The　surface　of　special　equipment　is　prone　to　crack　after　long-term　service　bringing　great　potential　danger　to　the　safe　operation　of　the　equipment.　The　detection　of　cracks　and　the　distinction　of　the　orientation　of　cracks　are　useful　for　analyzing　the　causes　of　cracks　and　then　optimizing　the　structural　design　of　special　equipment　components.　This　paper　proposes　two　kinds　of　new　flexible　eddy　current　sensors.　The　sensors　are　designed　based　on　double-layer　flexible　PCB　circuits,　all　of　which　have　8　circular　detection　coils　and　specific　array　element　arrangements.　They　can　characterize　the　orientation　of　the　defects　while　detecting　the　surface　defects　of　the　specimen　through　corresponding　algorithm　processing.　Experiments　are　carried　out　using　two　eddy　current　sensors　on　curved　specimens　containing　defects　with　different　orientations　to　verify　the　sensors’　ability.　They　can　detect　the　defects　and　identify　their　orientation.　©　The　Author(s),　under　exclusive　license　to　Springer　Nature　Switzerland　AG　2023.