ADVERTORIAL | AHLBERG CAMERAS: 4-FACE FUEL INSPECTION
THE 4-FACE FUEL INSPECTION system is used during every outage by Ahlberg Cameras customers world-wide. With the purpose of finding failed fuel, it records all fuel assemblies during mandatory offload in PWR units without affecting critical path.
From face to nozzle The 4-FACE system comes with hardware and software to perform inspection at 1080p resolution. Recordings include each fuel assembly face as well as the bottom nozzle independently. The latter is important as debris can be stuck at the bottom of the fuel assembly, and removing it prevents abnormal bending (bow) if standing on debris during plant operation. Plants performing regular debris removal campaigns has empirically the least fuel-related failures. The 4-FACE FUEL INSPECTION system gives an immediate verification of each fuel assembly and bottom nozzle while simultaneously collecting data for fuel assembly length and deformation (bow measurement). Ahlberg Cameras’ patented software calculates
measured bow of each fuel assembly. This is valuable information since bent fuel can lead to locally reduced cooling, or interference with neighboring assemblies, which in turn can lead to fuel damages. Visual results are presented real-time while length and bow are presented post-recording, giving fuel handling personnel time to reconsider placement or even removal of bent fuel assemblies.
Above: The 4-FACE system suspended at the up-ender in the fuel building.
Turnkey solutions The 4-FACE FUEL INSPECTION systems are delivered with hardware, software, installation, training and commissioning included. Each system custom-built to fit the reactor’s and fuel building’s technical interfaces and specifications. The mobile system can be stored in boxes when not in use and tran sport- ed to operate in other reactors with similar interface. – We listen to each customer’s specific needs and
custom ize the system accordingly, not only making operation safer, but helping save money in the long term, explains Peter Legath, Sales Manager at Ahlberg Cameras.
Radiation-tolerant full HD Fully equipped, the 4-FACE FUEL INSPECTION system has up to six full HD (1080p) cameras mounted on a framework, suspended at the refuelling floor level, normally hanging above the transfer canal up-ender. It is designed to record a fuel assembly with a lifting speed of up to 18m/min. Other used suspension areas are:
Enhancing image quality Ahlberg Cameras also provides other enhancement software products used to facilitate fuel analysis such as Contrast Optimization, Noise Removal, and Thermal Removal. In addition to video recordings, still images presenting top nozzle, bottom nozzle, and all spacer grids can be extracted for fast fuel integrity verifications. In the 4-FACE recorder monitor, the operator looks at all
four or six sides as the fuel assemblies pass by the cameras that sometimes are as close as 0.3m (1 ft). If a defect is detected, the operator presses the software tag button and can, after all the fuel has been unloaded from the core, easily go back to the selected assembly for deeper analysis. Over time, a library of information for the fuel assemblies is created, from new fuel to end-of-life.
Below: Placement of 4-FACE system in fuel cleaning cell, on top of fuel racks, and in fuel elevator.
14 | WNE Special Edition |
www.neimagazine.com
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