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U.S. Department of Energy
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NDE of stainless steel and on-line leak monitoring of LWRs. Annual report, October 1983-September 1984

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5918508
The application of ultrasonic velocity and attenuation measurements to characterize the microstructure of structural materials is discussed. Results of a workshop on NDE of stainless steel pipes with weld overlays are presented. No currently available, single leak-detection method for reactor cooling systems combines optimal leakage detection sensitivity, leak-locating ability, and leakage measurement accuracy. Current practice with regard to leak detection has been reviewed and assessed for 74 operating plants, including both BWRs and PWRs. Seven cracks, including three field-induced IGSCC specimens and two thermal-fatigue cracks, have been installed in the acoustic leak detection (ALD) facility at ANL. Cross-correlation techniques to improve leak location capabilities have been successfully demonstrated on the laboratory pipe run by use of 375-kHz transducers on waveguides and an electronically simulated leak signal. Preliminary leak detection and location tests have also been run at ANL with a breadboard ALD system. In addition to ALD experiments, laboratory tests have been carried out to help assess the effectiveness of moisture-sensitive tape.
Research Organization:
Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
W-31109-ENG-38
OSTI ID:
5918508
Report Number(s):
NUREG/CR-4124; ANL-85-5; ON: TI85009973
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English