Steel bores and valves are commonly clad or overlayed with a secondary alloy to protect the underlying component from wear, corrosion or erosion. Whether the bore is used in the oil and gas or energy industry, it’s critical that the cladding is applied continuously and evenly. Defects in the alloy layer defeat the purpose of cladding and result in costly scrap, re-work or even failure of the component in the field. Monitoring the overlay process is difficult due to a combination of internal bore geometry, high temperatures associated with preheating and long operation times. These factors all contribute to operator stress and fatigue. However, MeltView cameras can be employed for monitoring bore cladding successfully.

Utilizing a MeltView welding camera enables effective and cost-effective monitoring of this critical process and greatly improve worker health and safety. The operator can view a magnified, clear image of the weld pool at the operation station.

Cladding or overlaying a nickel-based alloy on top of a steel substrate is a method often employed in the Oil and Gas industry to protect the underlying component from corrosive fluids. It’s critical that the cladding is applied continuously and evenly. Defects in the alloy layer defeat the purpose of cladding and result in costly scrap, re-work or even failure of the component in the field. The overlay process is often inaccessible to humans, and welding cameras can enable effective and cost-effective monitoring of this critical process.

The MeltView MIRA camera is designed for monitoring horizontal bore cladding operations where a TIG torch is extended deep within a valve or Christmas tree. Typically such applications have high ambient temperatures due to preheating and long operation times. Both factors stress and fatigue the operator. The MeltView MIRA can reduce the operator’s exposure to such hazards and improve working conditions.

The MeltView MIRA is mounted on the torch arm so that it is located external to high temperature environments, reducing the need for camera cooling. The operator can view a magnified, clear image of the TIG torch and weld pool at the operation station for monitoring purposes. The motorized zoom, focus and iris may be controlled from the station such that the lens settings may be optimized whenever desired.