Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In response to the 1990 Clean Air Act, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) developed a compliance plan known as the Low Emission Vehicle Program. An integral part of that program was a sales mandate to the top seven automobile manufacturers requiring the percentage of Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs) sold in California to be 2% in 1998, 5% in 2001 and 10% by 2003. Currently available ZEV technology will probably not meet customer demand for range and moderate cost. A potential option to meet the CARB mandate is to use two Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) technologies, namely, zinc-air refuelable batteries (ZARBs) and electromechanical batteries (EMBs, i. e., flywheels) to develop a ZEV with a 384 kilometer (240 mile) urban range. This vehicle uses a 40 kW, 70 kWh ZARB for energy storage combined with a 102 kW, 0.5 kWh EMB for power peaking. These technologies are sufficiently near-term and cost-effective to ...

Science.gov (United States)

... INTERMEDIATE TO THE CENTRALIZERS IS A SENSING SECTION COMPRISED OF MULTIPLE EDDY CURRENT PROBES ON FLEXIBLE ...

Science.gov (United States)

... Accession Number : ADD321199. Title : OPTIMIZATION OF EDDY CURRENT PROBES FOR NDT OF CARBON FIBER COMPOSITES. ...

Science.gov (United States)

... Accession Number : ADD323869. Title : EFFECTS OF SHIELDING ON PROPERTIES OF EDDY CURRENT PROBES WITH FERRITE CUP CORES. ...

Science.gov (United States)

... Accession Number : ADD335809. Title : Characterization of Absolute-Resonant Eddy Current Probes,. Corporate Author : ...

Science.gov (United States)

... A few applications, such as magnetic forming and levitation, have exploited the dynamic force pro- ducing capability of eddy currents. ...

Science.gov (United States)

... Accession Number : ADD331250. Title : Characterizing Differential Air-Core Eddy Current Probes. Corporate Author : Personal ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Energy storage systems with extremely high specific energy (>400 Wh/kg) have been designed that use lightweight pressure vessels to contain the gases generated by reversible (unitized) regenerative fuel cells (URFCs).[1] URFC systems are being designed and developed for a variety of applications, including high altitude long endurance (HALE) solar rechargeable aircraft (SRA), zero emission vehicles (ZEVs), hybrid energy storage/propulsion systems for spacecraft, energy storage for remote (off-grid) power sources, and peak shaving for on-grid applications.[1-10] Energy storage for HALE SRA was the original application for this set of innovations, and a prototype solar powered aircraft (Pathfinder-Plus) recently set another altitude record for all propeller-driven aircraft on August 6, 1998, when it flew to 80,285 feet (24.47 km).[11

Science.gov (United States)

Not Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The results of finite element calculations detailing the interactions of eddy currents with fine collinear slots in nonferromagnetic and ferromagnetic conductors are presented. These are applicable to both remote field eddy current inspection tools and conventional reflected impedance eddy current probes. The calculations show that, while fine slots have little interaction with collinear induced currents in nonferromagnetic conductors, there are much larger effects in ferromagnetic conductors. This is due to magnetic field interactions. The term eddy current inspection' is therefore somewhat restrictive and the much broader term electromagnetic inspection' is proposed.

Science.gov (United States)

Wikileaks was inevitable. The Dynamics of. Information. Take advantage of the eddy currents. You can't step in the same river ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This study deals with the application of wavelet analysis to detection and characterization of defects from eddy-current and ultrasonic testing signals of a low signal-to-noise ratio. Presented in this paper are the methods for processing eddy-current testing signals of heat exchanger tubes of a steam generator in a nuclear power plant. The results of processing eddy-current testing signals of tube test pieces with artificial flaws show that the flaw signals corrupted by noise and/or non-defect signals can be effectively detected and characterized by using the wavelet methods. (author)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Nondestructive inspection of carbon fibre-reinforced plastics (CRFP) using eddy current methods is based not only on the conductivity of the fibres. High frequencies (up to 10 MHz) give access to capacitive effects reflecting properties of the matrix. The paper presents a method using rotating eddy current probes to measure the anisotropic electrical properties. Potential applications of this method are the structural identification of laminates and the estimating of its degradation. (orig.)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This paper addresses known limitations and constraints in eddy current nondestructive testing. Incomplete appreciation for eddy current limitations is believed to have contributed to both under-utilization and misapplication of the technique. Neither situation need arise if known limitations are recognized. Some, such as the skin depth effect, are inherent to electromagnetic test methods and define the role of eddy current testing. Others can be overcome with available technology such as surface probes to find circumferential cracks in tubes and magnetic saturation of ferromagnetic alloys to eliminate permeability effects. The variables responsible for limitations in eddy current testing are discussed and where alternative approaches exist, these are presented. Areas with potential for further research and development are also identified.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Eddy current inspection methods are widely used for the nondestructive evaluation (NDE) of tubular products. Specifically, the sensors and instrumentation are designed to detect and characterize changes in a material's electrical and magnetic properties produced by the presence of discontinuities. A recent major enhancement in eddy current inspection technology has been the development of computer interfacing for data collection, analysis, and display. This breakthrough has led to multiple-frequency testing, eddy current imaging, and automated data interpretation systems that significantly enhance both capabilities and reliability of the eddy current inspection. In addition to the clear advantages in data processing, computer interfacing also permits the design and creation of unique sensors that further enhance eddy current inspection capabilities. Perhaps the most ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The paper is concerned with the simulation of practical testing situations which are too difficult and/or expensive to replicate in a laboratory environment. Numerical experiments are described which simulate the differential eddy current probe response to the build-up and chemical flushing of magnetite in the crevice gap of a PWR steam generator unit. The simulation results agree well with the only experimental data available to the authors and lead to the conclusion that conventional differential eddy current probes should be capable of characterizing crevice gap conditions with respect to the presence of magnetite. (author).

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

With steam generator check testing, the numerous types of defect not only have to be detected reliably but also to be identified correctly and classified according to depth. A priori, no signals are provided by the physical eddy-current mechanism, i.e. the disturbance of an excited eddy-current field by a defect, which will allow unambiguous identification and classification of the defects. The task, therefore, consists in designing the eddy-current method in terms of measurement technology in such a way as to obtain useful detection, identification and classification by a translation of the signals as simple and as save as possible. Internal through-flow wils and internal rotating probes were examined for their suitability to fulfill this three-pronged task with steam generator inspection. (orig./RW).

Science.gov (United States)

... turbine blade heat-transfer and study the heat-transfer augmentation in idealized geometry and its ... responsible for heat transfer augmentation. ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ultrasonic and eddy-current techniques are used to automatically examine large diameter tubular products during their production for defective areas and out-of-tolerance conditions.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Here the authors try to dissolve some commonly held misconceptions about the operation of eddy current probes used for inspecting heat exchanger tubes. With the help of computer model results, the authors demonstrate that, for optimized operation, absolute/differential probes should be operated with coil current flowing in phase with another. This month's feature should be of interest to researchers as well as for NDT field personnel.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In in-service inspection of steam-generator tubes, the need for reproducibility of the measurement results and for comparison of these results over two successive inspections has led EDF to specify the main characteristics of the Eddy-Current probes and to design equipment to measure them. This equipment is presented here and the electrical and magnetic results are correlated with those obtained by testing tubes with reference defects. 5 refs.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

CANDU steam generators and heat exchangers have been afflicted with a significant variety of degradation mechanisms. Until recently, detection and characterization of most of the varieties of flaws required usage of several different eddy current techniques. Tubes needed to be scanned multiple times to ensure they were inspected for all possible degradation mechanisms. The time required to deploy so many different types of techniques to inspect the steam generator tubes has had a significant impact on the inspection schedules. The X-Probe was designed with an array of eddy current coils capable of detecting, characterizing and sizing axial, circumferential and volumetric flaws. The X-Probe is a fast-scanning probe with scanning speed equivalent to speeds typically used for simple bobbin coil probes. With its capability of fulfilling most if not all of the functions of the other tube-testing eddy current probes, it can ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Detection of fatigue damage cracks in aircraft skin structures is an ongoing NDT challenge. Cracks growing rate is difficult to predict, and for this reason, it is important to detect them as soon as possible to avoid a catastrophic break. Eddy current methods are known and well-accepted techniques which are relatively simple to carry out. However, with conventional inspection of airframe structures using standard driver-pickup eddy current probes, it is difficult to detect small fatigue cracks initiated in the second layer of the skin and in the shadow region at fastener holes. Such difficulty is related to fasteners length and their spacing which reduces test sensitivity. This report explains the development of improved eddy current probe/technique to detect and visualize fatigue cracks in fasteners. In this study, an eddy current array probe was evaluated and new coil design was suggested. Several ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

An eddy current inspection has been applied for a pre-service and in-service examination of a steam generator in nuclear power plants. The experience from the inspection of steam generators showed that many plants had an excessive number of tubes with eddy current noise signals over several hundreds, which originated from manufacturing anomalies. The plants in U.S suffered significant downstream inspection costs, history reviews, and diagnostic testing because some signals resembled flaws and others masked a flaw. These lessens learned resulted in issuing the guidelines for steam generator tubing specifications and repair, in order to reduce the number of anomalous signals in the tubes and also to provide the requirement of a signal to noise ratio by applying a field type examination with bobbin coil eddy current probes at a manufacturing process. Besides the noise signals of a bobbin coil eddy current ...

CERN Document Server

This is our response to a comment by Walter Eifler on our paper `A simple model for the short-time evolution of near-surface current and temperature profiles' (arXiv:physics/0503186, accepted for publication in Deep-Sea Research II). Although Eifler raises genuine issues regarding our model's validity and applicability, we are nevertheless of the opinion that it is of value for the short-term evolution of the upper-ocean profiles of current and temperature. The fact that the effective eddy viscosity tends to infinity for infinite time under a steady wind stress may not be surprising. It can be interpreted as a vertical shift of the eddy viscosity profile and an increase in the size of the dominant turbulent eddies under the assumed conditions of small stratification and infinite water depth.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This research deals with in the study of the use of innovating magnetic sensors in eddy current non destructive inspection. The author reports an analysis survey of magnetic sensor performances. This survey enables the selection of magnetic sensor technologies used in non destructive inspection. He presents the state-of-the-art of eddy current probes exploiting the qualities of innovating magnetic sensors, and describes the methods enabling the use of these magnetic sensors in non destructive testing. Two main applications of innovating magnetic sensors are identified: the detection of very small defects by means of magneto-resistive sensors, and the detection of deep defects by means of giant magneto-impedances. Based on the use of modelling, optimization, signal processing tools, probes are manufactured for these both applications.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A CANDU nuclear reactor was shut down for over one year because steam generator (SG) tubes had failed with outer diameter stress-corrosion cracking (ODSCC) in the U-bend section. Novel, single-pass eddy current transmit-receive probes, denoted as C3, were successful in detecting all significant cracks so that the cracked tubes could be plugged and the unit restarted. Significant numbers of tubes with SCC were removed from a SG in order to validate the results of the new probe. Results from metallurgical examinations were used to obtain probability-of-detection (POD) and sizing accuracy plots to quantify the performance of this new inspection technique. Though effective, the above approach of relying on tubes removed from a reactor is expensive, in terms of both economic and radiation-exposure costs. This led to a search for more affordable methods to validate inspection techniques and procedures. Methods are presented for calculating POD curves based on ...

CERN Document Server

Sediment transport over wave-induced ripples is a very complex phenomenon where available models fail to provide accurate predictions. For coastal engineering applications, the 1-DV advection-diffusion equation could be used with an additional parameter {\\alpha} related to the process of vortex shedding above ripples (Absi, 2010). The aim of this study is to provide simple practical analytical tools. An analytical eddy viscosity profile was validated by DNS data of turbulent channel flows (Absi et al., 2011). In this study, we will show that: (1) the period-averaged eddy viscosity in oscillatory boundary layers could be described by this simple analytical formulation; (2) The shape of the vertical profile is validated by period-averaged eddy viscosity of baseline (BSL) k-{\\omega} model (Suntoyo and Tanaka, 2009) for sinusoidal and asymmetric waves; (3) The vertical eddy viscosity profile depends on ...

Science.gov (United States)

Data fusion techniques are based on the premise that two or more carefully designed NDE tests are potentially capable of offering additional information concerning the test object relative to what can be garnered from a single test. However, information from a heterogeneous set of transducers cannot be fused unless the data is mapped onto a common `format'. The eddy current method cannot, for example, provide time-of-flight information that can be combined from estimates derived from ultrasonic tests. This paper presents a simple solution to address the problem by employing the so-called Q-transform to relate diffusive fields, such as those generated by eddy current probes, and propagating wave fields generated by ultrasonic NDT sensors. The paper illustrates how the distance between a defect and a source can be extracted from eddy current data generated using carefully selected excitation signals. Numerical results and ...

Science.gov (United States)

This report describes the results of EPRI Program S404-28, titled Experimental Modeling of Eddy Current Response'', conducted by the Westinghouse Science and Technology Center (STC). The Westinghouse STC demonstrates that its mercury modeling technique provides an unique bridge between steam generator eddy current field inspection conditions and predictions obtained using recently developed analytical models. The mercury modeling technique was used systematically to explore factors which contribute to primary water stress corrosion cracking (PWSCC) sizing inaccuracy, including probe design, coil excitation frequency, crack length, and crack morphology. Two new proposed techniques for inverting crack lengths from eddy current data are compared with the technique commonly used in field data analysis for PWSCC. The performance of uniform field eddy current probes is compared with the ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In this paper the authors show the means putting in place for examination of steam generators tubes. These means (eddy current probes, ultrasonic testing) associated with a knowledge on degradation phenomena allow mapping controlled tubes and limiting undesirable obturations.

Science.gov (United States)

Three major series of experiments have been conducted with the FELIX facility at ANL. Experiments on the coupling between eddy currents and angular displacements of loops and plates in crossed constant and changing magnetic fields demonstrated that the co...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Bubbly and slug flows have been analyzed using the afore-mentioned techniques. An image series of bubbly-slug flow is shown. The image separation time is 17 ms, and the total flow length is {approx} 10 cm. A circular eddy pattern that follows the slug can be readily seen and tracked, although reliability is low due to motion in the transverse direction. This motion also adds considerable error to the velocity measurements using image recognition technique. This will increase the reliability and accuracy of the tracking method.

Science.gov (United States)

This investigation concerns the nonlinear dynamics of heat transfer from a surface using an upstream eddy promoter. A numerical model is developed for the coupled fluid flow and heat transfer process based on a modified MacCormack scheme. Numerical simulations are carried out to determine the response and heat transfer enhancement due to the promoter. The average heat transfer from a cavity floor is seen to be increased by a factor of approximately five over the unpromoted'' flow. Another interesting feature of the study is the nonlinear viscous flow dynamics from the cylinder-wall interaction which differ significantly from the familiar cylinder-free stream patterns.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This paper describes detection of electro-discharged machine (EDM) defects in magnetic steam generator (SG) tubes of Monju fast breeder reactor (FBR). The EDM defects are located under support plate (SP), on the outer tube surface and they are detected by a remote field eddy current probe. Using the experimental measurements and a multi frequency algorithm, the defect signal can be extracted from the SP signal. The parameters of the multi-frequency algorithm were calculated by comparing SP measurements with two-dimensional finite element simulations (FEM). (author)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

To maintain quality, performance and competitiveness, the eddy current losses in metal parts of power transformers in the range of 50-200 MVA are investigated in a more detailed form. The finite element calculations utilize different modelling strategies for the current carrying metal parts. Several global and local results are further used to obtain simplified calculation approaches for an inclusion in the initial design and the design optimization. The results from two finite element approaches using nodal and edge based formulations will be compared with measurements. (Author)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In the present paper we estimate the effect of sodium in the in-service inspection of non-magnetic steam generators tubes using eddy current technique and eddy current probes based on a differential double bobbin coil configuration. Experimental measurements of defects signals in steam generator tubes of fast breeder reactor are compared with simulations results of a two-dimensional axisymmetric finite element code to validate a reliable electromagnetic model of the system (eddy current coils, steam generator tube, defect) when there is no sodium on the outer steam generator tube surface. The electromagnetic code is used to evaluate the sodium band and sodium layer signals when a defect is located under steam generator support plate. Using a multi-frequency algorithm, its parameters are determined in the 'no sodium condition' (there is no sodium on the outer steam generator tube surface), defects signal is enhanced during ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Steam Generator (SG) tubes in PWR plant are periodically inspected using eddy current testing (ECT) method. In Japan, bobbin coil type dual function probe is used for full length inspection, but the detectability for circumferential crack is very poor, and to improve detectability for circumferential crack and supplement regular ECT, various kinds of multi segment eddy current probes and multi transducer ultrasonic testing (UT) method have been developed. ECT probes are constructed of multiple surfaceriding special winding differential type coils and UT probe consists of 16 transducers which are spaced equally around the probe circumference for 360deg wall coverage. Both of those EC and UT probes are designed effective to detect circumferential crack. On the other hand, various kinds of laboratory induced circumferential cracks have been made and destroyed to prove the detectability of these probes. (author).

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Bobbin-coil-type eddy current probes, which are conventionally used for nondestructive inspection of steam generator tubes in pressurized-water-type nuclear power plants, have poor detectability for circumferential flaws. Hence a new type of eddy current probe was proposed to detect effectively the magnetic flux component disturbed by a flaw and thus to eliminate the flaw direction dependency on the flaw detectability. In the course of development of the proposed method, structures of the probe were investigated based on the measurement of magnetic fields induced by exciting flat coils with several shapes. The new type of probe proposed here consists of differential pick-up coils detecting magnetic flux and exciting coils having a parallelogrammic shape, and its structure was fabricated experimentally in order to detect flaws independently of their directions. Nondestructive flaw detection tests was then conducted by using the probe. The ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The downstream failure of cable during winding, insulating, coil winding, and coil assembly is a significant issue in magnet production. The impact of these failures is costly both financially and because of the time needed to recover from them. The current approach to cabling has been to visually inspect the cable for any gross defects during cabling. To date this has been effective in finding small defects such as crossovers, which drastically reduce the mechanical integrity of the strand and thus of the cable itself. But because of the large volume of cable that will be manufactured, an automated flaw detection system that can inspect the cable and detect these types of defects will be needed. We have recently done an on-line experiment using an Eddy current system and specialized Eddy current probes to inspect cable during manufacturing. We will present the results of our inspection, demonstrating detection of crossovers and cold welds. ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Computer programs have been developed for modelling impedance and transmit-receive eddy current probes in two-dimensional axis-symmetric configurations. These programs, which are based on analytic equations, simulate bobbin probes in infinitely long tubes and surface probes on plates. They calculate probe signal due to uniform variations in conductor thickness, resistivity and permeability. These signals depend on probe design and frequency. A finite element numerical program has been procured to calculate magnetic permeability in non-linear ferromagnetic materials. Permeability values from these calculations can be incorporated into the above analytic programs to predict signals from eddy current probes with permanent magnets in ferromagnetic tubes. These programs were used to test various probe designs for new testing applications. Measurements of magnetic permeability in magnetically biased ferromagnetic materials have been performed by ...

Science.gov (United States)

In this paper, four different types of pulsed eddy current (PEC) probe are designed and their performance of detecting wall thickness reduction is compared. By using the backward difference method in time and the finite element method in space, PEC signals from various thickness and materials are numerically calculated and three features of the signal are selected. Since PEC signals and features are obtained by various types and sizes of probe, the comparison is made through the normalized features which reflect the sensitivity of the feature to thickness reduction. The normalized features indicate that the shielded reflection probe provides the best sensitivity to wall thickness reduction for all three signal features. Results show that the best sensitivity to thickness reduction is achieved by the peak value, but also suggest that the time to peak can be a good candidate because of its linear relationship with the thickness variation.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Lateral plume dispersion in deep river valleys during neutral and stable lapse rate conditions can be exceptionally high due to the intense horizontal turbulence generated by prominent variations in the width, orientation and surface roughness of the valley walls. Use of the standard Gaussian dispersion equation to represent this enhanced lateral plume spread in a narrow valley may be inappropriate since consideration should also be given to the restriction of the horizontal plume spread due to impingement against the valley walls. The basic concept employed in the modification of the Gaussian dispersion equation was to assume that multiple eddy reflections occur between the valley walls in a manner similar to the vertical eddy reflections between the ground plane and an inversion layer aloft. The expressions are developed, but no attempt has been made to validate them with actual measured field data. 4 references, 3 figures, 1 table.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Steam generator tubes in nuclear power plants are periodically checked by means of eddy current probes. The output of a probe is composed of three types of signals: known events (rolling zone, support plates, U-bend part), noise (mainly metallurgical noise) and possible flaws. The latter are random transients, both in arrival time and in shape: they have to be detected and then estimated, before to be fed to the high level stages of a diagnostic system. The objective of the study presented is to develop a semi-automatic system, which could manage and process more than 1 M-bytes of data per tube and provide an operator with reliable diagnostics proposals within a few minutes. This can be achieved only by cooperation of several digital signal processing techniques: detection, segmentation, estimation, noise subtraction, adaptive filtering, modelization, pattern recognition. The paper describes some of these items.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Concerning the requirements of future rocket technologies, providing a cost-efficient access to orbit as well as an increase in system reliability, a deeper insight into the unsteady phenomena during ascent of modern launchers is essential. Unsteady interactions and resonances of the turbulent separated launcher wake and the nozzle structure play an important role for the design of future main stage propulsion systems. The so-called buffeting coupling phenomenon is one of the main challenges during ascent. In the present study, a coupled simulation of the afterbody of the Ariane-5 launcher with a realistic structural and aerodynamic representation of different nozzle configurations is carried out. On the computational fluid dynamics side, unsteady detached eddy simulations are coupled with...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Non-destructive methods for measuring the remaining anticorrosive or antioxidative ability of coatings are investigated. For anticorrosive chromium coatings the increasing ferromagnetism caused by loss of chromium is measured by a permeability probe. Measured values on blades after operation are correlated with the progress of corrosion as determined by metallographic methods. For antioxidative aluminum coatings the diminishing layer thickness is taken as indication for the exhaustion of their protection ability. The layer thickness is measured eddy current probes, especially developed for this application.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A new eddy current array probe has been implemented as a straightforward and promising technique for detection of outer diameter (OD) surface-breaking cracks on the extrados of feeder bends. The design is based on previous work performed at AECL, which had demonstrated that eddy current probes with laterally displaced transmit-receive coils can overcome some of the limitations of inspecting ferritic steel components for surface-breaking cracks. The Feeder Integrity Joint Program-CANDU Owners Group Inc. (FIJP-COG) Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) Team members commissioned AECL to work in collaboration with the probe manufacturer ZETEC, to develop a field usable eddy current array probe. The objective was to acquire a technique with the following capabilities: fast scanning non-contact inspection technique for surface breaking discontinuities; full inspection of the bend extrados OD surface in a single scan; ability to ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The chain of eddy current probes and a film cassette probe, which responds to radiation from a radio-active source in one of the heat exchanger pipes is examined. The probes are moved by nylon pipes on both ends of the chain through the pipe to be examined. The nylon pipes are bent off load. In this way the probes on the chain will adjust near to the plane of bending of the pipes to be tested.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The device, aimed at non destructive control of the inner side of tubes such as steam generator tubes, is composed of a control sensor mounted on a support; the sensor head may rotate in the tube and a measuring system and signal processing allow for the exact determination of the angular position of the sensor head (application to ultrasonic or eddy current probes).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The meeting was arranged into the following sessions: introductory; advanced ceramics and ceramic composites; ceramic and metal matrix composites; electronic materials and devices; acoustoelasticity, stress, and texture; composites-porosity, strength, and UT propagation; process modeling and monitoring; thermal wave physics; material properties, composites, surfaces, and interfaces; acoustic emission; ferromagnetic materials; new sensors; NDE reliability assessment; elastic wave scattering and propagation; image analysis, data storage, and signal processing; UT transducers; weldments and bonded materials; eddy current models; unified life cycle engineering; x rays, CT, and NMR; eddy current probes and instruments; acoustic microscopy imaging, and reconstruction; signal processing, measurement techniques, and systems; NDE applications of artificial intelligence; crack behavior influenced by history; inversion procedures for UT and EC; process ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The inspection of PFR evaporator tubing, superheater and reheater tubing, and tube plate examinations, are described. Ferritic steel U tubes in the evaporator have been examined by an eddy current system operating at 400 kHz using flexible rotating probes. Surface defects as shallow as 0.1 mm can be detected and sized in the range 0.1 to 0.5 mm deep. An ultrasonic method is under development for wall thickness. Special test coil probes have been developed for examination of the type 316 stainless steel superheater and reheater tubing. Crack-life defects in the bore are detectable at approximately 10% wall thickness and 20% on the outside diameter. Tube plate examinations from the tube holes, have been conducted using eddy current probes which identify surface breaking cracks in the holes. For detecting curtain cracks between tube plate holes, ultrasonic compression wave probes have been used. (U.K.).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Steam generator tubes in nuclear power plants are periodically checked by means of eddy current probes. The output of a probe is composed of three types of signals: known events (rolling zone, support plates, U-bend part), noise (mainly metallurgical noise) and possible flaws. The latter are random transients, both in arrival time and in shape: they have to be detected and then estimated, before to be fed to the high level stages of a diagnostics system. The objective of the study presented is to develop a semi-automatic system, which could manage and process more than 1 M-bytes of data per tube and provide an operator with reliable diagnostics proposals within a few minutes. This can be achieved only by cooperation of several digital signal processing techniques: detection, segmentation, estimation, noise subtraction, adaptive filtering, modelization, pattern recognition. The paper describes some of these items.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Tests have recently been performed at Fermilab in order to measure the energy losses due to eddy currents and iron and superconductor magnetization. These measurements were performed on six 1.5m long model magnets and eight 15m long full scale collider dipole magnets. AC losses were measured as a function of ramp rate using sawtooth ramps from 500, to 5000 Amps for both types of magnets, while bipolar studies were additionally performed on some of the short magnets. The measured magnet voltage and current for a complete cycle are digitally integrated to yield the energy loss per cycle. Measurement reproducibility is typically 5%, with good agreement between long magnet measurements and extrapolations from short magnet measurement results. Magnetization loss measurements among similar magnet types agree to within experimental error, while eddy current losses correlate strongly with the observed dependence of quench current on ramp rate.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This paper described the application of an AC surface probe, similar to presently used eddy current probes, to the measurement of DC transport critical currents and critical state dissipation in high T_c superconductors. It has been shown that the probe can provide quantitative measurement of the full field penetration in superconducting samples by measuring the response of AC induced screening currents for superconducting materials in the form of tapes with overlayers of silver. In this manner, the AC probe can be used to replace the contact DC probe for determining critical currents in a noncontacting and local manner suitable for scanning over or along the sample.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The repeated use and limited lifetime of a composite tiring vessel compel a need to survey techniques for monitoring the structural integrity of the vessel in order to determine when it should be retired. Various nondestructive techniques were researched and evaluated based on their applicability to the vessel. The methods were visual inspection, liquid penetrant testing, magnetic particle testing, surface mounted strain gauges, thermal inspection, acoustic emission, ultrasonic testing, radiography, eddy current testing, and embedded fiber optic sensors. It was determined that embedded fiber optic sensor is the most promising technique due to their ability to be embedded within layers of composites and their immunity to electromagnetic interference.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This article discusses the Daya Bay nuclear power plant in-core flux thimble tube in-service inspection method and strategy. High light of the multiple frequency eddy current technology adopted including frequency and probe choice, standard design, data acquisition process are involved. The wear defect-growing trends are studied on base of the history data, which contribute to the in-service inspection strategy decision. (authors)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This Workpackage Report describes the introduction of fatigue cracks in bolts with ISO-metric threads M5x0.8, M8x1.0, M12x1.25 made from the materials Ti 6Al 4V, A-286 and INCONEL 718. Introdued cracks are verified by destructive testing. Results of the NDI of these bolts performed with special eddy current probes are reported. The detectability of cracks with a {>=} 0.65 and a/2c {approx equal} 0.3 located in the thread ground perpendicular to the load axis is demonstrated. (orig.).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The role of robotics and remote handling equipment in future nuclear power plant maintenance activities is discussed in the context of artificial intelligence applications. Special requirements manipulators, control systems, and man-machine interfaces for nuclear applications are noted. Tasks might include inspection with cameras, eddy current probes, and leak detectors; the collection of material samples; radiation monitoring; and the disassembly, repair and reassembly of a variety of system components. A robot with vision and force sensing and an intelligent control system that can access a knowledge base is schematically described. Recent advances in image interpretation systems are also discussed.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Eddy current testing (ECT) method is widely used as the non-destructive evaluation (NDE) of the various kinds of material degradation occurring in nuclear power plants (NPPs) components including steam generator (SG) tubes. Detection of any defects or flaws in the steam generator tubes in the early stage is very important in maintenance of NPP for its primary role as the pressure boundary with thin wall thickness. Although the ECT technique provides lots of information for a SG management, it has a generic problem in its reliability due to a low ability in detect of small defects and some difficulty in a signal analysis. For the improvement of these shortcomings in conventional ECT, profile-MRPC (motorized rotating pancake coil) ECT technology was developed in KAERI. The key of this new technology is the development of new eddy current probes, designated as a diagnostic probe (D-probe). The D-probe is furnished with a simultaneous dual function ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Airbag pressure vessels for the north-American market mainly are made by forging and by the use of steel alloys. In Europe aluminum alloys are common and the manufacturing process is extrusion of circular blanks - made from cold rolled plates - in a form applying a 100 t press at room temperature. Then by heat treatment the strength/hardness of the material is properly adjusted and after that the pressure vessel parts have to be continuously inspected with an inspection and handling cycle time of 3 s. Inspection of the axis-symmetric parts is asked for surface breaking extrusion defects as well as for surface parallel delaminations in the bulk volume. Furthermore, the material strength is a quality characteristic that has to be nondestructively registered and documented. The inspection is performed by eddy current probes and an EMAT, of which the eddy current impedance measurements are used for surface breaking extrusion defect detection and ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Computer programs have been written to allow the analysis of different types of eddy-current probes and their performance under different steam generators test conditions. The probe types include the differential bobbin probe, the absolute bobbin probe, the pancake probe and the reflection probe. The generator test conditions include tube supports, copper deposits, magnetite deposits, denting, wastage, pitting, cracking, and intergranular attack. These studies are based mostly on computed values, with the limited number of test specimens available used to verify the computed results. The instrument readings were computed for a complete matrix of the different test conditions, and then the test conditions determined as a function of the readings by a least-squares technique. A comparison was made of the errors in fit and instrument drift for the different probe types. The computations of the change in instrument reading due to the defects have led to an inversion ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The performance of steam generator tubes in water-cooled nuclear power reactors has been reviewed for 1979. Tube failures occurred at 38 of the 93 reactors surveyed. Causes of these failures and procedures designed to deal with them are described. The defect rate was twice that in 1978 but still lower than the two previous years. Methods being employed to detect defects include increasing use of multifrequency eddy-current testing and a trend to full-length inspection of all tubes. To reduce the incidence of tube failures by corrosion, plant operators are turning to full-flow condensate demineralization and more leak-resistant condenser tubes. (author).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In the thermal hydraulics codes developed for fire safety analysis and for containment thermal hydraulic analysis, junctions in the multi-compartment geometries is often modeled as uni-directional junctions. However, ceiling junctions are known to depict unstable/oscillatory bi-directional flow behavior. Detailed investigations have been carried out to understand the unstable flow behaviour of a junction by analyzing an earlier reported experiment and its subsequent two dimensional numerical RANS based study of fire in an enclosure. The authors attempt more realistic and desired three dimensional and inherently transient large eddy simulations using a computer code Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS). The paper presents the details of the analysis, the results obtained and further studies required to be conducted so that the findings can be applied to the fire/containment thermal hydraulics analysis codes successfully. (orig.)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Turbulent premixed methane-air combustion in a cylindrical chamber is numerically simulated considering radiation effect. Reaction rates are considered as minimum rates between Arrhenius rates and eddy break up rates. A five step reduced mechanism is used. Turbulent modeling is done via standard k-{epsilon} model imposed by empirical inlet boundary conditions. Source terms of energy equation consist of reaction rates and radiation effects. The discrete ordinate method (DOM) is employed to solve the radiative transfer equation (RTE) and the weighted sum of gray gas model (WSGGM) is imposed to consider radiation effect of non-gray gases. The results indicate that in the case of turbulent combusting flows, the effect of radiation of gases can affect the temperature and species concentrations. The numerical results obtained considering radiation effect are closer to the experimental data than that of the case without radiation effect. (author)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The final product of the radwaste conditioning process must satisfy certain requirments and physico-chemical properties in order to assure its safe long-term behaviour. Of course, the foreseen quality assurance and quality control should be conducted by means of non-destructive techniques. This work presents an over-view of various applicable non-destructive methods of analysis, showing their fields of investigation in testing waste packages, together with some arising practical problems. The most promising methods, such as eddy current testing, ultrasonic testing, #gamma#-scanning, #gamma#-spectroscopy, neutron counting and computerized tomography, are treated more deeply and some applications are presented. Particular attention is devoted to the development of a device based on computerized tomography; its essential components are reported and some design problems are also discussed.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The high-frequency data from 12 sensors at the ITCE 1976 are analyzed to determine the Kolmogoroff constants for velocity, temperature and humidity fluctuations, ..cap alpha../sub u/, ..cap alpha../sub T/, and ..cap alpha../sub q/. The occurrence of aliasing in the spectral analysis in some cases together with the limited response of some sensors at the higher frequencies introduces some uncertainties into the analysis. The Soviet sonic anemometer, fine-wire thermometer and infrared hygrometer and the Australian infrared hygrometer provide the best information, namely that: ..cap alpha../sub u/ = 0.59 +/- 0.01, ..cap alpha../sub T/ = 0.68 +/- 0.02, ..cap alpha../sub q/ = 0.76 +/- 0.03, where the errors quoted refer solely to statistical errors. The other instruments provide general support to these values. The technique of using spectral density measurements to determine eddy fluxes is illustrated.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The ISI (In-Service Inspection) system has been developed so as to maintain the structural integrity of heat transfer tubes in the primary pressurized water cooler in the HTTR (High Temperature Engineering Test Reactor). This system consists of eddy current probes, ultra-sonic probes, insertion and extraction units, positioning unit and so on. Verification and performance tests of the developed ISI system were carried out using mock-up heat transfer tubes in the primary pressurized water cooler. The constitution of the system, R and D results of the inspection probes, and verification and performance test results of the ISI system for heat transfer tubes are described in this paper. (author)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In the past shredder fluff from automobile recycling was discarded in landfills, but shrinking landfill space and the partly hazardous content of the fluff as well as its caloric value, all resulted in efforts to turn this waste problem into an energy resource. In order to produce a fuel, the inorganic compounds have to be removed. Extensive analyses and particle size measurements were made on fluff from various shredder. For optimal separation all particles are reduced to a uniform, relatively small size. In a subsequent combined screening and air classification process, successful separation into organic and inorganic fractions is achieved. The inorganic fraction is treated in a heavy media or an eddy-current separator to recover the valuable metals, while the organic fraction is now suitable for thermal processing, such as fluidized bed gasification and using the resulting carbon as a chemical reagent.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

After a brief review of the degradations occurring on tubes of Inconel 600 in steam generators of PWR power stations emphasis is put on the conditioning of the secondary water and more particularly on the condensate treatment in the units of Doel which work on heavily polluted brackish water. The important role of non-destructive testing and eddy-current testing is also pointed out, method developed by Laborelec. The operational experience shows that Belgian stations are nearly not concerned by the degradations mostly found in power stations in other countries which shows the efficiency of the conditioning of the secondary water. On the other hand, other problems have occurred, resulting from: damage caused by foreign objects; fouling of tube before commissioning, cracking of bends and at the limit of the dudgeoning and leaking plugs. (AF).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Conventional eddy current bobbin probes are known to be ineffectual in detecting circumferential cracks in tubing. Multi-pancake and/or rotating pancake probes are required to detect circumferential cracks. It has recently been demonstrated in CANDU steam generator tubes, with deformation, ferromagnetic deposits, and copper deposits, that multi-channel probes with transmit-receive (T/R) coils are superior to those using surface impedance coils. Unlike rotating probes, the design of a new probe denoted as C3 permits fast, single-scan inspection of a full-length tube at inspection speeds comparable to conventional bobbin probes. Since 1992, the probe has been used routinely for steam generator in-service inspection at 4 CANDU plants. Defective tubes have been plugged and the units returned to service, and they continue to operate without leaks. This paper describes the basic features of T/R surface probes. Two-dimensional voltage diagrams showing computer-derived ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

During the Bruce A Nuclear Generating Station (BNGS-A) Unit 1 1997 planned outage, a dew point search method identified a leak in one steam generator(SG) tube. Subsequently, the tube was inspected with all available eddy current probes and removed for examination. The initial inspection results and metallurgical examination of the removed tube confirmed that the leak was due to intergranular attack/stress corrosion cracking (IGA/SCC) emanating from the secondary side of the tube at the top of the tubesheet location. Subsequently, eddy current and ultrasonic indications were found at the top of the tubesheet of other Alloy 600 SG tubes. To investigate the source of the indications and to validate the inspection probes, sections of 40 tubes with various levels of damage were removed. The metallurgical examination of the removed sections showed that both secondary side and primary side initiated, circumferential, stress corrosion cracking and ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Analytical means have been developed to predict scour and accretion in sub-sea structures. Such structures can be very large and can have a large density of piping and structural members. They introduce a blocking and a shielding in the flow at the sea bottom leading to variable velocities and turbulence in the interior of the structure. This changes the transport capacity of the flow and result in general erosion where the transport capacity is increased and in accretion where the transport capacity is decreased. In addition there may occur the so-called tunnel erosion for structures built on concrete mats or similar. This type of erosion undermines the foundation of the sub-sea structure. Analytical models are developed and programmed to analyse the above phenomena. The internal flow variations are found by means of the LICengineering shielding programme and these are coupled to the transport formulae. The methodology is unstable if the starting conditions are too far away from the ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

It is well known that one of the main advantages of the high speed forming (HSF) processes is the improvement in the forming limits of the used materials.Using the Electromagnetic Forming (EMF) technology two materials have been tested with different mechanical and physical properties: the AA5754 aluminium and the AZ31B magnesium alloys.The EMF process principle can be described as follows: A significant amount of electrical energy is stored in a bank of capacitors which are suddenly discharged releasing all the stored energy. This electric discharge runs through a coil which generates an intense transient magnetic field. At the same time transient Eddy currents are induced in the electrically conductive part placed some millimetres far from the coil. Another intense magnetic field is generated due to those Eddy currents but on the opposite direction as the one generated by the coil. A big magnetic repulsion force is created between the part ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

One of the Eddy Current Testing issues in aeronautics is the inspection of fastened structures to detect flaws nearby rivets which can grow because of mechanical stress. EADS and the CEA LIST have started a collaborative work with the support of the Ile-de-France Region to develop a simulation tool of EC fastened structures testing, integrated to the CIVA platform, aimed at conceiving testing methods, optimizing and qualifying it. The volume integral method using the Green dyadics formalism has been chosen in order to get a fast resolution of Maxwell equations. A first milestone was to build a simulation model of multilayer structures testing, thanks to the use of the multilayer Green dyads. Because of the rivet volume, 60 times bigger than the one of a typical flaw, a large number of discretization cells are needed. Therefore an iterative method has been developed in order to numerically solve large calculation zones. Finally, the flaw response simulation mostly ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Non-destructive Evaluation (NDE) plays a major role in ensuring the safe and reliable operation of PHWRs which are the mainstay of India's nuclear power programme. An important in-service inspection (ISI) requirement in these reactors is carried out through Eddy Current Testing (ECT) of the pressure tube (PT)/calandria tube (CT) assemblies. The material of construction of these assemblies is zircaloy-2. The two main objectives of this ISI are the detection of garter spring between CT and PT and the profiling of gap between CT and PT. The paper discusses the work carried out at the authors' laboratory on the development of ECT probes for ISI of PT/CT assemblies. Emphasis has been given on the work done on the design and optimisation of the probes using computer modeling. A 2-D finite element code has been developed for this purpose. The code is developed around a diffusion equation which can be derived from Maxwell's equations governing the electromagnetic ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The bobbin probe technique is basically one of the important ECT methods for the steam generator tube integrity assessment that is practiced during each plant outage. The bobbin probe also is the essential component which consists of the whole ECT examination system, and provides a decisive data for the evaluation of tube integrity in compliance with acceptance criteria described in specific procedures. The selection of probe is especially important because the quality of acquired ECT data is determined by the probe design characteristics, such as geometry and operation frequency, and has an important effect on examination results. The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) has recently defined the procedures for the qualification of eddy current hardware and technique. These procedures provide two basic methods for qualification. Flawed tube removed from operation, or artificial flaw is required for the original qualification of technique combined with related ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

One of the major achievements of the magnet R&D program for the Superconducting Super Collider (SSC) is the fabrication and test of a series of 20 5-cm aperture, 15-m long dipole magnet prototypes. The ramp rate sensitivity of these magnets appears to fall in at least two categories that can be correlated to the manufacturer and production batch of the strands used for the inner-coil cables. The first category, referred to as type-A, is characterized by a strong quench current degradation at high ramp rates, usually accompanied by large distortions of the multipole fields and large energy losses. The second category, referred to as type-B, is characterized by a sudden drop of quench current at low ramp rates, followed by a much milder degradation at larger rates. The multipole fields of the type-B magnets show little ramp-rate sensitivity, and the energy losses are smaller than for the type-A magnets. The behavior of the Type-A magnets can be explained in terms of inter-strand ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

'Full text:' In Germany, Alloy 800 (high nickel austenitic stainless steel) was modified and qualified for the use as steam generator tubing by Siemens/KWU (now AREVA NP GmbH). The service reliability of Alloy 800 has been demonstrated over a long period of time. 1968 Siemens/KWU decided to use this material for the NPP Stade, which started operation in 1972. The steam generators operating with Alloy 800 tubes have now been in service for more than 30 years. Up to now no PWSCC or secondary-side SCC has been observed in the more than 285,000 tubes installed in Siemens/KWU steam generators (including RSG) in 19 PWRs in Europe. The operating experience will be shown and discussed. During the past regular SG tubing inspections using eddy current testing, a few indications were detected within the tube sheet between upper and lower tube expansion. These indications were limited to the outer tube positions. The number of affected positions is small. Two ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Faulting the feedwater for a 19-tube, model steam generator with 10 ppM of caustic once a week produced widespread shallow 25 to 75 micrometers (1 to 3 mils) intergranular attack (IGA) on alloy 600 tubes and an axial tube rupture at the steam-water interface after 4.8 years. An extensive investigation of the IGA damage found little correlation with major test variables beyond the indication that mill-annealed tubing was more susceptible to attack than stress-relieved tubing. The most likely cause of the tube rupture was caustic that concentrated to high levels in a porous scale on the tube at the liquid-vapor interface where there was a high available superheat. Nondestructive examination (NDE) eddy current probes underestimated the depth of IGA and were not sensitive to circumferential cracks less than 152 micrometers (6 mils) deep that were above and below the roll transition zones of tubes in the tubesheet.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Fluid dynamic analysis of a commercial, counter-flow Ranque-Hilsch Vortex Tube (Rh vt), Ex air 25 s cfm, has been performed in this work both experimentally and numerically; in particular Rh vt cooling power and temperature separation performances have been tested in both direct cooling employment (jet impingement) and indirect cooling employment (supplying cold plates). Experimental techniques, used in this work, revealed several difficulties to produce detailed information about velocity and temperature fields inside the tube and at both the exits. Hence numerical simulation of the flow inside the tube has been conducted using the commercial Cfd code Fluent 6.3.26. Compressible, turbulent, high swirling flow inside Rh vt has been simulated by using both Rans and Les approaches. In particular several turbulence closures have been used in the Rans simulations and results have been compared with Les ones. Large Eddy Simulations have been performed using Smagorinsky ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A new dedicated UHV STM for investigations at T#<=#5 K is presented. To achieve such low temperatures and to ensure a high thermal stability, the low-temperature (LT) STM described here has a concentric system of bath cryostats. There are openings for tip and sample exchange at low T, and windows with an infrared radiation shield for optical access, which can both be closed by a door mechanism for LT-STM measurements. Efficient vibration isolation is realized by using spring suspension with eddy current damping. With the 3-d coarse positioning unit any region of interest within 5 mm by 5 mm on the sample is accessible even at 5 K. For short turn-around cycles the sample and tip can both be exchanged at low temperatures. Atomically resolved images of Au(111) at 5 K in UHV demonstrate the excellent performance of this LT STM. As a typical application example the appearance of a charge-density wave on NbSe_2, which occurs below a transition temperature of 33.5 K, ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

An experimental apparatus has been built that allows direct measurement of the oil film thickness in a bearing that is subjected to dynamic loads and shaft speeds representative of those occurring in automotive engine connecting rod, big-end bearings. Dynamic motion of the shaft, relative to the bearing, is measured as a function of shaft rotational angle, using non-contact, eddy-current probes. A computer based data acquisition system is used to measure, record, and analyze the journal position in the bearing. The test bearing is 63.5 mm in diameter by 25.4 mm long, and is loaded using a servo-hydraulic actuator rated at 98.3 kN. The journal has an operating speed of 500 to 3800 rpm. The actuator is controlled by a computer-generated waveform that can duplicate load profiles developed by various engines operating at a wide range of conditions. Measurements taken with the shaft statically loaded show excellent agreement with results calculated using short bearing ...

CERN Document Server

A simple analytical/numerical model has been developed for computing the evolution, over periods of up to a few hours, of the current and temperature profile in the upper layer of the ocean. The model is based upon conservation laws for heat and momentum, and employs an eddy diffusion parameterisation which is dependent on both the wind speed and the wind stress applied at the sea surface. Other parameters such as the bulk-skin surface temperature difference and CO$_2$ flux are determined by application of the Molecular Oceanic Boundary Layer Model (MOBLAM) of Schluessel and Soloviev. A similar model, for the current profile only, predicts a temporary increase in wave breaking intensity and decrease in wave height under conditions where the wind speed increases suddenly, such as, for example, during gusts and squalls. The model results are compared with measurements from the lagrangian Skin Depth Experimental Profiler (SkinDeEP) surface profiling instrument made ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Full text of publication follows: The Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) are always designed for the highest level of safety against postulated accidents which may be initiated due to internal or external causes. One of the external/internal causes, which may lead to accident in the reactor and its associated systems, is fire in certain vital areas of the plant. Conventionally, the fire containment approach and/or the fire confinement approach is used in designing the fire protection systems of NPPs. Indian NPPs (PHWRs) follow the combined approach to ensure plant safety and all newly designed plants are required to comply with the provisions of Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) fire safety Guide. In respect of older plants, the reassessment of adequacy of fire safety provisions in the light of current advances has becomes essential so as to decide upon the steps for retrofitting. Keeping this in mind the deterministic fire hazard analysis was carried out for the Madras Atomic Power ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This report is a summary of the Steam Generator Group Project progress for 1985. Statistical analyses are presented of data from nondestructive examination (NDE) round robin tests that were performed on the Surry generator in 1984. In the first round robin, teams acquired and analyzed their own data on a selected 10% subset of tubes. In the second round robin, analysts from each participating team analyzed identical sets of data which were provided to them by the Project. Results from several examinations utilizing advanced/alternate NDE technologies including alternate eddy current probes and techniques, ultrasonics, and profilometry are also reported. Criteria are listed for selecting tube specimens that will be removed from the generator. A sampling plan based on these criteria is detailed graphically in the report. The initial steps that have been taken to carry out the plan are described; tooling fabricated for the sample removals is discussed. Successful ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

At two locations in southern Lake Huron (U.S.A.), twelve 35.5-cm diameter cores of fine-grained sediments were taken for comparison of the vertical distribution of "2"1"0Pb and fallout "1"3"7Cs with the distribution of benthic macroinvertebrates, mainly oligochaete worms (Tubificidae) and the amphipod, Pontoporeia affinis. Locations were selected on the basis of "2"1"0Pb distributions measured a year earlier which indicated contrasting depths of mixing of surface sediments. At one location the activity of "2"1"0Pb is uniform down to about 6 cm and 95% of total invertebrates occur within this zone; at the other location the zone of constant activity is only 3 cm deep but 90% of the invertebrates occur within it. Comparison of published tubificid defecation rates with sediment accumulation rates based on "2"1"0Pb shows that oligochaetes alone can account for mixing in one case while the effects of amphipods may be required in the case of shallower mixing. If mixing is represented as a ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Three model boilers, manufactured to simulate full-size tube sheet crevices, were tested with various secondary side environments. The first was faulted with organics representative of the decomposition of humic acid. The second was faulted with sodium carbonate and sodium hydroxide, while the third was faulted with sodium sulfate and sodium hydroxide. Each model contained seven tubes, which included Alloy 600 in the mill-annealed (MA) and thermally-treated (TT) conditions and Alloy 690 in the thermally-treated condition. Two models contained Alloy 800 tubes in the mill-annealed condition and one had Alloy 800 in the mill-annealed/cold-worked/glass-bead-peened condition. Two different sizes of tubesheet crevices were used in all model boilers. In the organics-faulted boiler, tubes of Alloy 600MA, Alloy 690TT and Alloy 800MA experienced no significant intergranular attack (IGA); however, the Alloy 600TT had intergranular attack (IGA) three to four grains deep. The carbonate-caustic ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In steel production lines such as pickling lines, cold rolling mills and coil processing lines, the needs for on-line continuous measurement of surface quality and property of products and on-line inspection of surface defects have become strong. This is because user requirements for the surface quality of various products have become severer than before and besides, expectations are running high on the side of manufacturers for higher speeds of production lines and higher quality by the adoption of automatic inspection. As for the measurement of surface quality, continuous measurements along the full length of a steel strip are required in order to overcome problems derived from off-line, batch measurements that cannot satisfy user's demands for quality assurance. As for surface defects detection, various kinds of methods have been practically applied to production lines. However, it is the matter of fact that performances of these methods are not satisfactory under the ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Large-eddy-simulations are performed for the heat transfer and the wake flow of a thin rotating disk subjected to an outer parallel passing stream of air. Above a critical value for the angular velocity of the disk, heat transfer augmentation sets on. This is strongly related to a flow instability that leads to a periodic vortex generation at the counter-moving disk side. The resulting phenomena are captured by the classical Landau model. For higher angular velocities the wake becomes fully turbulent, and here the transition to turbulence seems to be very abrupt. In this regime, a periodic vortex generation is observable at the co-moving disk side, too. (orig.) [German] Grobstruktur-Simulationen werden fuer die Waermeuebertragung und die Nachlaufstroemung fuer eine duenne rotierende Scheibe in einem aeusseren parallelen Luftstrom durchgefuehrt. Oberhalb eines kritischen Wertes fuer die Rotationsgeschwindigkeit setzt eine Verstaerkung der Waermeuebertragung ein. ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The first of three scheduled poolside fuel examinations at the Oyster Creek reactor conducted during February/March 1980, was directed at one of the four symmetrically loaded ENC 8 x 8 lead assemblies that had achieved a burnup of approx. 25,000 MWd/MTU. Forty-five of the fuel rods in assembly UD3-109 were removed and examined. In general, the individual fuel rods were in excellent condition. The average fuel rod diameter continued to decrease during the last cycle was assembly burnup increased from 19,500 to 25,700 MWd/MTU. The creepdown since the beginning of life (BOL) in the center of the fuel rods is about 0.003 in. The fuel rods bore no indication of cladding ridging. Fuel rod growth continued at a linear rate of about 0.02% per GWd/MTU burnup since BOL. Preliminary eddy current test data showed that the cladding was free of significant defects. Visual examination of fuel rods, spacers, and tie plate revealed no unusual conditions. An average assembly burnup ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Two mechanical design requirements are defined for the SSC Collider beam tube. First, the vacuum requirement (luminosity lifetime = 150 hrs). It requires the design of a pressure boundary within the cold mass vessel to provide a vacuum tunnel for the proton beam and to minimize the synchrotron radiation gas desorbtion with a suitable material. The Collider beam tube design is under an intensive activity to search for a material that will meet the luminosity requirement without a distributed pump or liner. Second is the tube wall's resistivity requirement ([sigma]*t = 2E5 [Omega][sup [minus]1]). For a 4.2 K beam tube the Cu thickness is 100 [mu]m (RRR=30,6.7 T, [sigma]=2E9[Omega][sup [minus]1]m[sup [minus]1]). The copper yield strength is relatively low in comparison to steel and, therefore, the design of the steel layer is governed by the copper layer yield stress limit. A beam tube subjected to eddy current load in a quenching dipole requires an optimum ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

#gamma# spectroscopy methods have been applied to determine the effects of two freshwater benthic macroinvertebrates, on reworking of sediments and the transfer of solutes across the sediment-water interface. Natural lake sediments and overlying water were contained in temperature-regulated rectangular plastic cells. After addition of Stylodrilus (oligochaete worms) and Pontoporeia (crustacean amphipods) to these microcosms, the vertical distribution of Cs-137 (a tracer of particle transport) and Na-22 (a tracer of solute transport) were determined. In cells with Stylodrilus, the Cs-137 layer moved downward at a rate that decreased exponentially with time. In cells with Pontoporeia, Cs-137 activity was smeared downward in time owing to eddy diffusive mixing of sediments over a small range (1-2 cm). In cells without worms, the veneer of Cs active material remained at the interface while the penetration of Na-22 into sediments was consistent with diffusion in free ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

To overcome the limitations of conventional bobbin style eddy-current probes, it has become common practice to perform some portion of a steam generator tube inspection program with array coil probes. Typically, eight surface-riding pancake coils are utilized in a probe head, either as eight independent coils (8 x 1) or in a parallel combination of four serially connected coils (4 x 4). The advantages of the array coils are improved sensitivity to intergranular attack (IGA), reduced interference from tube denting, and improved sensitivity to circumferential cracking. The current status of commercially available probes is such that several weaknesses in array coils have limited the widespread application of this technology. Task S 301-6 was conceived to address each of the weaknesses in order to produce a more reliable and cost-effective probe. The emphasis was on reliability, since the cost associated with downtime for a probe change far exceeds the price of a ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This work proposes an innovative blend of potassium carbonate (K{sub 2}CO{sub 3}) and piperazine (PZ) as a solvent for CO{sub 2} removal from combustion flue gas in an absorber/stripper. The equilibrium partial pressure and the rate of absorption of CO{sub 2} were measured in a wetted-wall column in 0.0 to 6.2 m K{sup +} and 0.6 to 3.6 m PZ at 25 to 110 C. The equilibrium speciation of the solution was determined by {sup 1}H NMR under similar conditions. A rigorous thermodynamic model, based on electrolyte non-random two-liquid (ENRTL) theory, was developed to represent equilibrium behavior. A rate model was developed to describe the absorption rate by integration of eddy diffusivity theory with complex kinetics. Both models were used to explain behavior in terms of equilibrium constants, activity coefficients, and rate constants. The addition of potassium to the amine increases the concentration of CO{sub 3}{sup 2-}/HCO{sub 3}{sup -} in solution. The buffer ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Scour around offshore structures is well known. It is caused by the strong eddy formation at the base of the structures protruding from the sea bottom. The strong vortices result in an amplified effective shear stress working on the sea bottom surface adjacent to the structure. When the surrounding sea bottom is lowered the scour protection will end up being a cap on a small hill and when the slopes are getting too steep the scour protection will roll or slide down the sides. It will loose its cohesion and therefore its integrity. This will take place irrespective of the type of scour protection material and the type of scour protection. This report describes scour protections, which can deal with this particular problem. Such a scour protection must be able to sustain the following loads: Be able to follow the lowering of the seabed on its way down; Be resistant to edge scour (scour around the perimeter of the scour protection). The installation of scour ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The objective of this manuscript is to fully derive a geophysical multiphase model able to ''accommodate'' different multiphase turbulence approaches; viz., the Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS), the Large Eddy Simulation (LES), or hybrid RANSLES. This manuscript is the first part of a larger geophysical multiphase project--lead by LANL--that aims to develop comprehensive modeling tools for large-scale, atmospheric, transient-buoyancy dusty jets and plume (e.g., plinian clouds, nuclear ''mushrooms'', ''supercell'' forest fire plumes) and for boundary-dominated geophysical multiphase gravity currents (e.g., dusty surges, diluted pyroclastic flows, dusty gravity currents in street canyons). LES is a partially deterministic approach constructed on either a spatial- or a temporal-separation between the large and small scales of the flow, whereas RANS is an ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This paper proposes an integrated method for using experimental data and CFD modeling to develop engineering correlations for atrium smoke management. Part I focused on the experimental program and validation of a CFD model of the experimental facility. Part II describes the extension of this model to a parametric study of balcony spill plumes. Smoke management in buildings during fire events often uses mechanical ventilation systems to maintain smoke layer elevation above a safe evacuation path. Design of these systems requires accurate correlations for the smoke production or mass flow rate of the buoyant fire plume. One design issue is the mass flow rate of fire plumes which spill out from a fire compartment, under a balcony and up through an atrium or other large volume. Current engineering correlations for these balcony spill plumes (BSPs) are based on a combination of one-tenth scale test data and theoretical analysis. The suitability of these correlations for real-scale designs ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Smoke management in buildings during fire events often uses mechanical ventilation systems to maintain smoke layer elevation above a safe evacuation path. Design of these systems requires accurate correlations for the smoke production rate of the buoyant fire plume. One design issue is the smoke production rate of fire plumes which spill out from a fire compartment, under a balcony and up through an atrium or other large volume. Current engineering correlations for these balcony spill plumes are based on a combination of one-tenth scale test data and theoretical analysis. Questions have arisen over the suitability of these correlations for real-scale designs. A combined program of full-scale experimentation and CFD modeling is being conducted to analyze the accuracy of these correlations. A full-scale experimental facility was constructed with a 5 m by 5 m by 15 m fire compartment connected to a four-story atrium. Propane fires in the compartment produce balcony spill plumes which form ...