• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.563-569
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• 2009

In this paper, four different types of pulsed eddy current(PEC) probe are designed and their performance of detecting wall thickness reduction is compared. By using the backward difference method in time and the finite element method in space, PEC signals from various thickness and materials are numerically calculated and three features of the signal are selected. Since PEC signals and features are obtained by various types and sizes of probe, the comparison is made through the normalized features which reflect the sensitivity of the feature to thickness reduction. The normalized features indicate that the shielded reflection probe provides the best sensitivity to wall thickness reduction for all three signal features. Results show that the best sensitivity to thickness reduction can be achieved by the peak value, but also suggest that the time to peak can be a good candidate because of its linear relationship with the thickness variation.

• 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.33 no.6
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• pp.519-523
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• 2013

A steam generator (SG) tube is an important component of a nuclear power plant (NPP). It works as a pressure boundary between the primary and secondary systems. The integrity of a SG tube can be assessed by an eddy current test every outage. The eddy current technique(adopting a bobbin probe) is currently the main technique used to assess the integrity of the tubing of a steam generator. An eddy current signal analyst for steam generator tubes continuously analyzes data over a given period of time. However, there are possibilities that the analyst conducting the test may get tired and cause mistakes, such as: missing indications or not being able to separate a true defect signal from one that is more complicated. This error could lead to confusion and an improper interpretation of the signal analysis. In order to avoid these possibilities, many countries of opted for automated analyses. Axial ODSCC (outside diameter stress corrosion cracking) defects on the tubes of OPR1000 steam generators have been found on the tube that are in contract with tube support plates. In this study, automated analysis software called CDS (computer data screening) made by Zetec was used. This paper will discuss the results of introducing an automated analysis system for an axial ODSCC on the tubes of an OPR1000 steam generator.

• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.83-86
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• 2015

Nowadays the weapon systems are employed air bursting munition (ABM) as smart programmable 40 mm shells which have been developed in order to hit the target with programmed munition that can be air burst after a set distance in the battlefield. In order to improve the accuracy of such a bursting time, by measuring the speed of the munition from the barrel, weapon systems calculate the exact time of flight to the target and then the time information must be inputted to the munition. In this study, we introduce a device capable of detecting a shot at K4 40 mm automatic grenade. The shot is composed of a rotating copper band to convert linear motion into rotary motion when it passes through the barrel, the steel section is exert the effect of fragment and aluminum section to give fuze information. The aluminum section was used to detect munition using eddy current method. To measure muzzle velocity by means of non-contact method, two eddy current probes separated 10 cm was employed. Time interval between two eddy current probe detection times was used as muzzle velocity. The eddy current probe was fabricated U-shape Mn-Zn ferrite core with enamelled copper wire, and 200 kHz alternating current was used to detect inductance change. Measured muzzle velocity using the developed sensor was compared to the Doppler radar system. The difference was smaller than 1%.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.398-408
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• 2007

For better evaluation of material thickness by using the reflection type pulsed eddy current method, various probe models are designed and their response signals, characteristics, and sensitivities to thickness variation are investigated by a numerical analysis method. Since the sensor needs to detect magnetic fields from eddy currents induced in a test material, not from the exciter coil, two types of models that are shielded by the combination of copper and ferrite and only by ferrite are considered. By studying response signals from these shielded probe models, the peak value and the zero crossing time are selected as useful signal features for the evaluation of material thickness. Investigation of sensitivities of these two features shows that the sensitivity of peak value is more useful than that of zero crossing time and that the probe shielded only by ferrite gives much better sensitivity to thickness variation.

• Journal of Power System Engineering
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.13-18
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• 2011

This thesis is about the result of conducting a specific experiment for the development of noncontact vibration displacement sensor for measuring the spindle vibration that is used for conditional monitoring of machinery. One should be careful when using the eddy current type displacement sensor because the sensitivity of it is different according to the quality of the material. While the probe used for nondestructive inspection adopts the effect of transmitting the material by using the high frequency domain, the eddy current type displacement sensor uses the lower frequency of around 1MHz. Also, while the nondestructive probe uses the method of enhancing output by using the resonance zone, the vibration displacement sensor utilizes the stable zone by avoiding the resonance zone. Since the oscillator of the converter uses the "L" element as Probe, its characteristic changes with the variation of a relevant impedance. In other words, if the length of Probe's Cable gets extended (Impedance increase), the sensitivity declines accordingly. The effect of surrounding temperature was small, but the influence of the quality of Sensor Coil used was high. Moreover, following an experimental demonstration of the phenomenon where the sensitivity decreases as the frequency of the tested material increases from a frequency response test, the maximum frequency that could be measured was approximately 1KHz. It was noted that the degree of precision could be maintained by using the gap of the probe in the linear zone at the installation site.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.403-410
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• 2006

Eddy current testing (ECT) signals produced by a differential bobbin coil probe vary according to probe design parameters such as the number of turns, geometry and coil gap size. In the present study, the characteristics of a differential bobbin coil probe signals are investigated by numerical simulation in order to determine the optimum coil gap. For verification of numerical simulation accuracy, a specially designed bobbin probe of which the coil gap can be adjusted is fabricated and a series of experiments to acquire signals from two kinds of standard tubes with the variation in coil gap is performed. Then, the experimental signals are compared to the simulation results. Based on this investigation, a decision on the optimum range of coil gap is made. The theoretically predicted signals agree very well to the experimental signals. In fact, this excellent agreement demonstrates a high potential of the simulation as a design optimization tool for ECT bobbin probes.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.310-315
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• 2007

The axial-flow type blood pump(XVAD) which has been developed in our group consists of mechanical parts (an impeller, a diffuser and a flow straightener) and electrical parts (a motor and a magnetic bearing). The magnetic bearing system fully levitates the impeller to remove mechanical coupling with other parts of the pump with constant gap, which needs non-contact type gap sensing. Conventional gap sensors are too large to be adopted to the implantable axial -flow type blood pump. Thus, in this paper, the compact eddy current type gap sensor system proper for the implantable axial-flow type blood pump was developed and its performance was evaluated in vitro. The developed eddy current type gap sensor system is a transformer type and has a differential probe. Sensor coil(probe) has small dimensions(6 mm diameter, 2 mm thickness) and its optimal inductance was determined as 0.068 mH for the measurement range of $0\sim3mm$. It could be manufactured with 130 turns of the 0.04 mm diameter copper coil. The characteristics of the developed eddy current type gap sensor system was evaluated by in vitro experiment. At experiment, it showed satis(actory performance to apply to the magnetic bearing system of the XVAD. It could measure the gap up to 3mm, but the linearity was decreased at the range of $1.8\sim3.0mm$. Moreover, it showed no difference in different media such as the water and the blood at the temperature range of $35\sim40^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.156-161
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• 1997

The eddy current probe was designed for the test of fin tubes that have uneven outer and inner surfaces to enhance the efficiency of heat emission. Because of the surface roughness of the fin tube, it needs much care to detect flaws in the tube employing eddy current test(ECT). We made ECT probes with different coil lengths and performed eddy current test using these probes for artificially flawed specimens. By the fast Fourier transform and digital filtering, signals from these probes were processed to characterize frequency spectra. From the analysis of eddy current signals and their frequency spectra, we concluded that, for the effective testing of the tubes with the fins of 1mm pitch, 4mm coil length gave the highest S/N ratio.