CSEI is one of the units early engaged in the research and application of acoustic emission technique in China, participated in the formulation of Methods for Acoustic Emission Inspection and Result Assessment of Mental Pressure Vessels in 1997, which came into effect in 2000 (GB/T18182 - 2000).

Ultrasonic edge diffraction technique

Height of defect is a very important parameter in pressure vessel inspection.
During the 8th Five-Year Plan research, CSEI invented an advanced method to accurately measure the height of a defect with a general ultrasonic non-destructive detector, with the minimum height 1mm, accuracy deviation less than 0.5mm. The technique is up to international advanced level, and has been successfully applied in field inspection for many petrochemical plants and oil refineries such as Maoming, Yanshan, Zhenhai, Xinjiang Dushanzi, and Daqing, etc.

Since 1980's, CSEI organized experts in R&D of safety assessment technique for defects exceeding limit, 23 achievements were gained, 9 reached international advanced level.
CSEI developed a complete set of technologies "inspection + defect height determination + least welding repair + acoustic emission inspection + defect safety assessment", which was successfully applied to many petrochemical companies national wide.

Rich experiences in hydrogenator inspection. Even more progress was made in the evaluation of material degradation, UT techniques for examining defects inside butt-jointed seams of thick-walled steel plates, and UT techniques for surface separation and under layer cracking.
CSEI ranks the top in the inspection of hydrofining reactors, hydrocracking reactors and hydrodesulfurization reactors in China.

The difficulty of inspection and safety assessment of spherical tanks lies in determining the nature of the defect. CSEI accumulated abundant experience in this area. By inspection technique of "Interior and exterior inspection + UT edge diffraction + acoustic emission + least welding repair + defect safety assessment", the inspection time could be shortened and cost saved.

CSEI performed the first residual life expectancy analysis of delayed coking equipment in China.

Participated in the R & D project of Inspection Technique for Concentric Wrapping Synthesis Urea Tower. Invented a set of established inspection techniques in inspection of welding of different metals in large-scale multi-layered vessels and circumferential welding joints.

CSEI performed many periodic inspections of ultrahigh pressure artificial crystal reactors. During inspection, combined the methods of exterior ultrasonic inspections with interior video-relayed microscopic examinations, thus significantly raised rate of defect detection.

CSEI is the first institute in China to conduct long-tube trailer inspection, and is the drafter of China long-tube trailer inspection standards. By combining UT non-destructive technique with acoustic emission technique, perform safety assessment of the overall safety of long-tube trailers.