Did you know? The Cygnus 1 Intrinsically Safe ultrasonic thickness gauge is he only one of its kind in the world certified to Class 1, Div 1 (“Zone 0”) for ATEX, IECEx and CSA-US.
As well as being intrinsically safe, Cygnus 1 is extremely rugged and specifically designed for measuring metal thickness to determine wastage or corrosion in Zone 0, Zone 1 hazardous and potentially explosive environments. Boasting a highly durable, shock-proof and splash-proof (IP65 rated) construction, this heavy-duty unit is supplied ready to use, and offers up to 12 hours continuous testing before recharge is necessary, with no plant shutdown or hot work permit required.
The virtually indestructible exterior houses a remarkable set of components, viewed via a bright LED display with polarised filter, in either metric or imperial measurement to suit the user’s preference. These features include an echo strength indicator to aid measurement, measurement self-verification to ensure maximum accuracy, stable calibration linear accuracy, no zero adjustment and sound velocity settings. The gauge can also be used with a range of varied frequency probes or a right-angle probe – more practical for reaching areas with restricted access.
This impressive array of features makes Cygnus 1 suitable for use in a multitude of challenging industries and applications including:
- Petrochemical and chemical processing plants
- Dry, dusty environments where ignition could occur, e.g. grain processing plants
- Oil and gas production and processing facilities
- Inside storage tanks on land or at sea
- Fuel depots
- Mining
- Hazardous goods vessels
Relieving the pressure in key industries using the Cygnus Multiple-Echo technique
Cygnus Instruments pioneered the Multiple-Echo technique. This technique has long since been the industry standard for through-coating measurement of material thickness and is required by classification societies for ultrasonic thickness measurements. Like all Cygnus gauges, Cygnus 1 employs the Multiple-Echo technique to read through coatings and only gives accurate remaining metal thickness, guaranteeing crucial savings in time and money as it eliminates the need to remove and reapply coatings. What’s more, it avoids the risk of exposing the material under test to further corrosion.
This has proved significant in the oil & gas and marine industries as pipelines and marine structures, found both on land and underwater, are usually coated and can suffer from internal corrosion, leading to costly leaks and emergency repair work. This can easily be prevented with routine thickness gauging checks.
