• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.29-33
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• 2008

As the measures of nuclear power plant utilities and manufacturers to reduce the defects of tube expansion region during manufacturing steam generators, many types of NDEs(Non-Destructive Examinations) are conducted to inspect the expansion region. The expansion region of tube is subject to degrade because of stress concentration induced by tube expansion, sludge pile and high temperature. So the inspections for tube expansion region have been reinforced. Liquid penetrant test, helium leak test, Bobbin profile test and hydraulic test are performed to confirm the integrity of tube expanded by hydraulic expansion method. Liquid penetrant test and helium leak test are used to inspect seal weld region on tubesheet end part. Bobbin Profile test is used to inspect fully the expanded region of steam generator tube. Hydraulic test finally verifies the integrity of seal weld region on tubesheet end part.

• 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.28 no.2
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• pp.184-190
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• 2008

Various ECT techniques have been applied basically to assess the integrity of steam generator tithing in nuclear power plant. Among these techniques, the bobbin probe technique is applied generally to examine the volumetric flaws such as a crack-like defect and wear which is generally occurred on steam generator tubing, and additionally MRPC probe is used to examine closely tile top of tubesheet and bending regions due to the high possibility of cracking. Dent and bulge also may be formed on tube during installation process and operation of steam generator, but the dent and bulge indications greater than specific size criteria are recorded on examination report because these indications are not considered as flaw. These indications can be easily detected with bobbin probe and approximately sized with profile bobbin probe, but the size and shape can not be accurately verified. Accordingly, in this study, the $8{\times}1$ multi-array EC probe was designed to increase the measurement accuracy of the sectional profiling EC testing of tube. As a result, we would like to propose the application of $8{\times}1$ multi-array EC probe for the measurement of size and shape of profile change on steam generator tube in OPR-1000 nuclear power plant.