Careers Hot Inspection Service for Online Furnace Inspection
Avoid Furnace Shut Down with Online Fired Heater Inspection
Is there an issue with your high temperature fixed equipment, but you can’t see the cause, or the exact site? We designed and developed Hot-tek‘s Lancescope™ fired heater inspection tool for just this situation. IGS’ Hot-tek™ hot inspection service enables a detailed furnace inspection while the unit remains online, supporting proactive maintenance without shutdown. It allows to undertake a high temperature furnace inspection to determine the scope of the problem, often avoiding an expensive shut down of the heater. This approach is widely used for fired heater inspection and heater tube inspection in operating units.
Advanced Hot Inspection Technology for Furnace and Heater Inspection
Hot-tek‘s Lancescope™ system provides real-time, close-up or wide-angle views of virtually any area inside a fired heater, or other high temperature equipment while it is still operating. This supports both furnace tube inspection and full heater inspection across critical process areas. The hot inspection system uses a state-of-the-art digital camera system, which provides clear, detailed images of problem areas up to 3000°F (1650°C). The furnace inspection system can be inserted into openings as small as 2.75” (7cm) and reach up to 30ft (10m). In applications below 1000°F (540°C), the heater inspection system provides illumination via a high temperature light source for optimum clarity.
Benefits of the Lancescope™ Fired Heater Hot Furnace Inspection Process
- Performed while unit is in operation
- Provides insight for production availability
- Identifies damage in early stages
- Reduces maintenance costs
- Minimizes repair down time
- Maximizes production
The Lancescope™ technology is supplemented by a complete infrared thermography analysis, temperature tests, and emissivity measurements.
Infrared Thermography for Online Furnace Tube Inspection
We employ infrared technology to inspect furnace process tube surfaces to primarily identify the degree of oxidation and scale formation. Thorough inspection provides data needed for other Hot-tek™ on-line services.
Hot Inspection Service in Action inside your Fired Heater
Step 1: Locating the problem
- Cetek’s Lancescope™ is inserted into the fired heater for inspection, which is still online, as part of a live furnace inspection service
- The images detail a failure area by using the Lancescope zoom feature
- The images capture the missing refractory exposing structural steel to intense heat.
Step 2: Hot Refractory Repair (HRR)
- Images are taken during the Hot Refractory Repair process on a large vertical cylindrical crude heater
- The ‘before’ image shows clear daylight through a void in the shell, showing missing refractory
- The void is sealed with Cetek baskets, repairing the refractory, and restoring productivity
WATCH VIDEO: Can You Fix Fired Heater Hot Spots Without a Shutdown?
IGS Subject Matter Expert Larry Emch explains how hot spots on fired heaters indicate refractory failure and why early detection is critical to avoiding escalation. In this video, he outlines how a Hot-tek Inspection Survey (HIS) and Hot Refractory Repair (HRR) can be deployed while the unit remains online, stabilising damage, restoring lining integrity, and preventing unplanned shutdowns.
Hot Inspection Service FAQ
Proven Furnace Inspection Service Without Shutdown For Live Fired Heaters
At IGS, our Hot-tek® services are designed to keep fired heaters and process units operating safely and efficiently, all without the need for costly shutdowns. Below, our experts answer the most frequently asked questions about how Hot-tek® online furnace inspection services address common questions about hot inspection, fired heater inspection, and heater tube inspection in operating units, drawing on decades of real-world experience across refineries, petrochemical plants, and power facilities worldwide.
Does heater duty need to be reduced during inspection?
No. HRR can be completed safely without impacting production on heaters with negative pressure.
Can you inspect both radiant and convection section?
Yes. Our Lancescope inspection system withstands temperatures up to 3,000°F, allowing for detailed imaging of both radiant and convection areas. Auxiliary lighting is used where natural radiant light is insufficient.
What kind of reporting do you provide?
After inspection, IGS delivers a comprehensive visual report including photos, video recordings, and analysis of areas of concern. Our engineers liaise directly with plant contacts to ensure all requested areas have been thoroughly covered.
Does the lance camera have IR capabilities?
The Lancescope provides high-quality digital images and video, without infrared capture. These visuals are sufficient for identifying hot spots, damage, or buildup.
Trusted Online Maintenance Without Shutdowns
The IGS Hot Inspection Service provides detailed insights into heater conditions – without interrupting production. Using our advanced Lancescope system and high-temperature imaging, clients receive a full visual record to support proactive maintenance decisions.
Other Hot-tek Services
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