Continuous-wave radar to detect defects within heat exchangers and steam generator tubes.

Technical Report · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2003

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/917470· OSTI ID:917470

Nassersharif, Bahram ^[1]; Caffey, Thurlow Washburn Howell; Jedlicka, Russell P ^[2]; Garcia, Gabe V ^[3]; Rochau, Gary Eugene

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1. New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM
2. New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM
3. New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM

A major cause of failures in heat exchangers and steam generators in nuclear power plants is degradation of the tubes within them. The tube failure is often caused by the development of cracks that begin on the outer surface of the tube and propagate both inwards and laterally. A new technique was researched for detection of defects using a continuous-wave radar method within metal tubing. The experimental program resulted in a completed product development schedule and the design of an experimental apparatus for studying handling of the probe and data acquisition. These tests were completed as far as the prototypical probe performance allowed. The prototype probe design did not have sufficient sensitivity to detect a defect signal using the defined radar technique and did not allow successful completion of all of the project milestones. The best results from the prototype probe could not detect a tube defect using the radar principle. Though a more precision probe may be possible, the cost of design and construction was beyond the scope of the project. This report describes the probe development and the status of the design at the termination of the project.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000
• OSTI ID: 917470
• Report Number(s): SAND2003-3408
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

Nuclear power plants.
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
CONSTRUCTION
DATA ACQUISITION
DEFECTS
DESIGN
DETECTION
HEAT EXCHANGERS
Heat exchangers-Corrosion.
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
PERFORMANCE
PROBES
RADAR
Radar.
SCHEDULES
SENSITIVITY
STEAM GENERATORS
Steam engineering.