• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.253-258
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• 2004

To get accurate information about the defect from the test signal, NDT engineers should have a good knowledge on forward problems. Such knowledge is usually obtained by a lot of testing experiences. Another why of obtaining such knowledge is to build a database containing lots of defect information and their corresponding signals. However, the archiving of raw test data would require a lot of storage space. In this paper, an economic way of storing signals is studied by using Fourier descriptors. Instead of saving raw signal data, Fourier descriptors are saved and the storage spare is reduced. Of course, the defect signal can be reconstructed from the stored descriptors. By using differential ECT signals produced by numerical modeling and experiment, the savings of 85% from the original signal and $57{\sim}65%$ from the filtered signal in the storage space were confirmed. The similarity of the reconstructed signal and the original signal was also demonstrated. This Fourier descriptor approach could contribute significantly in building differential signal databases.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.20-24
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• 2015

Steam generator(S/G) tubes in pressurized water reactor (PWR's) are subject to several types of degradation. This degradation includes denting, pitting, intergranular attack(IGA), intergranular stress corrosion cracking(IGSCC), fatigue, fretting and wear. Degradation can be derived from either the primary side(inside) or the secondary side(outside) of the tube. Recent issue for tube degradation in domestic steam generator is the tube end cracking on seal weld region. The seal weld region at the tube end and tube itself is regarded as a pressure boundary between the primary side and the secondary side. One of the Westinghouse Model-F S/G has experienced tube end cracking and its number of plugging approximately becomes to the operating limit up to 5% due to tube end cracking which was reported as SAI/MAI(single/multiple axial indication) or SCI/MCI(Single/multiple circumferential indication) from the results of eddy current testing. Eddy current mock-up test was carried out to determine the origin of cracking whether it is from weld zone area or parent tube. This result was helpful to analyze crack location on ECT data. Correct action on this problem was the installation of tube-end sleeve. Last year, after removing 340 installed plugs from tubes, selected 269 tubes took tube-end sleeve installation. Tube-end sleeve brought pressure boundary from parent tube to installed sleeve tube. Tube-end sleeve has the benefit of reducing outage period and increasing more revenue than replacing S/G. This paper is provided to assist interest parties in effectively understanding this issue.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.426-432
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• 1999

A plus-point eddy current test(ECT) probe was developed to examine the defects on the welds of pumps, valves, and pipings which are the major components of the electric power plants, non-destructive evaluation (NDE) techniques for detecting and sizing the flaws were studied adapting this probe. Differential plus-point ECT probe is consists of two "I"-type coils crossed each other and has an advantage having a small influence on the sensitivity by lift-off variation to the conventional types of probe. The specimens with crack-like electro discharge machining(EDM) notches on the weld of type 304 stainless-steel were fabricated in order to evaluate the plus-point ECT probe response to the flaws. NDE techniques to detect and size the flaws and estimate the flaw type were established with this specimens.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.84-91
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• 2016

The transport and deposition of corrosion products in pressurized water nuclear reactor (PWR) steam generators have led to corrosion (SCC, denting etc.) problems. Lancing, mechanical cleaning and chemical cleaning have been used to reduce these problems. The methods of lancing and mechanical cleaning have limitations in removing corrosion products due to the structure of steam generator tubes. But high temperature chemical cleaning (HTCC) with EDTA is the most effective method to remove corrosion products regardless of the structure. However, EDTA in chemical cleaning aqueous solution and chemical cleaning environments affects the integrity of materials used in steam generators. The nuclear power plants have to perform the pre-test (also called as qualification test (QT)) that confirms the effect on the integrity of materials after HTCC. This is one of the series studies that assess the effect, and this study determines the effects of 20 % EDTA aqueous solution on defective tubes in high temperature chemical cleaning environments. The depth and magnitude of defects in steam generator (SG) tubes were measured by eddy current test (ECT) signals. Surface analysis and magnitude of defects were performed by using SEM/EDS. Corrosion rate was assessed by weight loss of specimens. The ECT signals (potential and depth %) of defective tubes increased marginally. But the lengths of defects, oxides on the surface and weights of specimens did not change. The average corrosion rate of standard corrosion specimens was negligible. But the surfaces on specimens showed traces of etching. The depth of etching showed a range on the nanometer. After comprehensive evaluation of all the results, it is concluded that 20 % EDTA aqueous solution in high temperature chemical cleaning environments does not have a negative effect on defective tubes.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.315-324
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• 2004

In eddy current testing(ECT), differential probes have been frequently used since they .an reduce the number of parameters that influence ECT signals. However, differential signal is actually the difference of the two coils' impedance so that signal prediction and interpretation are not easy, On the other hand, absolute coil signal is rather straightforward to predict and analyze. Therefore, combined use of the two types of signals would increase the test reliability. In this paper, absolute coil signals from Inconel plate and tubes are predicted by the finite element analysis and efforts of lift-off, fill-factor, conductivity, operating frequency, test specimen thickness, inner diameter defects, and outer diameter defects are investigated. As a result, various impedance plane diagrams are drawn and analyzed. Significant practical knowldege about absolute signals is accumulated and similar characteristics of the two types of signal could be understood. Finally, slope angle versus defect depth calibration corves are prepared for three different frequencies.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.450-457
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• 2009

Periodical thermal shock can introduce defects in thermal barrier coating made by layers of CoNiCrAlY bond coating(BC) and $ZrO_2-8wt%Y_2O_3$ ceramic top coating(TC) on Inconel-738 substrate using plasma spraying. Thermal shock test is performed by severe condition that is to heat until $1000^{\circ}C$ and cool until $20^{\circ}C$. As the number of cycle is increased, the fatigue by thermal shock is also increased. After test, the micro-structures and mechanical characteristics of thermal barrier coating were investigated by SEM, XRD. The TGO layer of $Al_2O_3$ is formed between BC and TC by periodical thermal shock test, and its change in thickness is inspected by eddy current test(ECT). By ECT test, it is shown that TGO and micro-crack can be detected and it is possible to predict the life of thermal barrier coating.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Illuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.159-165
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• 2008

In this paper the signal analysis of eddy current test using transmit-receive(T/R) pancake coil of ECT array probe using electromagnetic finite element method(FEM) is performed. For characteristics analysis, the notch defect is used. The depth of defect is 40[%] of steam generator tube thickness, and inside defect and outside defect are used as simulation examples. The signal analysis is performed according to the variation of receive coil position. The receive coil is positioned $0[^{\circ}]$, $30[^{\circ}]$, $60[^{\circ}]$, $90[^{\circ}]$ of circumferential position of transmit coil. To obtain e electromagnetic characteristics of robes, the governing equation is derived from Maxwell's equations, and the problem is solved using the 3-dimensional finite element method. The signal magnitude of inside defect is bigger than that of outside defect, and the signal difference can be seen according to the variation of position of receive coil. The experimental signal and numerical signal of ASME standard tube show similar results. The results in this paper can be helpful when the ECT signals from ECT array probe are evaluated and analyzed.

• 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.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.30 no.2
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• pp.155-161
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• 2010

Recently, the electromagnetic techniques of 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. 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 this study, the synthesizer module and the analog module which are essential to the ECT system were primarily developed. The developed ECT system is basically a multifrequency type which is able to inject the maximum four frequencies based on the frequency and time domain multiplexing method. Conclusively, we confirmed that the EC signal was processed appropriately in each circuit modules, and the Lissajous EC signal was displayed in the impedance plane.