• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• 제27권5호
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• pp.383-392
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• 2007

In this paper, we study the prediction of depth and width of a defect in steam generator tube in nuclear power plant using neural network. To this end, we first generate eddy current testing (ECT) signals for 4 defect patterns of SG tube: I-In type, I-Out type, V-In type, and V-Out type. In particular, we generate 400 ECT signals for various widths and depths for each defect type by the numerical analysis program based on finite element modeling. From those generated ECT signals, we extract new feature vectors for the prediction of defect size, which include the angle between the two points where the maximum impedance and half the maximum impedance are achieved. Using the extracted feature vector, multi-layer perceptron with one hidden layer is used to predict the size of defects. Through the computer simulation study, it is shown that the proposed method achieves decent prediction performance in terms of maximum error and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE).

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 대한전기학회 2005년도 제36회 하계학술대회 논문집 B
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• pp.942-944
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• 2005

In this study, eddy current signals from various anomalous defects in the heat exchanger tube are predicted af their signal slope characteristics no analyzed. The signal changes due to frequency increase are also observed. Based in the accumulated knowledge, the analysis of superimposed signal is attempted which includes the effects of support plate. Both differential and absolute bobbin probe signals are analyzed. For the prediction of signals, axisymmetric finite element modeling is used and this leads us to the utilization of slope angle analysis of the signal. Results show that differential signals are useful to locate the position of defect under the support plate and absolute signals no easy to predict and analyze even though they no superimposed signals. Combined use of these two types of signals will accomplish a reliable inspection.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.12-17
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• 2006

A steam generator of nuclear power plant has thousands of thin tubes. These tubes play an important role in maintaining the pressure boundary between the primary and secondary side of nuclear power plant. The steam generator tube is easy to be damaged because of the severe operating conditions such as the high temperature and pressure. Therefore, tremendous efforts are made to assess the structural integrity of the steam generator tubes. The eddy current test is the most popular non-destructive test to assess the integrity of the tubes. However, the eddy current test has the limitation to size the flaw accurately because the eddy current signal behavior depends on the total volume of flaw. This paper shows the possibility that the ultrasonic test method can be applied to detect the flaws in the steam generator tubes and to measure them quantitatively. From the test results, it is expected that if the ultrasonic test is put to practical use in the steam generator tube inspection, the inspection results will be improved.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.90-98
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• 2006

Signals captured from a Combo calibration standard tube paly a crucial role in the evaluation of motorized rotating pancake coil (MRPC) probe signals from steam generator (SG) tubes in nuclear power plants (NPPs). Therefore, the Combo tube signals should be consistent and accurate. However, MRPC probe signals are very easily affected by various factors around the tubes so that they can be distorted in their amplitudes and phase angles which are the values specifically used in the evaluation. To overcome this problem, in this study, we explored possibility of simulation to be used as a practical calibration tool far the evaluation of real field signals. For this purpose, we investigated the characteristics of a MRPC probe and a Combo tube. And then using commercial software (VIC-3D) we simulated a set of calibration signals and compared to the experimental signals. From this comparison, we verified the accuracy of the simulated signals. Finally, we evaluated two defects using the simulated Combo tube signals, and the results were compared with those obtained using the actual field calibration signals.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• 제36권4호
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• pp.295-299
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• 2016

Residual foreign objects at the secondary side (top of the tubesheet and tube support plates) of a steam generator are likely to cause a leak by causing wear in the tube. The extent of wear is significantly affected by the material, shape, and size of the foreign object, and the corrosion properties of the tube. The presence of foreign objects at the top of the tubesheet and tube support plates has been identified using remote visual inspection methods such as the foreign object search and retrieval and eddy current test (ECT). The detection of the residual foreign object at the secondary side of a steam generator has limitations that depend on the material properties and the condition of contact with the tube. In this study, which is vertical and horizontal from the upper tubesheet, the corresponding bobbin ECT signals were collected and analyzed to measure its ability to detect foreign objects.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 대한전기학회 1999년도 하계학술대회 논문집 G
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• pp.2926-2928
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• 1999

원자력발전소 증기발생기 전열관 건전성 유지를 위하여 매 주기마다 실시하고 있는 비파괴검사의 일종인 와전류검사(ECT, Eddy Current Testing)의 주요 공정은 크게 3가지로 분류할 수 있다. 첫 번째는 전열관 상태검사를 위한 신호데이터 취득공정이고, 두 번째는 취득된 신효를 판독하여 전열관의 건전성 여부를 진단하는 평가공정, 세 번째는 평가공정에서 발생하는 데이터를 토대로 전열관 이력 및 상태를 유지관리하는 공정으로 구분할 수 있다. 본 논문에서는 위의 세 번째 공정결과 생성되는 전열관 이력 및 상태자료를 데이터베이스화하여 유지 관리하고, 데이터베이스화된 내용을 바탕으로 전열관 상태 변화추이를 파악하는 기능, 현재까지 비 체계화된 모든 전열관의 이력자료를 다양한 보고서 형태로 출력할 수 있는 기능 둥을 제공하기 위한 "인트라넷 증기발생기 전열관 이력관리시스템"의 설계 및 구현과정 을 정 리 하였다.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• 제24권6호
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• pp.171-178
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• 2014

Remote Field Eddy Current Testing (RFECT), one of the ways which is a nondestructive testing using electromagnetic fields, can make up for Magnetic Flux Leakage (MFL) weaknesses and general Eddy Current Testing (ECT) weaknesses which is an occurrence of a huge friction force or disadvantage of detecting defects on the outer wall. So many of institutes and laboratories have studied on RFECT for the past 50 years. But There is a lack of discussion about a study on eddy current and magnetic field distributions in a pipe wall and designing of RFECT exciter coil. In this paper, eddy current and magnetic field distributions in a pipe wall and influence of altering variables are analyzed. Also, the optimal design algorithm about the RFECT Exciter coil are proposed, and influence on defect signals caused by alteration of its shape is analyzed.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.27-35
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• 2009

In this paper, we study the classification of steam generator tube defects using an improved feature extraction. We consider 4 axisymmetric defect patterns of tube: I-In type, I-Out type, V-In type, and V-Out type. Through numerical analysis program based on finite element modeling, 400 ECT signals are generated by varying width and depth of each defect type. From those generated ECT signals, we propose new feature vectors that include an angle between the two points where the Maximum impedance and half the Maximum impedance, and angles between Maximum impedance point and 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% of Maximum impedance points. Also, multi-layer perceptron with one hidden layer is used to classify the defect patterns. Through the computer simulation study, it is shown that the proposed method achieves an improved defect classification performance in terms of Maximum Error and mean square Error.

• Proceedings of the Korean Information Science Society Conference
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• 한국정보과학회 2001년도 가을 학술발표논문집 Vol.28 No.2 (2)
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• pp.238-240
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• 2001

원자력발전소에서는 기기, 배관 및 각종 지지구조물 등 설비에 대하여 시간의 경과에 따른 취약화 정도를 측정하기 위하여 대략 15개월을 주기로 호기별 비파괴검사로 감시 및 평가하는 가동중검사를 실시한다. 증기발생기, 주복수기와 같은 세관으로 구성된 설비는 와전류탐상검사를 수행하여 신호데이터를 취득하고 건전성 여부를 평가한 다음 그 결과를 Optical Disk에 신호데이터와 함께 저장한다. 본 논문에서는 저장된 방대한 양의 검사 결과 파일을 추출하여 데이터베이스로 구축하고, 행열 수량, 모양, 방향 및 열번호 부여방법이 상이한 다양한 배열 형태의 세관 Map을 편집하여 사용자 요구에 따라 검사정보를 색상 Tube로 Mapping 처리하여 세관의 상태, 검사이력, 결함성장률 및 변화추이 분석을 시각적으로 파악할 수 프로그램 구현 사례를 소개한다.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• 제11권1호
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• pp.25-32
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• 2015

Many crack flaws have been detected at tubing seal weld zone in Steam Generator with Alloy600 material tubes. it is very difficult to discriminate the signal from parent material and that from weld zone because weld zone gives complicated ECT signal due to manufacturing processes. ECT signal analysis in the seal weld zone is very important since the tubes with crack in this area shall be out of service by plugging. The purpose of this paper is to distinguish between Parent material and Weld Zone ECT signal in the seal weld zone through the demonstration test of Steam Generator seal weld mock-up.