• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 1996.07a
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• pp.83-85
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• 1996

Major cause of defects in steam generator tubes at nuclear power plant is the accumulation of magnetite and other byproducts of corrosion in the crevice gap between support plates and tubes. Since damaged tubes result in contamination of the secondary coolant by the radioactive primary coolant, they represent a safety hazard. Early detection of magnetite buildup is, therefore, imperative in order to take remedial measures such as chemical flushing. Although the eddy current testing is being used for the inspection of steam generator tubes, the interpretation of resulting signals is generally a difficult task. This paper uses the phase of sensor coil emf as the test signal to find a way of easier signal interpretation. Numerical study using FEM shows that the shape of resulting signal is good for identifying the relative position of the probe to the support plate, and for discreminating the different shapes and degrees of magnetite buildup in the crevice gap region.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.285-289
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• 2000

This study suggests a rebar detection technique for simultaneous detection of size and cover of embedded reinforcement in concrete. The structure of the probe made in this study is somewhat different from commercial ones. This probe has three sensing coils. Rebar size and cover depth can be evaluated by detecting and analyzing the signal from them. Amplitude and phase variation of each coil in the probe was investigated using an impedance analyzer and the loci of transfer functions of the coils were analyzed. The locus of transfer function from the sensing coil positioned inside excitation coil was simple as well known, but the others from the coils outside excitation coil were not so. Actual experiment on rebar detection was performed with our probe and an eddy current test system for various rebar sizes and depths. The signal shape according to variation of cover depths showed the same tendency with the transfer function loci acquired by impedance analyzer. The different variation pattern of signal enabled to evaluate rebar size and cover depth simultaneously.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.374-382
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• 2009

Steam generator(SG) tube, as a barrier isolating primary to the secondary coolant system of nuclear power plants(NPP), must maintain the structural integrity far the public safety and its efficient power generation capacity. And SG tubes bearing defects must be timely detected and taken repair measures if needed. For the accomplishment of these objectives, SG tubes have been periodically examined by eddy current testing(ECT) on the basis of administrative notices and intensified SG management program(SGMP). Stress corrosion cracking(SCC) on the SG tubes is not easily detected and even missed since it has lower signal amplitude and other disturbing factors against its detection. However once SCC is developed, that can cause detrimental affects to the SG tubes due to its rapid propagation rate. Accordingly SCC is categorized as prime damage mechanism challenging the soundness of the SG tubes. In this study, reproduced EDM notch specimens are examined for the detectability and quantitative characterization of the axial ODSCC by +PT MRPC probe, containing pancake, +PT and shielded pancake coils apart in a single plane around the circumference. The results of this study are assumed to be applicable fur providing key information of engineering evaluation of SCC and improvement of confidence level of ECT on SG tubes.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.29-33
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• 1996

The eddy current test(ECT) probe of differential encircling coil type was designed and fabricated, and the optimum condition of ECT was derived for the examination of the irradiated fuel rod. The correlation between ECT test frequency and phase & amplitude was derived by performing the test of the standard rig that includes inner notches, outer notches and through-holes. The defect of through-hole was predicted by ECT at the G33-N2 fuel rod irradiated in the Kori-1 nuclear power reactor. The metallographic examination on the G33-N2 fuel rod was Performed at the defect location predicted by ECT. The result of metallographic examination for the G33-N2 fuel rod was in good agreement with that of ECT. This proves that the evaluation for integrity of irradiated fuel rod by ECT is reliable.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.407-415
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• 2008

The tubes in heat exchanger are typically made from copper alloy, stainless steel, carbon steel, titanium alloy material. type-439 ferritic stainless steel is ferromagnetic material, and furnish higher heat transfer rates than austenitic stainless steels and higher resistance to corrosion-induced flaws. Ferritic stainless steel can typically be found in low-pressure(LP) feedwater heaters and moisture separator reheaters(MSRs). LP feedwater heaters generally utilize thin wall type-439 stainless steel tubing, whereas MSRs typically employ a heavier wall tubing with integral fins. Service-induced damage can occur on the OD(outside diameter) surface of type-439 ferritic stainless steel tubing which is employed for MSRs tubing, and the most typical damage mechanism is vibration-induced tube-to-TSP(tube support plate) wear and fatigue cracking. The wear has been reported that occurs mainly on the OD surface. Accordingly, in this study, we have evaluated the flaw sizing capability of magnetic saturation eddy current technique using magnetic saturation probe and flawed specimen.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 1995.04b
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• pp.377-382
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• 1995

Conventional measurement methods using ultrasonic wave or x-ray, eddy current for non-destructive testing(NDT) in nuclear power plants and other industrial plants have been performed as the method of contact with objects to be inspected. With this reason these methods have been taken relatively much time and the inspected area is limited by the location of probe or film. But holographic interferometry which is a non-contact optical measurement method using a coherent light source has an advantage that the quantitative measurement can be performed at a time. In this paper a new method using holographic interferometry and image processing for detecting internal flaws of pressure vessels is presented.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 1997.07a
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• pp.83-85
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• 1997

In this paper a numerical analysis method for eddy current testing (ECT) with axisymmetric crack is studied. The finite element method(FEM) is used for electromagnetic solution. In this paper the outer diameter crack of INCONEL 600 tube is modelled and the impedance signal is obtained using the differential probe. The characteristics of the crack depth variation in the signal are analyzed.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.34-39
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• 2008

Steam Generator(SG) tubes are classified as one of the key components in nuclear power plants, and they should be periodically examined by the intensified management program for the assurance and diagnosis of their structural integrity. In this study, we use the optimum analysis technique to draw the detection and categorization of bowing(BOW) signals; abnormal tube-to-tube proximity in the SG upper bundle free span area. The locations in which BOW signals are detected likely have latent degradation of ODSCC(Outer Diameter Stress Corrosion Cracking). For the sake of timely and correct detection of BOW signals and diagnosis of ODSCC, we carried out the experimental demonstrations using a reduced mock-up. And we validated the MRPC(Motorized Rotating Pancake Coil) analysis technique is better than the bobbin. Hence, it comes to conclusion that the optimum analysis technique can be a good alternative for the reliable SG tube examination.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.1233-1240
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• 1996

Conventional measurement methods using ultrasonic wave or x-ray, eddy current for non-destructive testing(NDT) in nuclear power plants and other industrial plants have been utilized as the method of contact with objects to be inspected. For this reason these methods require relatively much time and inspection area is limited by the location of probe or film. But holograpic interferometry which is a non-contact optical measurement method using a coherent light source has an advantage that quantative measurement can be performed at a time. In this paper a new method using realtime holographic interfreometry and image processing for detecting internal flaws of pressure vessels is presented.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.305-308
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• 2006

Magnetic flux leakage (MFL) pigs are traditionally used for the detection of gross corrosion on steel pipelines used for the transmission of natural gas. Alternative nondestructive evaluation (NDE) modalities are required for the detection of stress corrosion cracking (SCC) which tends to exist in colonies oriented axially along the length of the pipeline. This paper describes the use of multiphase rotating magnetic fields in the remote region of the probe as a possible SCC detection mechanism. Details of a prototype pig and test rig are given and the challenges associated with the finite element modeling of the device are discussed. Initial experimental results show that this novel NDE modality is sensitive to axially oriented tight cracks.