A Precision Grinding Technology for Zirconium Alloy Tubes Based on Ultrasonic Wall Thickness Automatic Measurement System
Abstract To ensure the safety and long-term performance of nuclear fuel cladding zirconium tubes, the wall thickness uniformity of each cross section is strictly needed. Therefore, this paper presents comprehensive investigations on development of an automatic ultrasonic wall thickness measurement system for detecting the nuclear zirconium tubes. Based on the determination of overall scheme, optimization of key mechanical structures and design of control system, a series of performance testing analyses of this developed auto-measuring system were performed from aspects of measuring accuracy, measuring efficiency, stability and practicability. The results revealed that it could accurately obtain the wall thickness distribution and effectively guide the subsequent grinding process by automatically generated deviation correcting procedures to achieve the requirement of the wall thickness uniformity. The new combination method of ultrasonic auto-measuring and numerical control grinding proposed in this work would have a great significance for the development and application of nuclear reaction zirconium alloy container.