• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.622-634
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• 2003

This paper is concerned with a computational method for recovering a crack shape of steam generator tubes of nuclear plants. Problems on the shape identification are discussed arising in the characterization of a structural defect in a conductor using data of eddy current inspection. A surface defect on the generator tube ran be detected as a probe impedance trajectory by scanning a pancake type coil. First, a mathematical model of the inspection process is derived from the Maxwell's equation. Second, the input and output relation is given by the approximate model by virtue of the hybrid use of the finite element and boundary element method. In that model, the crack shape is characterized by the unknown coefficients of the B-spline function which approximates the crack shape geometry. Finally, a parameter estimation technique is proposed for recovering the crack shape using data from the probe coil. The computational experiments were successfully tested with the laboratory data.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.50 no.7
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• pp.1160-1167
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• 2018

Detectability of the loose parts (LPs) in steam generator (SG) was studied with eddy current testing technique such as X-probe, bobbin and rotating coils ($MRPC^{(R)}$) as a function of LP size and spacing between LP and tube or between LP and support structures. SG mockup simulating SG tube and support structures with LP was fabricated. The X-probe showed slightly better detectability than $MRPC^{(R)}$ for LP of ferrous (F-LP) material and vice versa for LP of nonferrous (NF-LP) material. In terms of feasibility, inspection rate and other predictable features of the SG tubing inspections, X-probe can be used reliably for monitoring the LPs and the flaws formed by LPs on SG tubes.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.7-16
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• 1987

Eddy Current Examination is expected as the effective technique for nondestructive inspection of steam generator and various kinds of heat exchanging tubes made of STS - 304. In Case of E. C. T, a study on the various factors which have an effect on coil impedance is very important to the sensitivity of defect detection and the ratio of signal to noise. Therefore, this study analyzed coil impedance by means of the variational principle, the minimized theory of energy functional and the application of Finite Element Method. Really by using E. C. T, the relationship between the size of defects and the intensity of Eddy Current Signals can be obtained. Signal intensity becomes maximum at certain frequency. This frequency is affected by the characteristics and the position of signal sources.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and information Science
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.59-65
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• 1997

In this paper, a general fuzzy syntactic method for recognition of flaw patterns and for the measurement of flaw characteristic parameters for a non-destructive inspections signal, called eddy-current, is presented. Solutions are given to the subtasks of primitive pattern selection, signal to symbol transformation, pattern grammar formulation, and event-synchronous flaw pattern extraction based on the grammars. Fuzzy attribute grammars are used as the model for the pattern grammar because of their descriptive power in the face of uncertain constraints caused by nose or distortion in the signal waveform, due to their ability to handle syntactic as well as semantic information. This approach has been implemented and the performance of eh resultant system has been evaluated using a library of law patterns obtained from steam generator tubes in nuclear power plants by an eddy current-based non-destructive inspection method.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.187-192
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• 2002

The open-connect type eddy current transducer for the flaw detection in continuously connected pipelines was developed. This eddy current transducer is for the on-line inspection of the tubes in industries, to which commercial encircling probes are not applicable. The excitation coil that consists of a ribbon type cable and a flat connector can be opened and closed on purpose. The sensing coils of this transducer are circumferentially arrayed near the outside of the tube wall but axially displaced from the exciter by about one and half tube diameter. In application to steel tubes, and the performance of this transducer was evaluated as a little behind those of magnetic saturation type in signal to noise ratio and flaw size decision, but usable to detect or to locate large size flaws in steel tubes. Surface cracks deeper than 19% of the tube thickness could be detected with good signal to noise ratio.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.93-100
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• 2016

Since the sodium-cooled fast reactor is operated in a hostile environment due to the use of liquid sodium as its coolant, advanced techniques for in-service inspection are required to periodically verify the integrity of the reactor. This paper presents the development of in-service inspection techniques for Proto-type Generation IV Sodium-cooled Fast Reactor. First, the 10 m long plate-type ultrasonic waveguide sensor has been developed for in-service inspection of reactor internals, and its feasibility was verified through several under-water and under-sodium experiments. Second, the combined inspection system for in-service inspection of ferromagnetic steam generator tubes has been developed. The remote field eddy current testing and magnetic flux leakage testing can be conducted simultaneously by using the developed inspection system, and the detectability was demonstrated through several damage detection experiments. Finally, the electro-magnetic acoustic transducer which can withstand high temperature and be installable in the remote operated vehicle has been developed for in-service inspection of the reactor vessel, and its detectability was investigated through damage detection experiments.

• Proceedings of the Korean Magnestics Society Conference
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• 2000.09a
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• pp.572-573
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• 2000

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.75-81
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• 2014

A simulation of eddy current testing has been utilized for predicting the signal characteristics to the various defects and developing the probes. Especially, CIVA which is a simulation tool dedicated to nondestructive testing has a good accuracy and speed, and provides a three-dimensional graphical user interface for improved visualization and familiar data displays consistent with NDE technique. Although internal validations have been performed by the CIVA software development specialists, an independent validation study is necessary for the accuracy assessment of the software prior to practical use. For this purpose, in this study, eddy current testing signals of ASME FBH calibration standard tube for bobbin probe were simulated using CIVA and the results were compared to the experimental inspected signals based on the relationship between each flaw signal in terms of amplitude and phase, and the shape of the Lissajous curve. And then we verified the accuracy of the simulated signals and the possible range for simulation. Overall, there is a good qualitative agreement between the CIVA simulated and experimental results in the absolute and differential modes at the two inspection frequencies.

• 한국정보통신설비학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2009.08a
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• pp.54-58
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• 2009

In this paper, the ECT(eddy current testing) signal analysis of eddy current array probe for inspection of SG(steam generator) tube in NPP(nuclear power plant) using electromagnetic FEM(finite element method) was performed. To obtain the electromagnetic characteristics of probes, the governing equation was derived from Maxwell's equation, and the problem was solved by using the 3-dimensional FEM. The types of defects were FBH(flat bottomed hole) and OD groove, Spiral groove, natural defects(pitting, SCC, multiple SCC, wear). The depth of FBH defects were 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, 100 of SG tube thickness, and it was assumed that the defects were located on the tube outside. And the operation frequency of 100kHz, 300kHz and 400kHz were used. Material of specimen was Inconel 600 which is usually used for SG tubes in NPP. The signal difference could be observed according to the variation of size and depth on FBH defects and operation frequencies. The results in this paper can be helpful when the ECT signals from EC array probe are evaluated and analyzed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Technology Engineers
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.294-301
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• 2015

Oil filters for vehicular parts are used under high and low temperatures as the engine is cooled, and defects can be generated with repeated changes in the operating environment and with changes in the shape, such as very high internal losses for the bolts. Visually checking for defects inside a bolt is impossible. Nondestructive evaluation methods such as eddy current testing (ECT) are recommended as a more effective way to examine inside a bolt and detect surface defects in a short amount of time. In this study, the fit bobbin coil eddy current probe was applied to checking the bolts. The bolt parameters were calculated by using a COMSOL analysis program to obtain parameters for professional interior design and fault diagnosis.