Non-Intrusive Inspection: What It Is & How It Works

What is Non-Intrusive Inspection?

Non-intrusive cargo scanning uses equipment that can produce high-speed electron beams to detect contraband. Using non-intrusive inspection technology eliminates the need for vessel entry throughout the inspection process.

NII equipment offers a safer, more cost-effective alternative to time-sensitive inspection programs that typically require entry to achieve a thorough cargo inspection. NII inspection also caters to missile and military scanning applications.

How Does Non-Intrusive Inspection Work?

CT Scanning

The U.S. Air Force’s System Program Office (SPO) opened its Computed Tomography (CT) facility in 1995, utilizing the ICT 2500 CT system to implement large-scale non-destructive inspection (NDI) processes. This system measures material characteristics such as dimension and density. CT can also detect the rise in flaws over time and subtle changes in the material properties to identify key aging trends.

CT technicians utilize contrast variation, advanced image manipulation, and color mapping to derive the following curves:

• Modulation Transfer Function (MTF)
• Contrast Discrimination Function (CDF)
• Contrast-Detail-Dose (CDD)

Variables considered in the imaging process include the number of X-ray pulses per sample, the z increment between slices, and the thickness and resolution apertures at the detector.

Other Non-Intrusive Inspection Technology

Radiological and nuclear detection equipment includes:

• Personal Radiation Detectors (PRD)
• Radiation Portal Monitors (RPM)
• Radiation Isotope Identification Devices (RIID)

Non-intrusive techniques used to inspect cargo range from large-scale X-ray and Gamma-ray imaging systems to the following technologies:

Applications of Power Supplies: NII: Non-Intrusive Inspection (NII) Scanning Technology

Non-intrusive inspection (NII) technology is used by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to identify narcotics, weapons, and other contraband that can pose radiological and nuclear threats. Large volumes of items can be assessed while maintaining the flow of passengers, trade, and cargo.

The CBP currently employs 1,469 RPMs to inspect mail and express consignment parcels, truck cargo, and personal vehicles arriving from Mexico and Canada.

Gamma-Ray Imaging Systems

Gamma-ray imaging systems are more effective than x-ray inspection systems at penetrating dense materials, providing a more detailed image of the cargo contents. This non-intrusive inspection technology is especially useful for scanning heavily shielded materials.

Industrial X-ray and Gamma-ray scanning systems utilize some or all of the following:

Other Applications

NII has also been used to effectively detect cracking, corrosion, hydrogen damage, and other integrity concerns in the following:

• Pressure Vessels (NH3 vessels, pressure swing absorbers, towers, drums, and columns)
• Storage Tanks (pressurized and atmospheric)
• Heat Exchanger Shells, Channels, and Tanks

Other uses for NII include scanning inspections for cargo, missiles, and military applications, as well as food sterilization and X-ray computed tomography.

Benefits of Non-Intrusive Inspection Technology

The non-intrusive inspection process provides the following benefits:

• Detailed inspection requirements that lead to better reporting and planning
• Optimized productivity with in-service inspections
• Reduced costs and downtime
• Reduced potential of hydrocarbon damage
• Safer inspection than conventional means (which eliminates hazards from asset entry)
• Well-defined and targeted inspection planning

Learn More About Non-Intrusive Inspection

Stangenes Industries provides beam-bending magnets, focusing solenoids, ancillary inductors, ancillary transformers, capacitor charging power supplies, pulse transformers, and power modulators. Our products support a range of non-intrusive inspection processes and offer the perfect solution for anyone replacing legacy power systems.

Contact us or request a quote to learn more about how our non-intrusive inspection technology can help your business. Our upcoming eBook offers comprehensive information about our available advanced technologies for cargo inspection.