scholarly journals Probability of detection model for the non-destructive inspection of steam generator tubes of PWRs

2017 ◽  
Vol 860 ◽  
pp. 012032 ◽  
Author(s):  
N Yusa
Author(s):  
Deok Hyun Lee ◽  
Do Haeng Hur ◽  
Myung Sik Choi ◽  
Kyung Mo Kim ◽  
Jung Ho Han ◽  
...  

Occurrences of a stress corrosion cracking in the steam generator tubes of operating nuclear power plants are closely related to the residual stress existing in the local region of a geometric change, that is, expansion transition, u-bend, ding, dent, bulge, etc. Therefore, information on the location, type and quantitative size of a geometric anomaly existing in a tube is a prerequisite to the activity of a non destructive inspection for an alert detection of an earlier crack and the prediction of a further crack evolution [1].


Author(s):  
Franc¸ois Champigny ◽  
Claude Pages ◽  
Claude Amzallag ◽  
Franc¸ois Billy

Base nickel alloys like Inconel 600 or 182 are particularly sensitive to stress corrosion cracking. This fact is well known since Corriou’works at the beginning of the sixties and its applications to the steam generator tubes in the seventies. For the RP vessel heads, the major fact of the nineties was the leak that occurred on one penetration in 1991 in the French NPP unit of Bugey. Several important decisions were taken after discover of this leak. First of them was to understand why it appeared so quickly, then test repairs for the Bugey case, then decide to replace all vessel heads considering that the repair solutions was to high cost. In parallel many developments were launched to establish laws for PWSCC and develop non-destructive methods to inspect the head penetrations. The conclusions obtained show the decision was good and no new leak happened on the VH penetrations.


2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (1-4) ◽  
pp. 11-18
Author(s):  
Noritaka Yusa ◽  
Takuma Tomizawa ◽  
Haicheng Song

This study proposes a method to probabilistically evaluate the area of coverage of nondestructive inspections to detect defects on a surface of a structure. For the specific problem, this study considers the effect of the distance between two neighboring scanning lines on the detectability of eddy current testing against near-side cracks. Thirty-eight type 316L stainless steel plates having a fatigue crack were prepared, and eddy current examinations were performed with a sufficiently fine scanning pitch. The full width at half maximum of the spatial distribution of the amplitude of the signals was approximated using a Gaussian function. A probability of detection model considering the distance between two neighboring scanning lines is proposed because in actual inspections a scanning line does not always run directly above a crack. The results demonstrated that the proposed model enables a reasonable probabilistic evaluation of the effect of the distance between two neighboring scanning lines.


Author(s):  
Jae Bong Lee ◽  
Jai Hak Park ◽  
Hong-Deok Kim ◽  
Han-Sub Chung ◽  
Tae Ryong Kim

A statistical assessment model for structural integrity of steam generator tubes was proposed using Monte Carlo method. The growth of flaws in steam generator tubes was predicted using statistical approaches. The statistical parameters that represent the characteristics of flaw growth and initiation were derived from in-service inspection (ISI) non-destructive evaluation (NDE) data. Based on the statistical approaches, flaw growth models were proposed and applied to predict distribution of flaw size at the end of cycle (EOC). Because NDE measurement results differ from that of real ones in steam generator tubes, a simple method for predicting the physical number of flaws from periodic in-service inspection data was proposed. The probabilistic flaw growth rate was calculated from the in-service non-destructive inspection data. And the statistical growth of flaw was simulated using the Monte Carlo method. Probabilistic distributions of the flaw size and the probability of burst were obtained from numerously repeated simulations using the proposed assessment model.


Author(s):  
John P. Krasznai

CANDU Stations are designed with significant amounts of carbon steel piping in the primary circuit. Although the primary coolant chemistry is such that carbon steel corrosion is minimized, nevertheless magnetite transport from the carbon steel surfaces to the steam generators is a significant issue leading to potential reduction in heat transfer efficiency in the steam generator. There are other contributors to the reduction of heat transfer efficiency such as divider plate leakage whereby some of the coolant short circuits the steam generator tubes and secondary side steam generator tube fouling. CANDU station operators have utilized a number of mitigating measures such as primary and secondary side mechanical and chemical tube cleaning, and divider plate refurbishment to counter these problems but these are all expensive and dose intensive, It is therefore very important to establish the relative contribution of each source to the overall heat transfer degradation problem so the most effective results are obtained. Tube removal and laboratory assessment of the oxide loading is possible and has been utilized but at best it provides an incomplete picture since typically only short lengths of tubes are removed — most often from the hot leg and the tube removal process adversely impacts the primary side oxide integrity. Kinectrics Inc. has developed, qualified and deployed Oxiprobe, a highly mobile non destructive technology able to remove and quantify the deposited oxide loading on the primary surfaces of steam generator tubes. The technology is deployed during shutdown and provides valuable, direct information on: • Primary oxide distribution within the steam generator; • Oxide loading (thickness of oxide) on the primary surfaces of steam generator tubes; • Oxide composition and radiochemical characterization. The End Effector probe can reach either side of the straight section of the steam generator U tube but as currently designed it is unable to be deployed in the U-tube region. The current technology is able to visit 4 tubes simultaneously. The technology is Code classified as a Class 6 fitting by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission and registered by the Ontario Technical Standards and Safety Authority as a pressure boundary retaining system. Although the application of the technology to date has been applied to steam generator tubes, in principle it can be applied to any heat exchanger tube, vertical or horizontal. This paper will describe the system, the qualification program for its deployment as well as some actual field results. The applicability of the technology for PWR steam generators is also addressed.


Author(s):  
Mitch Hokazono ◽  
Clayton T. Smith

Integral light-water reactor designs propose the use of steam generators located within the reactor vessel. Steam generator tubes in these designs must withstand external pressure loadings to prevent buckling, which is affected by material strength, fabrication techniques, chemical environment and tube geometry. Experience with fired tube boilers has shown that buckling in boiler tubes is greatly alleviated by controlling ovality in bends when the tubes are fabricated. Light water reactor steam generator pressures will not cause a buckling problem in steam generators with reasonable fabrication limits on tube ovality and wall thinning. Utilizing existing Code rules, there is a significant design margin, even for the maximum differential pressure case. With reasonable bend design and fabrication limits the helical steam generator thermodynamic advantages can be realized without a buckling concern. This paper describes a theoretical methodology for determining allowable external pressure for steam generator tubes subject to tube ovality based on ASME Section III Code Case N-759-2 rules. A parametric study of the results of this methodology applied to an elliptical cross section with varying wall thicknesses, tube diameters, and ovality values is also presented.


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