• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.442-453
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• 2003

This study investigates the safety assessment of the potential for fretting-wear damages on steam generator (SG) U-tubes caused by foreign object in operating nuclear power plants. The operating SG shell-side flow field conditions are obtained from three-dimensional SG flow calculation using the ATHOS3 code. Modal analyses are performed for the finite element modelings of U-tubes to get the natural frequency, corresponding mode shape and participation factor. The wear rate of U-tube caused by foreign object is calculated using the Archard formula and the remaining life of the tube is predicted. Also, discussed in this study is the effect of the flow velocity and vibration of the tube on the remaining life of the tube.

• 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.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.56 no.7
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• pp.1224-1230
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• 2007

In this paper, we study the classification of defects at steam generator tube in nuclear power plant using eddy current testing (ECT). We consider 4 defect patterns of SG 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. In order to improve the classification performance, we propose new feature extraction technique. After extracting new features from the generated ECT signals, multi-layer perceptron is used to classify the defect patterns. Through the computer simulation study, it is shown that the proposed method achieves 100% classification success rate while the previous method yields 91% success rate.

• 한국정보통신설비학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.08a
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• pp.241-245
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• 2006

In the examination of Steam Generator (SG) tube in Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) Eddy Current Testing (ECT) probes play an Important role in detecting the defects. Bobbin probe and Rotating Pancake Coil (RPC) probe is usually used for the inspection of SG tube. Bobbin probe is good at high speed inspection, but ability of detection of circumferential defect is very weak. On the contrary RPC probe, which moves for inspection in the direction of axial and circumferential simultaneously, has very slow inspection speed, but it was excellent detection capability fur small cracks, which is hardly detected by bobbin probe. Many examinations of SG tube examination of NPP are achieved during short period. Therefore, solution about this must develop probe of new form for examination performance and examination time shortening of other probe. In this paper, analyzed technological present condition of Bob-bin probe and RPC probe been using in Nondestructive Testing (NDT) for SG tube defect detection and Appeared about background theory and view of developed probe newly.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.49 no.8
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• pp.1669-1679
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• 2017

Background: Steam generator (SG) is one of the significant components in the nuclear steam supply system. A variety of SGs have been designed and used in nuclear reactor systems. Every SG has advantages and disadvantages. A brief account of some of the existing SG designs is presented in this study. A high surface to volume ratio of a SG is required in small modular reactors to occupy the least space. In this paper, performance improvement for SGs of integral small modular reactor is proposed. Aims/Methods: For this purpose, cross-grooved microfins have been incorporated on the inner surface of the helical tube to enhance heat transfer. The primary objective of this work is to investigate thermal-hydraulic behavior of the proposed improvements through modeling in RELAP5-3D. Results and Conclusions: The results are compared with helical-coiled SGs being used in IRIS (International Reactor Innovative and Secure). The results show that the tube length reduces up to 11.56% keeping thermal and hydraulic conditions fixed. In the case of fixed size, the steam outlet temperature increases from 590.1 K to 597.0 K and the capability of power transfer from primary to secondary also increases. However, these advantages are associated with some extra pressure drop, which has to be compensated.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.12
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• pp.4561-4569
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• 2023

A correct understanding of vibration-based degradation is crucial from the standpoint of maintenance for Steam Generators (SG) as crucial mechanical equipment in nuclear power plants. This study has established a novel approach to developing a model for investigating tube bundle degradation according to crack growth caused by two-phase Flow-Induced Vibration (FIV). An important step in the approach is to calculate the two-phase flow field parameters between the SG tube bundles in various zones using the porous media model to determine the velocity and vapor volume fraction. Afterward, to determine the vibration properties of the tube bundles, the Fluid-Solid Interaction (FSI) analysis is performed in eighteen thermal-hydraulic zones. Tube bundle degradation based on crack growth using the sixteen most probable initial cracks and within each SG thermal-hydraulic zone is performed to calculate useful lifetime. Large Eddy Simulation (LES) model, Paris law, and Wiener process model are considered to model the turbulent crossflow around the tube bundles, simulation of elliptical crack growth due to the vibration characteristics, and estimation of SG tube bundles degradation, respectively. The analysis shows that the tube deforms most noticeably in the zone with the highest velocity. As a result, cracks propagate more quickly in the tube with a higher height. In all simulations based on different initial crack sizes, it was observed that zone 16 experiences the greatest deformation and, subsequently, the fastest degradation, with a velocity and vapor volume fraction of 0.5 m/s and 0.4, respectively.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.18-27
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• 2019

The Advanced Power Reactor 1400 (APR1400) Steam Generator (SG) uses alloy 690 as a tube material and SA-508 Grade 3 Class 1 as a tubesheet material to form tube-to-tubesheet joint through hydraulic expansion process. In this paper, the residual stresses in the SG tube-to-tubesheet contact area was investigated by applying Model-Based System Engineering (MBSE) methodology and the V-model. The use of MBSE transform system description into diagrams which clearly describe the logical interaction between functions hence minimizes the risk of ambiguity. A theoretical and Finite Element Methodology (FEM) was used to assess and compare the residual stresses in the tube-to-tubesheet contact area. Additionally, the axial strength of the tube to tubesheet joint based on the pull-out force against the contact joint force was evaluated and recommended optimum autofrettage pressure to minimize residual stresses in the transition zone given. A single U-tube hole and tubesheet with ligament thickness was taken as a single cylinder and plane strain condition was assumed. An iterative method was used in FEM simulation to find the limit autofrettage pressure at which pull-out force and contact force are of the same magnitude. The joint contact force was estimated to be 20 times more than the pull-out force and the limit autofrettage pressure was estimated to be 141.85MPa.

• 한국정보통신설비학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2009.08a
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• pp.54-58
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• 2009

In this paper, the ECT(eddy current testing) signal analysis of eddy current array probe for inspection of SG(steam generator) tube in NPP(nuclear power plant) using electromagnetic FEM(finite element method) was performed. To obtain the electromagnetic characteristics of probes, the governing equation was derived from Maxwell's equation, and the problem was solved by using the 3-dimensional FEM. The types of defects were FBH(flat bottomed hole) and OD groove, Spiral groove, natural defects(pitting, SCC, multiple SCC, wear). The depth of FBH defects were 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, 100 of SG tube thickness, and it was assumed that the defects were located on the tube outside. And the operation frequency of 100kHz, 300kHz and 400kHz were used. Material of specimen was Inconel 600 which is usually used for SG tubes in NPP. The signal difference could be observed according to the variation of size and depth on FBH defects and operation frequencies. The results in this paper can be helpful when the ECT signals from EC array probe are evaluated and analyzed.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.353-361
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• 2004

Propagation of the guided waves in a steam generator (SG) tube was investigated. Dispersion curves and the incident angles corresponding to the specific modes were calculated for the SG tube. The modes of guided wave were identified by time-frequency diagrams obtained by short time Fourier transform. Group velocities were also determined from the time-frequency diagrams obtained at the different separations of transducers. In experiment. distinct mode conversion was not observed when the guided ultrasound passed curved region of the S/G tube. The optimum mode of guided wave for the inspection of SG tube was suggested and verified by experiments.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.400-408
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• 2003

This paper investigates the vibration characteristics of steam generator (SG) U-tubes with defect. The operating SG shell-side flow field conditions for determining the fluidelastic instability parameters such as added mass are obtained from three-dimensional SG flow calculation. Modal analyses are performed for the U-tubes either with axial or circumferential flaw with different sizes. Special emphases are on the effects of flaw orientation and size on the modal and instability characteristics of tubes, which are expressed in terms of the natural frequency, corresponding mode shape and stability ratio. Also, addressed is the effect of the internal pressure on the vibration characteristics of the tube.