Borescope inspection device and method for performing non-destructive testing using a borescope inspection device

Abstract

1. A borescope inspection device comprising: a probe for capturing images of at least a portion of an environment surrounding the probe, display means for displaying images 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 transmit images captured by the probe to the display means, 2. A borescope inspection device comprising: a probe for capturing images of at least a portion of an environment surrounding the probe, display means for displaying images captured by the probe, and an insertion tube coupled to the probe and the display means, the insertion tube comprising coupling means extending through the insertion tube and configured to transmit images captured by the probe to the display means, 3. A borescope inspection device comprising: a probe for capturing images of at least a portion of an environment surrounding the probe, the insertion tube comprising coupling means extending through the insertion tube and configured to transmit images captured by the probe to the display means, the insertion tube further comprising a photonic spectrometer for generating spectroscopic data of at least a portion of the environment surrounding the probe for display by the display means.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates to borescope inspection devices and methods for performing non-destructive testing using borescope inspection devices. [Background technology]

[0002] Assets such as manufacturing equipment and facilities may include multiple interrelated parts, such as turbomachinery engines, compressors, pumps, wind turbines, turboexpanders, etc., which may require inspection to detect issues that affect or could potentially affect the operation of the parts.

[0003] Certain inspection techniques do not require disassembly of the asset and can 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] Borescope inspection is a cutting-edge NDT technique that allows for the visual inspection of internal components of an asset. Borescope inspection is performed using a borescope inspection device, an optical instrument designed to aid in the visual inspection of narrow, hard-to-reach cavities. A borescope traditionally consists of a rigid or flexible tube with an eyepiece or display at one end and an objective lens or camera at the other end. These components are linked together by an optical or electrical system. An image of the object's interior is formed by the objective lens and magnified by the eyepiece, which presents an image of the object's interior to the observer's eye.

[0005] However, currently available borescope inspection devices provide a limited field of view of what is visually inspected inside the equipment / device.

[0006] For example, Japanese Patent No. 4753787 describes a fluorescence spectroscopic internal stress inspection device, which includes a borescope tube, a fluorescence excitation laser generator, a two-dimensional CCD camera, a computing device, and an eyepiece.

[0007] Improvements in borescope inspection devices may be beneficial. Additionally, borescope inspection techniques are welcome for inspecting assets such as mechanically driven gas turbines. Summary of the Invention

[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; rather, these aspects are intended only to provide a brief summary of possible forms of the disclosure. Indeed, the full disclosure may include a variety of aspects 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 images of at least a portion of an environment surrounding the probe. The borescope inspection device further comprises a display means for displaying images 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 transmit images captured by the probe to the display means. Advantageously, the probe further comprises a photonic spectrometer for generating spectroscopic data of at least a portion of the environment surrounding the probe for display by the display means.

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

[0011] A more complete understanding of the disclosed embodiments of this invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. [Figure 1] 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of a borescope inspection device according to the present disclosure, the borescope inspection device comprising a probe, a display means, and an insertion tube. [Figure 2] 2 illustrates a flowchart of a method for performing non-destructive testing of an asset using the borescope inspection device of FIG. 1 according to the present disclosure. [Figure 3] 2 illustrates images and spectroscopic data acquired by the borescope inspection device illustrated in FIG. 1 when performing non-destructive testing of an asset using the borescope inspection device according to the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] In the field of non-destructive testing inspection techniques, assets such as manufacturing equipment and facilities may require inspection to detect problems that affect or could potentially affect their functionality. Certain invasive inspection techniques, such as borescope inspection, provide visual indicators that affect the service of an asset or portion thereof, such as turbomachinery engines, compressors, pumps, wind turbines, turboexpanders, etc.

[0013] However, the inspection results provided by performing a borescope inspection are limited to what can be detected within the visible spectrum of light. Therefore, the asset cannot be analyzed comprehensively enough to identify, for example, the chemical nature, source of contamination, corrosion, material phase transformation, or the like affecting the asset. For example, the asset may be affected by corrosion as a result of a reaction with another unknown substance, and by performing a visual inspection, it may be impossible to determine which substance caused the corrosion or to gain additional understanding of the reaction that occurred, thus leading to disassembly of the asset for further laboratory analysis / testing, which involves a waste of time and money. Therefore, during a conventional borescope inspection, it is impossible to identify the chemical, physical, and crystallographic properties of the analyzed asset, such as a gas turbine.

[0014] The employment of photonic spectroscopy techniques, such as Raman or infrared techniques, to chemically analyze inorganic and organic materials affecting an asset or portions thereof is traditionally performed at the laboratory level, or at any rate at the line on-site level. These techniques require disassembly of the asset to analyze the affected portions, resulting in unwanted potential contamination of the asset, downtime, delays, and costs to perform this operation.

[0015] Accordingly, the present subject matter is directed to a borescope inspection device. The borescope inspection device comprises a probe configured to capture images or video of at least a portion of an environment surrounding the probe. The borescope inspection device further comprises a display or display means, e.g., a screen, monitor, or equivalent viewing device, configured to display or show images 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 therethrough configured to transmit, communicate, or otherwise convey images or video captured by the probe to the display means. Advantageously, the probe further comprises a photonic spectrometer for generating spectroscopic data of at least a portion of the environment surrounding the probe for display by the display means.

[0016] In particular, it is possible to provide a combination of borescope inspection and chemical analysis by photonic spectroscopy (Raman, IR, etc.) in the same probe. Specifically, a borescope inspection device equipped with a probe, camera, and photonic spectrometer can visually identify the object to be analyzed, place it in the correct focal plane, and perform spectroscopic analysis to identify organic and inorganic contamination. The chemical, physical, and crystallographic properties of visible indicators during borescope inspection can be identified using this unique probe. For example, it is possible to identify structural changes in the crystal lattice and / or, more specifically, vibrational modes (phonons) in the crystal lattice to determine the state of health of materials / coatings in a portion of the environment surrounding the probe. The combination of borescope inspection and photonic spectroscopy-based chemical analysis in a single probe results in an analytically invasive NDT technique that enables remote inspection, which can be performed in the field without the need for laboratory analysis.

[0017] Reference is now made to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, which shows a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an NDT device according to the present invention.

[0018] The NDT device comprises a borescope inspection device 1 that can be used to inspect a wide variety of equipment and installations and parts thereof, such as, for example, turbomachinery, containers, vessels, compressors, pumps, turboexpanders, wind turbines, water turbines, industrial equipment, residential equipment, etc.

[0019] It will be further understood that the use of the described borescope inspection device 1 is not limited to the turbomachinery field, but may also be applicable in the fields of Oil Field Services and Equipment (OFSE), manufacturing, transportation, automotive, aerospace, harsh disaster environments, piping, and cultural heritage diagnostics.

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

[0021] The borescope inspection device 1 depicted in FIG. 1 comprises a probe 10 , a 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 the environment surrounding the probe 10. The probe 10 may include a camera 104 or objective lens (not shown) for capturing the image 102 of at least a portion of the environment surrounding the probe 10. Both the camera 104 and the objective lens are configured to capture the image 102 or video within the visible spectrum of light and their fields of view. The probe 10 may provide images and / or video suitable for inspection.

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

[0024] The Raman spectrometer provides Raman spectroscopy of the environment surrounding the probe 10. Like infrared (IR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy is a molecular spectroscopic technique that utilizes the interaction of light with the material surrounding the probe 10 to provide insight into the composition or properties of materials. The information provided by Raman spectroscopy performed by the photonic spectrometer 106 arises from light scattering processes, whereas IR spectroscopy relies on the absorption of light. Raman spectroscopy provides information about intra- and intermolecular vibrations, which can provide additional understanding of reactions. Both Raman spectroscopy and IR spectroscopy, such as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), provide spectral signatures of specific vibrations of molecules (i.e., "molecular fingerprints") and are highly useful for identifying materials in the environment surrounding the probe 10. However, Raman spectroscopy can provide additional information about lower frequency modes and vibrations that provide insight into crystal lattices, molecular framework structures, and phase transformations of materials.

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

[0026] The probe 10 may further include one or more lights (not shown), such as an LED light, a fiber optic bundle, or other type of light, which may be used to provide illumination when the probe 10 is placed in a low or no light location. For example, a fiber optic bundle may be connected to a light source and extend into the body of the insertion tube 30 to terminate at 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 additional data about the surrounding environment, such as temperature, light conditions, pressure, flow rate, clearance (e.g., measurements between stationary and rotating components), and distance measurements, probe orientation, etc.

[0028] One or more sensors may for example comprise a Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) which makes it possible to combine information on the visible and material composition with information on the strain / deformation and temperature and therefore on the state of the material under investigation. The borescope inspection device may also comprise a further third tactile / temperature sensor.

[0029] One or more sensors may comprise an eddy current sensor, which allows for characterization and / or health assessment of substrates and coatings in a portion of the environment surrounding the probe 10. The eddy current sensor allows for non-destructive testing (NDT) of a portion of the environment surrounding the probe 10 by inducing a flow of eddy currents in the portion of the environment surrounding the probe 10 from an adjacent coil excited by a variable frequency alternating current. The eddy current generates a magnetic field that induces a voltage in the coil. The phase angle and amplitude of the induced voltage can be measured by the eddy current sensor and can vary according to the substrate and coating characteristics of the portion of the environment surrounding the probe 10. By sweeping multiple frequencies of the alternating variable current, it is possible to distinguish between different materials and coatings in the portion of the environment surrounding the probe 10. The current frequency can be, for example, in the range of 0.1 to 100 MHz.

[0030] The combination of eddy current spectroscopy with borescope photonic spectroscopy and visual inspection techniques allows for pinpointing a portion of the environment surrounding the probe 10 inside the asset 2000 and providing information about the substrate and coating health. Based on this information, it is also possible to measure coating thickness.

[0031] The one or more sensors may comprise a thermographic inspection system for infrared imaging of a portion of the environment surrounding the probe 10. The thermographic inspection system may comprise an exciter, an analyzer system, and a thermal charge-coupled device (CCD) sensor.

[0032] The combination of thermography with borescope photonic spectroscopy and visual inspection techniques allows for the inspection of a portion of the environment surrounding the probe 10 to provide information regarding the integrity or uniformity of the substrate and coating. Based on this information, it is also possible to measure the coating thickness.

[0033] The one or more sensors may comprise both a thermographic inspection system for infrared imaging of a portion of the environment surrounding the probe 10, as described above, and an eddy current sensor. The combination of thermography and eddy current spectroscopy with borescope photonic spectroscopy and visual inspection techniques makes it possible to provide combined information about the same inspected portion of the environment surrounding the probe 10. Thus, the inspected portion can be analyzed comprehensively enough to identify, for example, the chemistry, sources of contamination, corrosion, health and integrity of substrates and coatings, phase transformations of materials, or the like affecting that portion.

[0034] 1, the borescope inspection device 1 comprises an insertion tube 30 for insertion into various locations such as internal equipment, pipes, conduits, underwater locations, curves, bends, inside or outside aircraft systems, turbomachinery, etc. The insertion tube 30 can be controlled to steer or bend or adjust to enable inspection of the asset 2000.

[0035] The insertion tube 30 comprises a transmitter or coupling means 40 connected to and extending through the insertion tube 30 and to the probe 10 and the display or display means 20. As mentioned above, the transmitter or coupling means 40 is configured to transmit, communicate, or otherwise convey images or videos 102 captured by the probe 10 to the display or display means 20 so that the captured images 102 or videos can be viewed or displayed. As mentioned above, the display or display means 20 may comprise, for example, a screen, monitor, or equivalent display device. The coupling means 40 also conveys spectroscopic data 107 for display by the display means 20 and / or for processing by the analysis module 50 of the borescope inspection device 1.

[0036] The coupling means 40 may comprise electrical systems, such as electrical cables, and / or optics, such as optical waveguides, eyepiece assemblies, or optical fibers, for transmitting images captured by the probe for display by the display 30. The electronic system may also be configured to transmit spectroscopic data 107 acquired by the photonic spectrometer 106.

[0037] The display means 30 may comprise an eyepiece or one or more screens to provide for user interaction, including multi-touch screens that use capacitive, resistive, infrared grid, or other technologies to detect the touch of a stylus and / or one or more human fingers.

[0038] The one or more screens may include, for example, a CRT (cathode ray tube) or LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor for displaying information to a user, and a keyboard and pointing device (e.g., a mouse or trackball) by which a user can provide input to the computer.

[0039] Other types of devices can also be used to provide interaction with a user. 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.

[0040] Additionally or alternatively, the image 102, video, and / or spectroscopic data 107 may be transmitted to the cloud or a mobile terminal. These data may also be recorded on a computer-readable storage medium on the electronic device. Computer-readable media may include volatile memory, non-volatile memory, magnetic media, optical media, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), removable media, and others.

[0041] Reports, such as summaries of the tests performed, can also be generated. These reports can be used to compare conclusions arising from the test with other reports from other tests. These reports can therefore be useful in comparing test conclusions between test repetitions and in making maintenance and / or management decisions.

[0042] 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, which may be rigid, flexible, or articulated. Thus, the insertion tube 30 may have a pivotally connected portion of its body. During use, the insertion tube 30 may be controlled by a mobile terminal and / or a control input, for example, to steer, bend, or adjust its orientation / position.

[0043] The probe 10 may be configured to be rotatable relative to the insertion tube 30 so as to rotate in response to user action / input. Alternatively or additionally, the probe 10 may be controlled to be positioned at various angles relative to the insertion tube 30. In this manner, the probe 10 may be positioned to visually inspect a desired location. The probe 10 may be moved by a mechanical or electrical system, for example, one or more motors.

[0044] 1 , the borescope inspection device 1 may further include a probe driver 60. An operator may use the probe driver 60 to change the position of the probe 10 within the conduit section 2002 of the asset 2000. The probe driver 60 may generate positioning commands corresponding to the orientation of the probe 10 within a portion of the conduit section 2002 in response to user input. The probe may be configured to reposition in response to the positioning command by changing the orientation of the probe 10 within a portion of the conduit section 2002 or by adjusting the position of the insertion tube 30 to capture images 102 and spectroscopic data 107 of a different portion of the environment surrounding the probe 10.

[0045] 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 to the borescope inspection device 1 so as to enable remote control of the borescope inspection device 1.

[0046] In use, the borescope inspection device 1 may be controlled by various operators located at the inspection site and / or at a remote location. For example, the borescope inspection device 1 may be physically manipulated or may be remotely operated by an operator, for example, by remotely controlling the probe driver 60 of the borescope inspection device 1 via a mobile terminal. The operator may insert, retract, and / or otherwise position the borescope inspection device 1 within the conduit section 2002 of the asset 2000 (e.g., equipment or facility being inspected).

[0047] 1 , the borescope inspection device 1 may further include 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 acquire 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 contamination within 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 a mobile terminal for processing.

[0048] The results of the spectroscopic analysis can be output to a display means 20 for displaying the results.

[0049] The borescope inspection device 1 may further include one or more processors, memory, and a communication module communicatively coupleable to a server and / or a mobile terminal such as a tablet, mobile phone, or laptop. The communication module may be configured to communicate with the mobile terminal and / or a 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), near field communication (NFC), Bluetooth, personal area network (PAN), etc. The wireless technology may use various communication protocols such as TCP / IP, UDP, SCTP, socket layer, etc. In certain embodiments, the wireless or wired technology may implement a secure layer such as a secure socket layer (SSL), a virtual private network (VPN) layer, an encryption layer, a challenge key authentication layer, a token authentication layer, etc. The wired technology may include proprietary cable, RJ45 cable, coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, etc.

[0050] During an inspection, the borescope inspection device 1 may provide data to one or more servers connected to the cloud. A mobile terminal may be used to receive data from the borescope inspection device 1 and / or to remotely control the borescope inspection device 1. Various data, such as images, video, temperature, pressure, flow rate, clearance (e.g., measurements between stationary and rotating components), light conditions, and spectroscopic data and sensor measurements, such as distance measurements, probe orientation, etc., may be transmitted from the borescope inspection device 1 to the mobile terminal and / or server.

[0051] Referring to Figure 2, there is shown a method 1000 for performing NDT using the borescope inspection device 1 described in relation to Figure 1. The method is performed as follows.

[0052] 3, the method 1000 may include an initial preparation step in which the probe 10 of the borescope inspection device 1 is inserted 1001 into a conduit section 2002 of the asset 2000. In particular, the probe 10 may be inserted into various locations of a turbomachinery facility, manufacturing equipment, or installation, such as equipment joints, inside conduits, pipes, and inside turbomachinery, or more generally into the conduit 2002 of the asset 2000.

[0053] The method 1000 proceeds to an inspection stage where an image 102 or video of at least a portion of the environment surrounding the probe 10 is acquired (1002) and spectroscopic data 107 of at least a portion of the environment surrounding the probe 10 is acquired (1004).

[0054] Figure 3 shows an image 102 and spectroscopic data 107 acquired by, for example, the borescope inspection device 1 described above with reference to Figure 1. The image 102 and spectroscopic data 107 are acquired when performing non-destructive testing of an asset 2000.

[0055] An image 102 of at least a portion of the environment surrounding the probe 10 may be displayed 1010 directly on the display 20 of the borescope inspection device 1. The method may also include displaying 1012 the spectroscopic data 107.

[0056] The method 1000 may further include the step of performing (1006) a spectroscopic analysis of the spectroscopic data 107 to identify organic and / or inorganic contamination within at least a portion of the environment surrounding the probe 10. The method may proceed to generating (1008) an output of the results of the spectroscopic analysis and displaying (1014) the output of the spectroscopic analysis by the display means 20.

[0057] The method 1000 may further receive an indication of a positioning command based on user input via the probe driver 60 of the borescope inspection device 1. The positioning command may correspond to an orientation of the probe 10 within the portion of the conduit section 2002, such as an orientation of the probe 10 within the portion of the conduit section 2002. In response to the positioning command, the orientation of the probe 10 is changed (1014) and new images and new spectroscopic data 107 of at least a portion of the environment surrounding the probe 10 are acquired.

[0058] The new image 102 of at least a portion of the environment surrounding the probe 10 may then be displayed 1010 on the display 20. The method may also include displaying 1012 the new spectroscopic data 107 and / or results of a spectroscopic analysis of the new spectroscopic data 107 to identify organic and / or inorganic contamination within at least a portion of the environment surrounding the probe 10.

[0059] An advantage of the present technical solution is that it provides a borescope inspection device that combines visual inspection techniques of an asset with its chemical analysis by photonic spectroscopy, thus overcoming the limitations of single NDT techniques. The present technical solution maximizes the performance of the inspection operation.

[0060] An advantage of the present technical solution is that it provides a simple inspection technique that reduces downtime and avoids the delay and expense of disassembling assets for laboratory analysis.

[0061] A further advantage is that inspections performed with the borescope inspection device 1 reduce dangerous contamination during inspection that may affect the performance of the asset.

[0062] While aspects of the present invention have been described in terms of various specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications, changes, and omissions are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims. Additionally, unless otherwise specified herein, the order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or rearranged according to alternative embodiments.

[0063] Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present disclosure, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the disclosure, not as a limitation of the disclosure. Indeed, 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. References throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" or "some embodiments" mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the disclosed subject matter. Thus, the appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment," "in an embodiment," or "in some embodiments" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

[0064] When presenting elements of various embodiments, 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.

[0065] The present teachings may also be extended 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); a display means (20) for displaying an image (102) captured by the probe (10); an insertion tube (30) connected to the probe (10) and the display means (20), the insertion tube (30) comprising a coupling means (40) extending through the insertion tube (30) and configured to transmit an image (102) captured by the probe (10) to the display means (20); The probe (10) a photonic spectrometer (106) for generating spectroscopic data (107) of at least a portion of the environment surrounding the probe (10) for display by a display means (20); 1. The eddy current sensor for characterizing substrates and coatings in a portion of an environment surrounding a probe, the eddy current sensor comprising: a coil configured to generate eddy currents in a portion of an environment surrounding the probe when the coil is excited by an alternating current of a variable frequency; and a signal processing unit configured to receive a voltage signal from the coil and process the signal according to an applied variable frequency in order to characterize substrates and coatings in a portion of the environment surrounding the probe (10), preferably the frequency being in the range of 0.1 to 100 MHz. 2. The borescope inspection device (1) according to clause 1, wherein the coupling means (40) comprises an electrical system, the electrical system being configured to transmit the spectroscopic data (107) for display by the display means (20). 3. A borescope inspection device (1) as described in clause 1 or 2, wherein the coupling means (40) comprises an electrical system, the probe (10) comprises a camera (104) for capturing an image (102) of at least a portion of an environment surrounding the probe (10), the camera (104) being configured to capture the image (102) within a field of view of the camera (104) and within the visible spectrum of light, and the photonic spectrometer (106) is configured to generate spectroscopic data (107) of at least a portion of the environment within the field of view of the camera (104). 4. A borescope inspection device (1) according to clause 1 or 2, wherein the coupling means (40) comprises an optical system and the probe comprises an objective lens for capturing an image (102) of at least a portion of the environment surrounding the probe (10). 5. A borescope inspection device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the spectroscopic data (107) comprises at least one of chemical data or crystallographic data of at least a portion of the environment surrounding the probe (10). 6. Further comprising an analysis module (50), wherein the analysis module (50) acquiring spectroscopic data (107) generated by a photonic spectrometer (106); A borescope inspection device (1) as described in any one of clauses 1 to 5, configured to perform spectroscopic analysis of the spectroscopic data (107) to identify organic and inorganic contamination within 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 the results of the spectroscopic analysis to the display means (20) for display by the display means (20). 8. A borescope inspection device (1) according to any one of clauses 1 to 7, wherein the insertion tube (30) has an elongated tubular body, preferably the elongated tubular body being rigid, flexible or articulated. 9. The photonic spectrometer (106) a Raman spectrometer; an infrared (IR) spectrometer; and a UV spectrometer. 10. The probe (10) further comprises one or more sensors, the one or more sensors comprising: a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor; A temperature sensor; A tactile sensor; an optical condition sensor; A pressure sensor; A flow sensor; A clearance sensor; a distance measurement sensor; 10. The borescope inspection device (1) according to any one of clauses 1 to 9, comprising at least one of: 11. A borescope inspection device (1) according to any one of clauses 1 to 10, wherein the probe (10) is equipped with a thermographic inspection system for infrared imaging of a portion of the environment surrounding the probe (10). 12. The borescope inspection device (1) according to any one of clauses 1 to 11, wherein the probe (10) is rotatable relative to the insertion tube (30). 13. A method (1000) for performing non-destructive testing (NDT) using a borescope inspection device (1) according to any one of clauses 1 to 12, comprising: acquiring (1002) an image (102) of at least a portion of an environment surrounding the probe (10); acquiring (1004) spectroscopic data (107) of at least a portion of an environment surrounding the probe (10); Displaying (1010, 1012) an image (102) and spectroscopic data (107) of at least a portion of an environment surrounding the probe (10) by a display means (20). 14. How to performing (1006) a spectroscopic analysis of the spectroscopic data (107) to identify organic and / or inorganic contamination within at least a portion of the environment surrounding the probe (10); generating an output of the results of the spectroscopic analysis (1008); 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising displaying (1012) the output of the spectroscopic analysis by a display means (20). 15. How to Inserting (1001) a probe (10) into a conduit section (2002) of an asset (2000); receiving, via the probe driver (60), a positioning command based on user input, the positioning command corresponding to an orientation of the probe (10) within a portion of the conduit section (2002); reorienting the probe (10) within a portion of the conduit section (2002) in response to a positioning command (1014); capturing another image of at least a portion of the environment surrounding the probe (10); 15. The method of clause 14, further comprising generating further spectroscopic data (107) of at least a portion of an environment surrounding the probe (10). 16. The method of clause 15, wherein the direction of the probe (10) within the portion of the conduit section (2002) corresponds to the 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 said probe (10); a display means (20) for displaying the image (102) captured by the probe (10); an insertion tube (30) connected to the probe (10) and the display means (20), the insertion tube (30) comprising a coupling means (40) extending through the insertion tube (30) and configured to transmit the image (102) captured by the probe (10) to the display means (20); the probe (10) further comprising a photonic spectrometer (106) for generating spectroscopic data (107) of the at least a portion of the environment surrounding the probe (10) for display by the display means (20); the coupling means (40) comprises an electrical system; 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), the camera (104) configured to capture the image (102) within a field of view of the camera (104) and within the visible spectrum of light; and the photonic spectrometer (106) 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. 2. The borescope inspection device (1) of claim 1, wherein the coupling means (40) comprises an electrical system configured to transmit the spectroscopic data (107) for display by the display means (20).

3. 3. The borescope inspection device (1) of claim 1 or 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 apparatus further comprises an analysis module (50), the analysis module (50) comprising: acquiring the spectroscopic data (107) generated by the photonic spectrometer (106); 4. The borescope inspection device (1) of claim 1, configured to perform spectroscopic analysis of the spectroscopic data (107) to identify organic and inorganic contamination within the at least a portion of the environment surrounding the probe (10).

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

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

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

8. The probe (10) further comprises one or more sensors, the one or more sensors comprising: a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor; A temperature sensor; A tactile sensor; an optical condition sensor; A pressure sensor; A flow sensor; A clearance sensor; a distance measurement sensor; A borescope inspection device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one of: a. an orientation sensor;

9. The probe (10) comprises an eddy current sensor for characterizing substrates and coatings in the portion of the environment surrounding the probe, the eddy current sensor comprising: a coil configured to generate eddy currents in the portion of the environment surrounding the probe when the coil is excited by an alternating current of a variable frequency; and a signal processing unit configured to receive a voltage signal from the coil and process the signal according to the applied variable frequency in order to characterize the substrate and the coating of the portion of the environment surrounding the probe, preferably the frequency being in the range of 0.1 to 100 MHz.

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

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

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

14. The method comprises: Inserting (1001) the probe (10) into a conduit section (2002) of an asset (2000); receiving, via a probe driver (60), a positioning command based on user input, the positioning command corresponding to an orientation of the probe (10) within a portion of the conduit section (2002); changing the orientation of the probe within the portion of the conduit section in response to the positioning command; capturing another image of the at least a portion of the environment surrounding the probe (10); The method of claim 13, further comprising generating further spectroscopic data (107) of the at least a portion of the environment surrounding the probe (10).

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

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