Prototype EMAT system for inspection of steam generator tubing. Final report. [PWR]

Technical Report · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:6504382

Thompson, R B; Elsley, R K

A new kind of inspection probe for steam generator tubing has been developed. It is an Electro-Magnetic Acoustic Transducer or EMAT. The EMAT launches ultrasonic sound waves which travel along the tube, reflect from flaws, and return to the transducer to be detected. The EMAT requires no couplant between itself and the tube, as do other ultrasonic transducers and can therefore be moved rapidly through the tube. As a result of this work, the expected advantages of the EMAT were verified. In addition, a limited capability for direct measurement of the maximum depth of flaws was developed. The EMAT was found to lack sensitivity to defects with small transverse areas, such as pits, axial cracks and shallow wastage, including the axial cracks which occur in the U-bend region. This report describes EMAT principles, system design and laboratory test results.

• Research Organization: Rockwell International Corp., Thousand Oaks, CA (USA). Science Center
• OSTI ID: 6504382
• Report Number(s): EPRI-NP-2836; ON: DE83901584
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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