• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.56-63
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• 2012

In this study, a field applicability of reboiler tube was evaluated by comparing ECT signal with IRIS signal about wall loss rate and remaining wall thickness using worked austenite STS 316L ASME standard calibration tube. In the case of wall-loss rate, as a result, tolerance about $20%{\times}4$ flat bottom hole and 10% O D groove(ECT), 80% defect and 10% O D groove(IRIS) occurred up to ${\pm}15%$. In the case of remaining wall thickness, ECT was satisfied with the both tolerance, but tolerance about 80% defect occurred up to ${\pm}15%$ in IRIS. Therefore, if the IRIS is performed for interpretation of non-relevant indication and measurement of wall-loss rate after ECT, reliability is supposed to be improved.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.393-397
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• 2007

Eddy current standard including an artificial slot for the calibration of absolute type surface probe was fabricated. Developed eddy current standard has the electric conductivity and dimensions, and contains artificial slot as established in ASTM E 1629. The width and depth of artificial slot are 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm respectively. This slot was only possible to measure the depth on the two side edges, and impossible for the middle part with general measurement tools. The ultrasonic test method was applied for measuring depth of the middle part of the artificial slot in the standard. Using this method the dimension could be measured successfully with uncertainty about $15\;{\mu}m$. Calibration of eddy current standard for the absolute probe can be performed by this technique.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.552-559
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• 2011

Recently, the eddy current testing(ECT), alternating current field testing, magnetic flux leakage testing and remote field testing have been used as a nondestructive evaluation method based on the electromagnetic induction phenomenon. The eddy current testing is now widely accepted as a NDE method for the heat exchanger tube in the electric power industry, chemical, shipbuilding, and military. The ECT system mainly consists of the synthesizer module, analog module, analog-to-digital converter, power supplier, and data acquisition and analysis program. In the previous study, the synthesizer module and the analog module which is essential to the ECT system were primarily developed, and in this study the data acquisition and analysis program were developed. The operation system for this program is based on the Windows 7, and optimized for the Korean users, and the specific feature of this program using setup wizard enables inspector to make a setup easily for acquisition and analysis of ECT data. In this paper, the configuration and functions of eddy current data acquisition and analysis program will be introduced.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.89-96
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• 2007

The bobbin probe examination is basic and the important method among other ECT techniques for the steam generator tube integrity assesment that is practiced during each plant outage. The bobbin probe is one of the essential components which consist of the whole ECT examination system, and provides us a decisive data for the evaluation of tube integrity in compliance with acceptance criteria described in specific procedures. The selection of examination probe is especially important because the quality of acquired ECT data is determined by the probe design characteristics, such as geometry and operation frequency, and has enormous effects on examination results. In this study, An optimal differential bobbin probe is designed for the steam generator tube inspection in nuclear power plants(NPPs). Based on the test results for electrical and ECT signal characteristics, the prototype bobbin probe satisfies all the criteria.

• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.455-463
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• 1998

RCCA(rod cluster control assembly) End-Tip suffers from neutron irradiation and constant vibration due to high-speed internal flow of primary coolant during plant operation. Such operating conditions cause the RCCA end-tip crackings around tile circumferential weldment of the end-tip, and in some cases, the defective end-tips were completly broken loose. However, no reliable inspection techniques for end-tip crackings were developed in the past, although some techniques exist for inspecting RCCA control rod wears. Therefore, NDE group at KEPRI has developed an ECT technique for the detection and the sizing of the end-tip crackings. The technique uses a specially designed surface-riding probe that can detect size of circumferential crackings with an accuracy of ${\pm}5.31%$ RMS error. This paper describes the ECT instrumentation including the ECT probes, calibration bars, as well as technical approaches.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.339-345
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• 2008

The heat exchanger tube in nuclear power plants is mainly fabricated from nonferromagnetic material such as a copper, titanium, and inconel alloy, but the moisture separator & reheater tube in the turbine system is fabricated from ferromagnetic material such as a carbon steel or ferrite stainless steel which has a good mechanical properties in harsh environments of high pressure and temperature. Especially, the moisture separator & reheater tubes, which use steam as a heat transfer media, typically employ a tubing with integral fins to furnish higher heat transfer rates. The ferromagnetic tube typically shows superior properties in high pressure and temperature environments than a nonferromagnetic material, but can make a trouble during the normal operation of power plants because the ferrous tube has service-induced damage forms including a steam cutting, erosion, mechanical wear, stress corrosion cracking, etc. Therefore, nondestructive examination is periodically performed to evaluate the tube integrity. Now, the remote field testing(RFT) technique is one of the solution for examination of ferromagnetic tube because the conventional eddy current technique typically can not be applied to ferromagnetic tube such as a ferrite stainless steel due to the high electrical permeability of ferrous tube. In this study, we have designed RFT probes, calibration standards, artificial flaw specimen, and probe pusher-puller necessary for field application, and have successfully carry out RFT examination of the moisture separator & reheater tube of nuclear power plants.