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Abstract

The paper presents application of a multi-coil eddy current testing (ECT) system to detect defects in steam generator (SG) tubes of Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs). The defects are located near SG tube support plates. The SG tubes were immersed in liquid sodium at temperature above 500°C and then drain several times. Three dimensional (3D) Finite Element Method (FEM) numerical simulations, using an in-house developed code, are validated with experimental measurements in both cases of absence or presence of sodium on the outer SG tubes surfaces. Validations of FEM simulations of multi-coil ECT system with experimental measurements, for helical tubes, are conducted for a large model of SG tubes support plate and three SG tubes attached to it.

Keywords

SG tubes RF-ECT multi-coil sensor support plate sodium

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References

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, Experimental Measurements and Simulations of ECT Signal for Ferromagnetic SG Tubes Covered by a Sodium Layer, Studies in Applied Electromagnetics and Mechanics39 (2014), 144-154.

Mihalache

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, Large Scale 3D FEM Electromagnetic Simulations and Validations for FBR Steam Generator Tubes, Studies in Applied Electromagnetics and Mechanics, Vol. XVI, 2012, pp. 94-102.

Mihalache

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, Multi-Frequency ECT for Sodium Drained SG Tubes of FBR using 3D Finite Element Simulations, ISEM2015, Kobe, Sep 15-18, 2015.

A study of multi-coils ECT system for SG tubes of FBR using 3D FEM simulations and experimental measurements

Abstract

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References