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Title: Nondestructive examination of irradiated fuel rods by pulsed eddy current techniques

Abstract

A number of fuel rods and unfueled zircaloy cladding tubes which had been irradiated in the Saxton reactor have undergone extensive nondestructive and corroborative destructive examinations by Aerojet Nuclear Company as part of the Water Reactor Safety Research Program, Irradiation Effects Test Series. This report discusses the pulsed eddy current (PEC) nondestructive examinations on the fuel rods and tubing and the metallography results on two fuel rods and one irradiated zircaloy tube. The PEC equipment, designed jointly by Argonne National Laboratory and Aerojet, performed very satisfactorily the functions of diameter, profile, and wall thickness measurements and OD and ID surface defect detection. The destructive examination provided reasonably good confirmation of ''defects'' detected in the nondestructive examination.

Authors:
; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Idaho National Engineering Lab., Idaho Falls (USA)
OSTI Identifier:
7355953
Report Number(s):
ANCR-1282
TRN: 76-013017
DOE Contract Number:
E(10-1)-1375
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS; BWR TYPE REACTORS; FUEL ELEMENTS; FUEL CANS; EDDY CURRENT TESTING; PWR TYPE REACTORS; PHYSICAL RADIATION EFFECTS; ZIRCALOY; ALLOYS; ELECTROMAGNETIC TESTING; MATERIALS TESTING; NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING; RADIATION EFFECTS; REACTOR COMPONENTS; REACTORS; TESTING; TIN ALLOYS; WATER COOLED REACTORS; WATER MODERATED REACTORS; ZIRCONIUM ALLOYS; ZIRCONIUM BASE ALLOYS; 210100* - Power Reactors, Nonbreeding, Light-Water Moderated, Boiling Water Cooled; 210200 - Power Reactors, Nonbreeding, Light-Water Moderated, Nonboiling Water Cooled

Citation Formats

Francis, W.C., Quapp, W.J., Martin, M.R., and Gibson, G.W. Nondestructive examination of irradiated fuel rods by pulsed eddy current techniques. United States: N. p., 1976. Web. doi:10.2172/7355953.
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Francis, W.C., Quapp, W.J., Martin, M.R., & Gibson, G.W. Nondestructive examination of irradiated fuel rods by pulsed eddy current techniques. United States. doi:10.2172/7355953.
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Francis, W.C., Quapp, W.J., Martin, M.R., and Gibson, G.W. Sun . "Nondestructive examination of irradiated fuel rods by pulsed eddy current techniques". United States. doi:10.2172/7355953. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/7355953.
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@article{osti_7355953,
title = {Nondestructive examination of irradiated fuel rods by pulsed eddy current techniques},
author = {Francis, W.C. and Quapp, W.J. and Martin, M.R. and Gibson, G.W.},
abstractNote = {A number of fuel rods and unfueled zircaloy cladding tubes which had been irradiated in the Saxton reactor have undergone extensive nondestructive and corroborative destructive examinations by Aerojet Nuclear Company as part of the Water Reactor Safety Research Program, Irradiation Effects Test Series. This report discusses the pulsed eddy current (PEC) nondestructive examinations on the fuel rods and tubing and the metallography results on two fuel rods and one irradiated zircaloy tube. The PEC equipment, designed jointly by Argonne National Laboratory and Aerojet, performed very satisfactorily the functions of diameter, profile, and wall thickness measurements and OD and ID surface defect detection. The destructive examination provided reasonably good confirmation of ''defects'' detected in the nondestructive examination.},
doi = {10.2172/7355953},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1976},
month = {Sun Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1976}
}
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Technical Report:
View Technical Report (8.26 MB)
DOI:  10.2172/7355953
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  • An inspection system has been developed for nondestructive examination of irradiated fuel rods utilizing pulsed eddy current techniques. The system employs an encircling type pulsed eddy current transducer capable of sensing small defects located on both the inner and outer diameter fuel rod surfaces during a single scan. Pulsed eddy current point probes are used to provide fuel rod wall thikness data and an indication of radial defect location. Two linear variable differential transformers are used to provide information on fuel rod diameter variation. A microprocessor based control system is used to automatically scan fuel rods up to 4.06 metersmore » in length at predetermined radial locations. Defects as small as 0.005 cm deep by 0.254 cm long by 0.005 cm wide have been detected on outside diameter surfaces of a 1.43 cm outside diameter fuel rod cladding with a 0.094 cm wall thickness and 0.010 cm deep by 0.254 cm long by 0.005 cm wide on the inside diameter surface.« less

  • ; ; - Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc.; (United States)

  • ; - Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc., v. 22, pp. 766-768

  • ; - Conf. Remote Syst. Technol., Proc., v. 23, pp. 316-328
    A pulsed eddy-current (PEC) system was used in the remote nondestructive examination of 100 irradiated fuel rods and unfueled cladding tubes. The examination was carried out by Aerojet Nuclear Company as part of the water reactor safety program. Two fuel rods and one cladding tube were destructively examined to correlate the PEC defect indications with actual phenomena. The PEC equipment, designed jointly by Argonne National Laboratory and Aerojet, performed the functions of diametral, bowing, and wall-thickness measurements and od and id surface defect detection very satisfactorily. (auth)

  • ;
    A number of irradiated fuel rods and unfueled zircaloy cladding tubes (''water tubes'') were obtained from the Saxton reactor through arrangements with the Westinghouse Electric Corporation for use in subsequent irradiation effects and fuel behavior programs. A comprehensive nondestructive and corroborative destructive characterization program was undertaken on these fuel rods and tubes by ANC to provide baseline data on their characteristics prior to further testing and for comparison against post-post data. This report deals primarily with one portion of the NDT program performed remotely in the hot cells. The portion of interest in this paper is the pulsed eddy currentmore » inspection used in the nondestructive phase of the work. 6 references. (auth)« less