• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.1117-1124
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• 2009

Under frame side sill of rolling stock structure is designed for preventing corrosion in order to meet mechanical requirements. However during long operation time more than 20 years, there are corrosion in the under frame side sill caused by environmental effect, vibration and etc. So, detection and evaluation of the corrosion ill the under frame nondestructive is one of important issues to extend their life time. Most of nondestructive methods are not easy to apply for detecting corrosion in the under frame side sill, since the under frame side sill consist of there layered with different material (stainless steel - stainless steel - mild steel) and each layer is connected by spot weld and plug weld. Fortunately, pulsed eddy current method claimed that it can be measured not only thickness change but also corrosion under their insulation layers. So, in this study, we have investigated performance of pulsed eddy current testing method by measuring thickness variation of fabricate of mock-up specimens. The investigation results obtained from mock-up specimens and the corrosion evaluation results of the aged rolling stocks will be presented.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.490-495
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• 2016

Pulsed eddy current (PEC) testing signals have typically been obtained from the electromotive force induced in a sensor coil. However, an increasing number of studies have elected to incorporate the Hall plate as a sensor. Thus, accurate numerical modeling of the Hall sensor signal is necessary. In this study, a PEC probe is designed and a numerical modeling program is written so that Hall sensor signals and coil sensor signals can be calculated simultaneously. First, a step current is used as the input current. The predicted Hall sensor signals show similar characteristics to those of the experimental signals reported by other researchers. The characteristics of the two types of signals are then analyzed and compared as the thickness of test object changes. The results show that the Hall sensor signal provides less information for evaluating the thickness of the test object than the coil sensor signal. The response signals from a pulsed input current are also calculated, and it is confirmed that an equivalent reversed signal pattern appeared after the pulse width at both signals.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.228-232
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• 2005

The Korea Electric Power Research Institute (KEPRI) has developed performance demonstration programs for non-destructive testing personnel who analyze ECT(eddy current testing) data for steam generator tubing since 2001 The purpose of these performance demonstration programs is to ensure a uniform knowledge and skill level of data analysts and contribute to safe operation of nuclear power plants. Many changes have occurred in non-destructive testing of steam generator tubing such as inspection scope, plugging criteria and qualification requirements. According to the Notice 2004-13 revised by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), the analyst for steam generator tubing shall be qualified as the qualified data analyst (QDA), and the site specific performance demonstration (SSPD) program shall be implemented. KEPRI developed these performance demonstration programs and they are being successfully implemented. The analyst's performance is expected to be improved by the implementation of these programs.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.556-560
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• 2001

Remote field eddy current testing (RFECT) with through-wall transmission characteristic is being applied to pipes ranging from small tubes of heat exchanger to natural gas supply pipelines. Cast iron pipes with nominal diameter of 100mm are used primarily as the waterline pipes. The leakage of water occurs due to defects in the pipes caused by vibration of automobiles and corrosion. But, the use of direct inspection methods such as insertion of inspection equipment inside the pipelines has been limited due to its lack of economical efficiency. Economical development of inspection equipments is possible since RFECT method can be easily employed for system integration and quantitative evaluation of both inside and outside defects. In this study, the development of underground pipeline inspection system was tarried out by using RFECT method in consideration of the characteristics of waterline network. This paper specifically describes the design and production of RFECT pipeline inspection pig using centralizer mechanism, development of remote field eddy current signal acquisition and processing software, and review of RFECT system operation procedures.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.330-337
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• 2010

In this paper, 3-dimensional electromagnetic numerical analysis is performed about the eddy current(EC) array probe characteristic which is the next generation probe for accurate diagnosis of steam generator(SG) in nuclear power plants(NPPs). ASME(American Society of Mechanical Engineers) Standard and X-probe combo calibration standard tube are selected for acquisition of eddy current testing(ECT) signals and this result of compared with the real test signals for reasonability of result. Based on the analysis result of calibration standard tube, ECT signals that are about the defects of pitting, stress corrosion cracking(SCC), multiple SCC and wear is obtained. Material of specimen was Inconel 600 which is usually used for SG tubes in NPPs. The operation frequency of 300 kHz were used. The signal characteristics could be observed according to the various defects. 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 for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.155-161
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• 2010

Recently, the electromagnetic techniques of the eddy current testing(ECT), alternating current field testing, magnetic flux leakage testing and remote field testing have been used as a nondestructive evaluation method based on the electromagnetic induction. The eddy current testing is now widely accepted as a NDE method for the heat exchanger tube in the electric power industry, chemical, shipbuilding, and military. The ECT system mainly consists of the synthesizer module, analog module, analog-to-digital converter, power supplier, and data acquisition and analysis program. In this study, the synthesizer module and the analog module which are essential to the ECT system were primarily developed. The developed ECT system is basically a multifrequency type which is able to inject the maximum four frequencies based on the frequency and time domain multiplexing method. Conclusively, we confirmed that the EC signal was processed appropriately in each circuit modules, and the Lissajous EC signal was displayed in the impedance plane.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.13-19
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• 2015

Steam generator is one of the most important component of nuclear power plant, and it's integrity and reliability are to be assured to high level by pre-service inspection and in-service inspection. To improve the reliability of steam generator heat exchanger tubes and to secure the management of nuclear power plant safely, KHNP CRI recently has developed eddy current testing system for steam generator. KHNP CRI have performed a series of experimental verification and field application to confirm the performance of the developed ECT system in accordance with ASME Code requirements. The ECT system consists of a remote data acquisition unit, an ECT signal acquisition and analysis software, a water chamber robot controller and a probe push-puller. In this paper, we will details of the developed ECT system and the software and their experimental performance. And also we will report the field applying performance and the issues for further steps.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Illuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.77-85
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• 1999

This paper deals with an experirrental study of a nondestructive testing system using a solenoid eddy currnet sensor to inspect deteriorations in overhead distribution lines, such as broken wires, severe local corrosion or zinc loss. Corrosion rrechanisrn for ACSR and ACSR-OC is discussed and characteristics for a solenoid sensor to insprt the georretrical pararreters of the coil and testing materials impOOance are briefly analyzed. A measurement system having a constant current source, a signal processing unit and a motor driver is impIemented. This instrument has such capabilities as detecting the sensor output and estimating dinHlsions of the testing conductors, continuously. As a result, it was shown that the eddy current sensor with an encircling coil could effectively estimate the diatreter change due to deteriorations in overhead distribution lines. lines.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.64-70
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• 2012

Two kinds of eddy current probes are mainly used to perform the steam generator tube integrity assesment in NPPs. The first one is the bobbin probe using for inspection of volumetric defect like a fretting wear. The second one is the rotating probe using for inspection of non-volumetric defect like a crack. The eddy current probe is one of the essential components which consist of the whole eddy current examination system, and provides a decisive data for the tube integrity in accordance with acceptance criteria described in specific procedures. The design of ECT probe is especially important to improve examination results because the quality of acquired ECT data is depended on the probe design characteristics, such as coil geometry, electrical properties, operation frequency. In this study, it is analyzed that the coil winding number of differential bobbin probe affects the electrical properties of the probe. Eddy current bobbin probes for the steam generator tubes in NPPs are designed and fabricated according to the results. Experiment shows that the change in coil winding number has much effects on the optimum inspection frequency determined by the tube geometry and material. Therefore, the coil winding number in bobbin probe is very important in the probe design. In this study, a basis of the coil winding number for the eddy current bobbin probe design for steam generator tubes in NPPs is established.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.579-585
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• 2009

The multifrequency eddy current testing(ECT) have been proposed various frequency mixing algorithms. In this study, we compare these approaches to frequency mixing of ECT signals from steam generator tubes; time-domain optimization, discrete cosine transform-domain optimization. Specifically, in this study, two different frequency mixing algorithms, a time-domain optimization method and a discrete cosine transform(DCT) optimization method, are investigated using the experimental signals captured from the ASME standard tube. The DCT domain optimization method is computationally fast but produces larger amount of residue.