INSTRUMENTATION & CONTROL | ULTRASONIC DEFECT DETECTION
High temperature ultrasonic sensors
In a trial a relatively sparse array of high temperature permanently installed ultrasonic transducers detected crack-like defects in a soak-test at elevated temperatures above 300°C. The test regime shows the technology holds considerable promise for the nuclear power industry
By Prof Will Daniels, Dr Ian Atkinson and Dr Chris Bugg of KANDE International Ltd together with Prof Daniel Colquitt and Dr Stewart Haslinger from the Department of Mathematical Sciences at the University of Liverpool (UoL)
IN MANY INDUSTRIES, SUCH AS power generation, inspection is a required element of the management of plant structural integrity. Early recognition of structural defects means steps can be taken to safely rectify plant issues whilst maximising plant availability. It is common to examine plants through life – at the conclusion of manufacture and then at intervals during a plant’s operating lifetime. This latter inspection type is known as In Service Inspection (ISI) and generally involves powering down the plant, allowing personnel access to plant items to apply the required inspections. As a potential alternative approach to conventional ISI, a trial based upon the use of permanently installed, high temperature ultrasonic sensors arranged in a relatively sparse array on the component to be inspected was conducted. In this approach, ultrasonic data can be collected at any point during plant operation, without interrupting operations.
The system, from KANDE, is known as PUMA (Permanently
installed Ultrasonic Monitoring Arrays). Response data can be analysed effectively using several approaches, including differencing of historic and current echo data and the total focusing method (TFM). While the technology discussed here has applicability
across a range of industrial sectors, it is primarily targeted at ISI of power generation plants, in general, and light water nuclear power generation in particular. The primary concern associated with suspending plant
operation during ISI, is the reduction in plant availability. Other potential benefits of monitoring compared to
conventional ISI are: ● Early warning of defect initiation ● Reduction of exposure of personnel to ionising radiation ● Inspection whilst the component is under operating
pressure potentially making defects more readily detectable
Above: Civaux is another French plant found to have suffered from stress corrosion cracking Source: EDF 20 | July 2024 |
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