taken at 1,200 points along and around the tube surface. A detailed test report is ready in less than 15 minutes.

The DR10 test report provides a 3-D profile of the deposit distribution on the tube surface. The software automaticaly detects and reports the Standard Spot value which is the mean deposit thickness of the thickest 2.5 mm2 area as defined in ASTM D3241. The average and the maximum thickness deposit values, as well as the calculated total deposit volume are reported. For complete test traceability, the DR10 report is tagged with the heater tube serial number picture taken by the built-in camera.