EP4639156A1

EP4639156A1 - A borescope inspection device and a method for performing non-destructive testing with the borescope inspection device

Info

Publication number: EP4639156A1
Application number: EP24701767.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Erica SCRINZI; Luca AMMANNATO; Carlo Giolli; Remo RIBICHINI; Frederico MANGIAVACCHI
Original assignee: Nuovo Pignone Technologie SRL
Current assignee: Nuovo Pignone Technologie SRL
Priority date: 2023-01-16
Filing date: 2024-01-16
Publication date: 2025-10-29
Also published as: CN120548470A; JP2026505702A; WO2024153463A1; IT202300000468A1; KR20250133419A; AU2024210226A1

Abstract

A borescope inspection device comprising a probe for capturing an image of at least a portion of an environment surrounding the probe; display means for displaying the image captured by the probe; and an insertion tube connected to the probe and the display means. The insertion tube comprising coupling means extending through the insertion tube and configured to convey the im¬ age captured by the probe to the display means. The borescope inspection device being characterized in that the probe further comprises a photonic spectrometer to generate spectroscopic data of the at least a portion of the environment surrounding the probe for displaying by the display means.

Description

A BORESCOPE INSPECTION DEVICE AND A METHOD FOR PERFORMING NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING WITH THE BORESCOPE INSPECTION DEVICE.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001]The present disclosure concerns a borescope inspection device and a method for performing non-destructive testing with the borescope inspection device.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Assets such as manufacturing equipment and facilities may comprise a plurality of interrelated parts, such as turbomachinery engines, compressors, pumps, wind turbines, turbo expanders and the like which may require inspection in order to detect problems that affect or may potentially affect the operation of the parts.

[0003] Certain inspection techniques, do not require to disassemble the asset and may be performed with minimal interaction with the asset, for example while the equipment is not in service. These inspection techniques are known as non-destructive testing (NDT) techniques.

[0004]The borescope inspection is a state-of-the-art NDT technique that allows to visually inspect internal parts of the asset. The borescope inspection is performed using a borescope inspection device, which is an optical instrument designed to assist visual inspection of narrow and difficult-to-reach cavities. The borescope inspection conventionally consists of a rigid or a flexible tube with an eyepiece or display on one end, and an objective lens or camera on the other. These pieces are linked together by an optical or an electrical system. An internal image of the object is formed by the objective lens and magnified by the eyepiece which presents it to the viewer's eye.

[0005] However, borescope inspection devices currently available provide a view limited to what is visually inspected inside the equipment/apparatus. [0006] For example, document JP4753787 describes a fluorescence spectroscopic internal stress inspection apparatus which includes a borescope tube, a fluorescence excitation laser generator, a two-dimensional CCD camera, an arithmetic device and an eyepiece.

[0007] It may be beneficial to improve the borescope inspection devices. Moreover, a borescope inspection technique would be welcomed for inspecting an asset, such as mechanical drive gas turbines.

SUMMARY

[0008] Certain aspects commensurate in scope with the originally claimed disclosure are summarized below. These aspects are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed disclosure, but rather these aspects are intended only to provide a brief summary of possible forms of the disclosure. Indeed, the full disclosure may encompass a variety of forms that may be similar to or different from the aspects set forth below.

[0009] In one aspect, the subject matter disclosed herein is directed to a borescope inspection device. The borescope inspection device comprises a probe for capturing an image of at least a portion of an environment surrounding the probe. The borescope inspection device further comprises display means for displaying the image captured by the probe and an insertion tube connected to the probe and the display means. The insertion tube comprises coupling means extending through the insertion tube and configured to convey the image captured by the probe to the display means. Advantageously the probe further comprises a photonic spectrometer to generate spectroscopic data of the at least a portion of the environment surrounding the probe for displaying by the display means.

[0010] In another aspect, the subject matter disclosed herein is directed to a method for performing non-destructive testing with a borescope inspection device. The method comprises obtaining the image of the at least a portion of an environment surrounding the probe and obtaining spectroscopic data of the at least a portion of the environment surrounding the probe. The method further comprises displaying by the display means, the image and the spectroscopic data of at the least a portion of an environment surrounding the probe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] A more complete appreciation of the disclosed embodiments of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 illustrates a schematic view of the borescope inspection device, according to the present disclosure, wherein the borescope inspection device comprises a probe, display means and an insertion tube;

Fig. 2 illustrate a flow chart of a method for performing non-destructive testing of an asset with a borescope inspection device of Fig. 1 , according to the present disclosure.

Fig. 3 shows an image and spectroscopy data obtained by borescope inspection device when performing non-destructive testing of an asset with the borescope inspection device illustrated in Fig. 1 , according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0012] In the field of non-destructive testing inspection techniques, assets such as manufacturing equipment and facilities, may require inspection in order to detect problems that affect or may potentially affect their functioning. Certain invasive inspection techniques, such as borescope inspection, provide visual indications affecting the service of assets or part thereof such as turbomachinery engines, compressors, pumps, wind turbines, turbo expanders and the like.

[0013] However, the inspection results offered by performing borescope inspection is limited to what can be detected within the visible spectrum of the light. As such the asset cannot be analysed comprehensively enough so as to e.g. identify the chemical nature, the origin of contamination, the corrosion, the material phase transformation, or the like affecting the asset. For example, the asset may be affected by a corrosion as result of a reaction with another unknown substance, by performing visual inspection may not be possible to determine which substance had originated the corrosion or additional understanding about a reaction occurred thus leading to a disassembly of the asset for performing further laboratory analyses/testing with a waste of time and money. Identification of the chemical, physical, and crystallographic nature of analysed assets, such as gas turbines, during conventional borescope inspection is thus not possible.

[0014]The adoption of photonic spectroscopy techniques such as Raman or Infrared techniques to analyse chemically inorganic and organic substances affecting the asset or portion thereof is conventionally performed at laboratory level or anyway at line-on-sight level. These techniques require a disassembly of the asset to analyse the affected part with a consequence of an undesired potential contamination of the asset, outage time, delays and expenses for performing this operation.

[0015] The present subject matter is thus directed to a borescope inspection device. The borescope inspection device comprises a probe configured to capture an image or video of at least a portion of an environment surrounding the probe. The borescope inspection device further comprises a display or display means, for example, a screen, monitor or equivalent viewing device configured to display or show the image(s) or video captured by the probe, and an insertion tube connected to the probe and the display means. The insertion tube comprises a transmitter or coupling means extending through the insertion tube that is configured to transmit, communicate or otherwise convey the im- age(s) or video captured by the probe to the display means. Advantageously the probe further comprises a photonic spectrometer to generate spectroscopic data of the at least a portion of the environment surrounding the probe for displaying by the display means.

[0016] Particularly, it is possible to provide a combination of borescope inspection with chemical analysis by photonic spectroscopy (Raman, IR, etc) in the same probe. In specific, a borescope inspection device equipped with a probe, camera, and photonic spectrometer, is able to visually identify the object to be analysed, put it on the right focus plane, and perform spectroscopic analysis to identify organic and inorganic contaminations. The chemical, physical and crystallographic nature of visible indications during the borescope inspection is identified by employing this unique probe. For example, it is possible to identify structural variation in the crystal lattice; and/or, more specifically, vibrational modes (phonons) in the crystal lattice so as to determine the health status of the material/coating of the portion of the environment surrounding the probe. The combination of borescope inspection with photonic spectroscopybased chemical analysis in a single probe, leads to an analytical invasive NDT technique that allows for remote inspection, which can be performed in the field and without requiring laboratory analysis.

[0017] Reference is now made to the drawings and particularly to Fig. 1 that shows a schematic view of an embodiment of the NDT device according to the invention.

[0018] The NDT device comprises a borescope inspection device 1 which may be used to inspect a wide variety of equipment and facilities and part thereof, such as for example, turbo machinery, containers, vessels, compressors, pumps, turbo expanders, wind turbines, hydro turbines, industrial equipment, residential equipment, and the like.

[0019] It will be further appreciated that the use of the borescope inspection device 1 described is not limited to the turbomachinery field but can it can also be applicable in the field of OilField Services and Equipment (OFSE), Manufacturing, Transportation, Automotive, Aerospace, harsh and disaster environment, piping, cultural heritage diagnostics.

[0020] Indeed, the borescope inspection device 1 can be used to inspect a wide variety of assets. For example, a borescope inspection device 1 is designed to assist visual inspection of narrow, difficult-to-reach cavities/conduits 2002 of an asset 2000.

[0021]The borescope inspection device 1 depicted in Fig. 1 comprises a probe 10, display or display means 20 and an insertion tube 30. [0022] The probe 10 is configured to capture an image 102 of at least a portion of an environment surrounding the probe 10. The probe 10 may comprise a camera 104 or an objective lens (not shown) for capturing the image 102 of the at least a portion of an environment surrounding the probe 10. Both the camera 104 and an objective lens are configured to capture the image 102 or a video within the visible spectrum of the light and within theirfield of view. The probe 10 may provide images and/or video suitable for inspection.

[0023]The probe 10 further comprises a photonic spectrometer 106 to generate spectroscopic data 107 of a portion of the environment surrounding the probe 10. The spectroscopic data 107 may comprises chemical data, crystallographic data, or the like. The photonic spectrometer 106 may be a Raman spectrometer, an infrared (IR) spectrometer, or ultraviolet (UV) spectrometer, or a combination of these apparatuses.

[0024] The Raman spectrometer allows to provide a Raman spectroscopy of the environment surrounding the probe. The Raman spectroscopy is a molecular spectroscopic technique that utilizes the interaction of light with matter surrounding the probe 10 to gain insight into a material's make up or characteristics, like infrared (IR) spectroscopy. The information provided by Raman spectroscopy performed by the photonic spectrometer 106 results from a light scattering process, whereas IR spectroscopy relies on absorption of light. The Raman spectroscopy yields information about intra- and inter-molecular vibrations and can provide additional understanding about a reaction. Both Raman and IR spectroscopy, such as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), provide a spectrum characteristic of the specific vibrations of a molecule (i.e. a "molecular fingerprint”) and are valuable for identifying a substance within the environment surrounding the probe 10. However, Raman spectroscopy can give additional information about lower frequency modes, and vibrations that give insight into crystal lattice, molecular backbone structure and materials phase transformation.

[0025] As will be appreciated, the photonic spectrometer 106 generates spectroscopic data 107 of a portion of the environment which may or may not overlap with the portion of the environment captured by the camera 104 or of the objective lens. For example, as shown in Fig. 1 the photonic spectrometer has a field of view which overlaps with the field of view of the camera to provide a visual inspection of an asset 2000 with chemical analysis by photonic spectroscopy of the same portion. In an alternative configuration, the photonic spectrometer may be located opposite to the camera/objective lens and its field of view may not overlap with that of the camera/objective lens. By providing a borescope inspection device 10 which combines visual inspection of an asset 2000 with chemical analysis by photonic spectroscopy the performance of the inspection operation is maximised.

[0026] The probe 10 may further include one or more lights (not shown), such as LEDs light, optical fibre bundle, or other types of light, which may be used to provide for illumination when the probe 10 is disposed in locations having low light or no light. For example, the optical fibre bundle may be connected to a light source and may extend within the body of the insertion tube 30 to terminate in the probe 10 so as to illuminate an object/environment presented to the probe 10.

[0027] The probe 10 may further include one or more sensors that collect further data about the surrounding environment, such as temperature, light condition, pressure, flow, clearance (e.g., measurement between a stationary component and a rotary component), and distance measurements, orientation of the probe, or the like.

[0028] The one or more sensors may comprise for example a Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) that would allow information in the visible and composition of the material to be combined with information on strain/deformation and temperature, thus on the state of the matter under investigation. The borescope inspection device may also comprise a further third haptic/temperature sensor.

The one or more sensors may comprise an eddy current sensor which allows for base material and coating characterization and/or health status assessment of the portion of an environment surrounding the probe 10. The eddy current sensor allows for non-destructive testing (NDT) of the portion of an environment surrounding the probe 10 by inducing a flow of eddy currents within the portion of an environment surrounding the probe 10 from an adjacent coil which is in turn excited by an alternating current at a variable frequency. The eddy currents generate magnetic fields which induce voltages within the coil. The phase angle and amplitude of the induced voltages can be measured by the eddy current sensor may vary according to the base material and coating characteristics the portion of the environment surrounding the probe 10. By sweeping through multiple frequencies for the alternating variable current it is possible to discriminate between different materials and coatings of the portion of an environment surrounding the probe 10. The current frequencies may be for example in the range of 0.1 - 100 MHz.

The combination of eddy current spectroscopy with borescope photonic spectroscopy and visual inspection techniques allows to pinpoint the portion of an environment surrounding the probe 10 inside the asset 2000 and provide information about base material and coating health. Based on this information it is also possible to measure the coating thickness.

The one or more sensors may comprise thermographic inspection system for infrared imaging of the portion of an environment surrounding the probe 10. Thermographic inspection system may comprise an exciter, an analyser system and a thermal charge-coupled device (CCD) sensor.

The combination of thermography with borescope photonic spectroscopy and visual inspection techniques allows to inspect the portion of an environment surrounding the probe 10 to provide information about base material and coating integrity or uniformity. Based on this information it is also possible to measure the coating thickness.

The one or more sensors may comprise both the thermographic inspection system for infrared imaging of the portion of an environment surrounding the probe 10 and the eddy current sensor, as described above. The combination of thermography and eddy current spectroscopy with borescope photonic spectroscopy and visual inspection techniques allows to provide combined information related to the same inspected portion of the environment surround- ing the probe 10. As such the inspected portion can be analysed comprehensively enough so as to e.g. identify the chemical nature, the origin of contamination, the corrosion, the base material and coating health and integrity, the material phase transformation, or the like affecting that portion.

As show in Fig. 1 , the borescope inspection device 1 comprises an insertion tube 30 for insertion into a variety of locations, such as inside equipment, pipes, conduits, underwater locations, curves, bends, inside or outside of an aircraft system, a turbomachinery or the like. The insertion tube 30 may be controlled so as to steer or bent or to be adjusted such as to allow inspection of an asset 2000.

[0029] The insertion tube 30 is connected to the probe 10 and the display or display means 20 and comprises a transmitter or coupling means 40 extending through the insertion tube 30. As previously indicated, the transmitter or coupling means 40 is/are configured to transmit, communicate or otherwise convey the image(s) or video 102 captured by the probe 10 to the display or display means 20 so that the captured image(s) 102 or video can be viewed or displayed. As previously indicated, the display or display means 20 may comprise, for example, a screen, monitor or equivalent viewing device. The coupling means 40 may also convey spectroscopic data 107 for displaying by the display means 20 and/or be processed by an analysis module 50 of the borescope inspection device 1 .

[0030]The coupling means 40 may comprise an electrical system, such as electrical cables; and/or an optical system, such as an optical waveguide, ocular assembly, or an optical fibre for conveying the image captured by the probe for displaying by the display 30. The electronic system may also be configured to convey spectroscopic data 107 obtained by the photonic spectrometer 106.

[0031]The display means 30 may comprise an eyepiece or one or more screens to provide interaction with the user. The one or more screens can include multi-touch screens using capacitance techniques, resistive techniques, infrared grid techniques, and the like, to detect the touch of a stylus and/or one or more human fingers.

[0032] The one or more screens may comprise e.g., a CRT (cathode ray tube) or LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor, for displaying information to the user and a keyboard and a pointing device, (e.g., a mouse or a trackball), by which the user can provide input to the computer.

[0033] Other kinds of devices can be used to provide for interaction with a user as well. For example, feedback provided to the user can be any form of sensory feedback, (e.g., visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback), and input from the user can be received in any form, including acoustic, speech, or tactile input.

[0034] Additionally or alternatively, images 102, video, and/or spectroscopic data 107 may be transmitted to the cloud or mobile terminals. These data can also be recorded in a computer-readable storage medium on an electronic device. The computer readable medium may include a volatile memory, a nonvolatile memory, magnetic media, optical media, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), removable media, and others.

[0035] A report, such as a summary of the inspection performed, can also be generated. The report, may be used to compare conclusions that arose from the inspection to other reports of other inspections. Thus, these reports may be useful in comparing inspection conclusions between iterations of inspections, and in making maintenance and/or business decisions.

[0036] As shown in Fig. 1 , the insertion tube 30 has a first end connected to the probe 10 and a second end connected to the display means 20. The insertion tube 30 comprises an elongated tubular body and may have a rigid body, a flexible body or an articulated body. As such the insertion tube 30 may comprise pivotally connected portion of its body. During use, the insertion tube 30 may be controlled, for example, by a mobile terminal and/or control inputs so as to steer or bent or adjust its orientation/position.

[0037] The probe 10 may be configured to be rotatable relative to the insertion tube 30, such as to rotate in response of a user action/input. Alternatively or in addition, the probe 10 can be controlled to be disposed at a variety of angles with respect to the insertion tube 30. In this manner, the probe 10 may be positioned to visually inspect desired locations. The probe 10 may be moved for example by means of a mechanical system or electrical system, such as one or more motors.

[0038] As shown in Fig. 1 , the borescope inspection device 1 may further comprise a probe driver 60. An operator may use the probe driver 60 to cause a position of the probe 10 within the conduit section 2002 of an asset 2000 to change. The probe driver 60 may generate, in response of a user input, positioning instruction that corresponds to a direction of the probe 10 within a portion of a conduit section 2002. The probe can be configured to reposition in response to the positioning instruction, by changing a direction of the probe 10 within the portion of the conduit section 2002 to capture an image 102 and spectroscopic data 107 of a different portion of the environment surrounding the probe 10, or by adjusting the position of the insertion tube 30 .

[0039] Although shown as part of the borescope inspection device 1 , the probe driver 60 may be external to the borescope inspection device 1 and may be communicatively coupled with the borescope inspection device 1 so as to allow remote control the borescope inspection device 1 .

[0040] During use, the borescope inspection device 1 may be controlled by a variety of operators located at the inspection site and/or a remote location. For example, the borescope inspection device 1 may be physically manipulated or may be manipulated remotely by an operator, for example by remotely controlling the probe driver 60 of the borescope inspection device 1 through a mobile terminal. The operator may insert, retract, and/or otherwise position the borescope inspection device 1 in the conduit section 2002 of an asset 2000 (e.g., equipment or facilities to be inspected).

[0041] As shown in Fig. 1 , the borescope inspection device 1 may further comprise an analysis module 50. The spectroscopic data 107 may be processed by the analysis module 50 of the borescope inspection device 1 . The analysis module 50 is configured to obtain the spectroscopic data 107 generated by the photonic spectrometer 106 and perform a spectroscopic analysis of the spectroscopic data 107 to identify organic and/or inorganic contaminations within the at least a portion of the environment surrounding the probe 10. Additionally or alternatively, the spectroscopic data 107 may be communicated to a server or mobile terminal for processing of the same.

[0042] The result of the spectroscopic analysis can be outputted to the display means 20 for displaying of the result.

[0043] The borescope inspection device 1 may further comprise one or more processor, a memory and a communication module communicatively couplable with a server and/or a mobile terminal, such as a tablet, a cell phone, a laptop, or the like. The communication module may be configured to communicate with the mobile terminal and/or server, such as a cloud server, using wired or wireless technology. For example, the wireless technology may include WiFi (e.g., Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers [IEEE] 802.11X), cellular technology (e.g., high speed packet access [HSPA], HSPA+, long term evolution [LTE], WiMax), nearfield communications (NFC), Bluetooth, personal area networks (PANs), and the like. The wireless technology may use a variety of communication protocols, such as TCP/IP, UDP, SCTP, socket layers, and so on. In certain embodiments, the wireless or wired technology may implement secure layers, such as secure socket layers (SSL), virtual private network (VPN) layers, encrypted layers, challenge key authentication layers, token authentication layers, and so on. Wired technology may include proprietary cabling, RJ45 cabling, co-axial cables, fiber optic cables, and so on.

[0044] During an inspection, the borescope inspection device 1 may provide data to the one or more server connected a cloud. The mobile terminal may be used to receive data from the borescope inspection device 1 and/or to remotely control the same. A variety of data may be transmitted from the borescope inspection device 1 to the mobile terminal and/or server, such as images, video, spectroscopic data and sensor measurements such as temperature, pressure, flow, clearance (e.g., measurement between a stationary component and a rotary component), light condition, and distance measurements, orientation of the probe, or the like.

[0045] Referring to Fig. 2, there is shown a method 1000 for performing NDT with a borescope inspection device 1 as described in relation to Fig. 1. The method is carried out as follows:

[0046]The method 1000 may include an initial preparation step whereby the probe 10 of the borescope inspection device 1 is inserted 1001 within a conduit section 2002 of an asset 2000, as shown in Fig. 3. In particular, the probe 10 can be inserted in a variety of location in a turbomachinery plant, manufacturing equipment or facilities, such as inside articulating sections of the equipment, conduits, pipes, and inside turbomachinery, or more generally within a conduit 2002 of the asset 2000.

[0047] The method 1000 proceeds with the inspection phase in which the image 102 or a video of the at least a portion of an environment surrounding the probe 10 is obtained 1002 and spectroscopic data 107 of the at least a portion of the environment surrounding the probe 10 is obtained 1004.

[0048] Fig. 3, for example, shows an image 102 and spectroscopy data 107 obtained by the borescope inspection device 1 described above with reference of Fig. 1. The image 102 and the spectroscopy data 107 is obtained when performing non-destructive testing of the asset 2000.

[0049] The image 102 of at the least a portion of an environment surrounding the probe 10 can be directly displayed 1010 on the display 20 borescope inspection device 1. The method may also comprise displaying 1012 the spectroscopic data 107.

[0050] The method 1000 may further comprise the step of performing 1006 a spectroscopic analysis of the spectroscopic data 107 to identify organic and/or inorganic contaminations within the at least a portion of the environment surrounding the probe 10. The method may proceed with generating 1008 an output of a result of the spectroscopic analysis and displaying 1014 the output of the spectroscopic analysis by the display means 20. [0051] The method 1000 may further receive, via a probe driver 60 of the borescope inspection device 1 , an indication of a positioning instruction based on a user input. The positioning instruction may correspond to a direction of the probe 10 within a portion of a conduit section 2002, such as an orientation of the probe 10 within the portion of the conduit section 2002. In response to the positioning instruction, the direction of the probe 10 is changed 1014 and a new image and new spectroscopic data 107 of the least a portion of the environment surrounding the probe 10 is obtained.

[0052] The new image 102 of at the least a portion of an environment surrounding the probe 10 can then be displayed 1010 on the display 20. The method may also comprise displaying 1012 the new spectroscopic data 107 and/or result a spectroscopic analysis of the new spectroscopic data 107 to identify organic and/or in-organic contaminations within the at least a portion of the environment surrounding the probe 10.

[0053] An advantage of the present technical solution is to provide a borescope inspection device which combines visual inspection techniques of an asset with chemical analysis thereof by photonic spectroscopy, thus overcoming a single NDT technique limit. The present technical solution maximises the performance of the inspection operation.

[0054]An advantage of the present technical solution is to provide a simple inspection technique which decreases outage time and avoids delays and expenses for disassembly an asset for laboratory analyses.

[0055] A further advantage is that the inspection performed with the borescope inspection device 1 reduces dangerous contamination during inspection that may impact the performance of the asset.

[0056] While aspects of the invention have been described in terms of various specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications, changes, and omissions are possible without departing form the spirit and scope of the claims. In addition, unless specified otherwise herein, the order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments.

[0057] Reference has been made in detail to the embodiments of the disclosure, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the disclosure, not limitation of the disclosure. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present disclosure without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure. Reference throughout the specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" or “some embodiments” means that the particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the subject matter disclosed. Thus, the appearance of the phrase "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" or "in some embodiments" in various places throughout the specification is not necessarily referring to the same embodiments). Further, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

[0058] When elements of various embodiments are introduced, the articles “a”, “an”, “the”, and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising”, “including”, and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.

[0059] The present teaching may also extend to one or more of the following numbered clauses:

1. A borescope inspection device (1 ) comprising: a probe (10) for capturing an image (102) of at least a portion of an environment surrounding the probe (10); display means (20) for displaying the image (102) captured by the probe (10); and an insertion tube (30) connected to the probe (10) and the display means (20) and comprising coupling means (40) extending through the insertion tube (30) and configured to convey the image (102) captured by the probe (10) to the display means (20); characterized in that the probe (10) further comprises: a photonic spectrometer (106) to generate spectroscopic data (107) of the at least a portion of the environment surrounding the probe (10) for displaying by the display means (20); and an an eddy current sensor for characterising a base material and coating of the portion of the environment surrounding the probe, said eddy current sensor comprising: a coil configured to generate eddy currents in the portion of the environment surrounding the probe when said coil is excited by an alternating current of variable frequency; and a signal processing unit configured to receive a voltage signal from said coil and process the signal according to the applied variable frequency to characterize the base material and the coating of the portion of the environment surrounding the probe (10), preferably wherein said frequency is in the range of 0.1 - 100 MHz.

2. The borescope inspection device (1 ) according to clause 1 , wherein the coupling means (40) comprises electrical system, the electrical system is configured to convey the spectroscopic data (107) for displaying by the display means (20).

3. The borescope inspection device (1 ) according to clause 1 or 2, wherein the coupling means (40) comprises an electrical system and the probe (10) comprises a camera (104) for capturing the image (102) of the at least a portion of an environment surrounding the probe (10), and wherein the camera (104) is configured to capture the image (102) within a field of view of the camera (104) and within the visible spectrum of the light and wherein the photonic spectrometer (106) is configured to generate spectroscopic data (107) of the at least a portion of the environment within the field of view of the camera (104).

4. The borescope inspection device (1 ) according to clause 1 or 2, wherein the coupling means (40) comprises optical system, and the probe comprises an objective lens for capturing the image (102) of the at least a portion of an environment surrounding the probe (10).

5. The borescope inspection device (1 ) according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein the spectroscopic data (107) comprises at least one of chemical data or crystallographic data of the at least a portion of an environment surrounding the probe (10).

6. The borescope inspection device (1 ) according to any one of clauses 1-5, further comprising an analysis module (50), wherein the analysis module (50) is configured to: obtain the spectroscopic data (107) generated by the photonic spectrometer (106); and perform a spectroscopic analysis of the spectroscopic data (107) to identify organic and inorganic contaminations within the at least a portion of the environment surrounding the probe (10).

7. The borescope inspection device (1 ) according to clause 6, wherein the analysis module (50) is configured to output a result of the spectroscopic analysis to the display means (20) for displaying by the display means (20).

8. The borescope inspection device (1 ) according to any one of clauses 1-7, wherein the insertion tube (30) has an elongated tubular body and preferably wherein the elongated tubular body is a rigid body, a flexible body or an articulated body.

9. The borescope inspection device (1 ) according to any one of clauses 1-8, wherein the photonic spectrometer (106) is at least one of: a Raman spectrometer, an infrared, IR, spectrometer, and a UV spectrometer. 10. The borescope inspection device (1 ) according to any one of clauses 1-9, wherein the probe (10) further comprises one or more sensors, said one or more sensors comprising at least one of: a Fiber Bragg Grating, FBG, sensor; a temperature sensor; a haptic sensor; a light condition sensor; a pressure sensor; a flow sensor; a clearance sensor; a distance measurement sensor; and an orientation sensor.

11 . The borescope inspection device (1 ) according to any one of clauses 1 -10, wherein the probe (10) comprises thermographic inspection system for infrared imaging of the portion of the environment surrounding the probe (10).

12. The borescope inspection device (1 ) according to any one of clauses 1-11 , wherein the probe (10) is rotatable relative to the insertion tube (30).

13. A method (1000) for performing non-destructive testing, NDT, with a borescope inspection device (1 ) according to any one of clauses 1-12, comprising: obtaining (1002) the image (102) of the at least a portion of an environment surrounding the probe (10); obtaining (1004) the spectroscopic data (107) of the at least a portion of the environment surrounding the probe (10); displaying (1010, 1012) by the display means (20), the image (102) of at the least a portion of an environment surrounding the probe (10) and the spectroscopic data (107).

14. The method according to clause 13, the method further comprising: performing (1006) a spectroscopic analysis of the spectroscopic data (107) to identify organic and/or inorganic contaminations within the at least a portion of the environment surrounding the probe (10); generating (1008) an output of a result of the spectroscopic analysis; and displaying (1012) by the display means (20), the output of the spectroscopic analysis.

15. The method according to clause 14, the method further comprising: inserting (1001 ) the probe (10) within a conduit section (2002) of an asset (2000); receiving, via a probe driver (60), an indication of a positioning instruction based on a user input, wherein the positioning instruction corresponds to a direction of the probe (10) within a portion of a conduit section (2002); in response to the positioning instruction, changing (1014) a direction of the probe (10) within the portion of the conduit section (2002); capturing another image of the least a portion of the environment surrounding the probe (10); and generating further spectroscopic data (107) of the at least a portion of the environment surrounding the probe (10).

16. The method according to clause 15, wherein the direction of the probe (10) within the portion of the conduit section (2002) corresponds to an orientation of the probe (10) within the portion of the conduit section (2002).

Claims

1. A borescope inspection device (1 ) comprising: a probe (10) for capturing an image (102) of at least a portion of an environment surrounding the probe (10); display means (20) for displaying the image (102) captured by the probe (10); and an insertion tube (30) connected to the probe (10) and the display means (20) and comprising coupling means (40) extending through the insertion tube (30) and configured to convey the image (102) captured by the probe (10) to the display means (20); characterized in that the probe (10) further comprises a photonic spectrometer (106) to generate spectroscopic data (107) of the at least a portion of the environment surrounding the probe (10) for displaying by the display means (20); and in that the coupling means (40) comprises electrical system and the probe (10) comprises a camera (104) for capturing the image (102) of the at least a portion of an environment surrounding the probe (10), and wherein the camera (104) is configured to capture the image (102) within a field of view of the camera (104) and within the visible spectrum of the light and wherein the photonic spectrometer (106) is configured to generate spectroscopic data (107) of the at least a portion of the environment within the field of view of the camera (104).

2. The borescope inspection device (1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling means (40) comprises electrical system, the electrical system is configured to convey the spectroscopic data (107) for displaying by the display means (20).

3. The borescope inspection device (1 ) according to any one of claims 1-2, wherein the spectroscopic data (107) comprises at least one of chemical data or crystallographic data of the at least a portion of an environment surrounding the probe (10).

4. The borescope inspection device (1 ) according to any one of claims 1-3, further comprising an analysis module (50), wherein the analysis module (50) is configured to: obtain the spectroscopic data (107) generated by the photonic spectrometer (106); and perform a spectroscopic analysis of the spectroscopic data (107) to identify organic and inorganic contaminations within the at least a portion of the environment surrounding the probe (10).

5. The borescope inspection device (1 ) according to claim 4, wherein the analysis module (50) is configured to output a result of the spectroscopic analysis to the display means (20) for displaying by the display means (20).

6. The borescope inspection device (1 ) according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein the insertion tube (30) has an elongated tubular body and preferably wherein the elongated tubular body is a rigid body, a flexible body or an articulated body.

7. The borescope inspection device (1 ) according to any one of claims 1-6, wherein the photonic spectrometer (106) is at least one of: a Raman spectrometer, an infrared, IR, spectrometer, and a UV spectrometer.

8. The borescope inspection device (1 ) according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein the probe (10) further comprises one or more sensors, said one or more sensors comprising at least one of: a Fiber Bragg Grating, FBG, sensor; a temperature sensor; a haptic sensor; a light condition sensor; a pressure sensor; a flow sensor; a clearance sensor; a distance measurement sensor; and an orientation sensor.

9. The borescope inspection device (1 ) according to any one of claims 1-8, wherein the probe (10) comprises an eddy current sensor for characterising a base material and coating of the portion of the environment surrounding the probe, said eddy current sensor comprising: a coil configured to generate eddy currents in the portion of the environment surrounding the probe when said coil is excited by an alternating current of variable frequency; and a signal processing unit configured to receive a voltage signal from said coil and process the signal according to the applied variable frequency to characterize the base material and the coating of the portion of the environment surrounding the probe (10), preferably wherein said frequency is in the range of 0.1 - 100 MHz.

10. The borescope inspection device (1 ) according to any one of claims 1-9, wherein the probe (10) comprises thermographic inspection system for infrared imaging of the portion of the environment surrounding the probe (10).

11. The borescope inspection device (1 ) according to any one of claims 1-10, wherein the probe (10) is rotatable relative to the insertion tube (30).

12. A method (1000) for performing non-destructive testing, NDT, with a borescope inspection device (1 ) according to any one of claims 1 -11 , comprising: obtaining (1002) the image (102) of the at least a portion of an environment surrounding the probe (10); obtaining (1004) the spectroscopic data (107) of the at least a portion of the environment surrounding the probe (10); displaying (1010, 1012) by the display means (20), the image (102) of at the least a portion of an environment surrounding the probe (10) and the spectroscopic data (107).

13. The method according to claim 12, the method further comprising: performing (1006) a spectroscopic analysis of the spectroscopic data (107) to identify organic and/or inorganic contaminations within the at least a portion of the environment surrounding the probe (10); generating (1008) an output of a result of the spectroscopic analysis; and displaying (1012) by the display means (20), the output of the spectroscopic analysis.

14. The method according to claim 13, the method further comprising: inserting (1001 ) the probe (10) within a conduit section (2002) of an asset (2000); receiving, via a probe driver (60), an indication of a positioning instruction based on a user input, wherein the positioning instruction corresponds to a direction of the probe (10) within a portion of a conduit section (2002); in response to the positioning instruction, changing (1014) a direction of the probe (10) within the portion of the conduit section (2002); capturing another image of the least a portion of the environment surrounding the probe (10); and generating further spectroscopic data (107) of the at least a portion of the environment surrounding the probe (10).

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the direction of the probe (10) within the portion of the conduit section (2002) corresponds to an orientation of the probe (10) within the portion of the conduit section (2002).