Quantitative remote visual inspection in nuclear power industry

Conference · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1992 · Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (United States)

OSTI ID:7232122

Stone, M C ^[1]

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1. Welch Allyn Inspection Systems, Skaneateles Falls, NY (United States)

A borescope is an instrument that is used within the power industry to visually inspect remote locations. It is typically used for inspections of heat exchangers, condensers, boiler tubes, and steam generators and in many general inspection applications. The optical system of a borescope, like the human eye, does not have a fixed magnification. When viewing an object close up, it appears large; when the same object is viewed from afar, it appears small. Humans, though, have two separate eyes and a brain that process information to calculate the size of an object. These attributes are considered secondary information. Until now, making a measurement using a borescope has been an educated guess. There has always been a need to make accurate measurements from borescope images. The realization of this capability would make remote visual inspection a quantitative nondestructive testing method versus a qualitative one. For nuclear power plants, it is an excellent technique for maintaining radiation levels as low as reasonably achievable. Remote visual measurement provides distance and limits the exposure time needed to make accurate measurements. The design problem, therefore, was to develop the capability to make accurate and repeatable measurements of objects or physical defects with a borescope-type instrument. The solution was achieved by designing a borescope with a novel shadow projection mechanism, integrated with an electronics module containing the video display circuitry and a measurement computer.

• OSTI ID: 7232122
• Report Number(s): CONF-920606--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (United States) Journal Volume: 65
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220200* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Components & Accessories
42 ENGINEERING
420203 -- Engineering-- Handling Equipment & Procedures
BOILERS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CONDENSERS
CORROSION
DESIGN
EQUIPMENT
FAILURES
HEAT EXCHANGERS
INSPECTION
MATERIALS HANDLING EQUIPMENT
MEASURING METHODS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
PERFORMANCE
POWER PLANTS
REMOTE HANDLING EQUIPMENT
REMOTE VIEWING EQUIPMENT
STEAM GENERATORS
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
TUBES
VAPOR GENERATORS