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Title: Semi-supervised learning approach for crack detection and identification in advanced gas-cooled reactor graphite bricks - 111

Conference ·
OSTI ID:23035255
; ;  [1];  [2]
  1. Electronic and Electrical Engineering Institute for Energy and Environment Advanced Electrical Systems University of Strathclyde (United Kingdom)
  2. EDF Energy Nuclear Generation Barnett Way Gloucester (United Kingdom)

One of the life-limiting components of an Advanced Gas cooled Reactor (AGR) is its graphite core. The bricks present in the core undergo radiolytic oxidation throughout their lifetime which causes graphite weight loss and irradiation which can result in some of the bricks developing cracks. Understanding the nature and extent of brick cracking within the core is key to ensuring continued and extended operation of the AGR fleet. A semi-supervised machine learning classification algorithm is proposed as a method for improving the detection of cracked graphite bricks, by combining the labels derived from infrequent, detailed inspections of the core, with unlabeled, more frequent monitoring measurements taken during refueling operations. Semi-supervised machine learning, which is an emerging field in nuclear power condition monitoring, is the combination of ideas from both supervised and unsupervised machine learning whereby the data that is used to train the algorithm is a combination of labeled and unlabeled data. This paper introduces the initial research that has been undertaken in creating a semi-supervised self-training algorithm to detect the presence of graphite brick cracks and then proceeds to show that there is an improvement in the classification of graphite bricks using a semi-supervised machine learning classifier compared to supervised machine learning classifiers. This improved classification performance is encouraging as it does not require time consuming and costly human analysis to obtain extra learning information from available data. (authors)

Research Organization:
American Nuclear Society - ANS, 555 North Kensington Avenue, La Grange Park, IL 60526 (United States)
OSTI ID:
23035255
Resource Relation:
Conference: NPIC and HIMIT 2017: 10. International Conference on Nuclear Plant Instrumentation, Control, and Human-Machine Interface Technologies, San Francisco, CA (United States), 11-15 Jun 2017; Other Information: Country of input: France; 12 refs.; available from American Nuclear Society - ANS, 555 North Kensington Avenue, La Grange Park, IL 60526 (US)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English