• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.258-267
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• 2015

Eddy current testing is widely used for inspecting steam generator tubing in nuclear power plants (NPPs). The inspection technique for steam generator tubing in NPPs should be qualified in accordance with examination guidelines. When the components of a qualified system such as eddy current tester, probe, and data analysis program, are changed, the equivalency of the modified system to the originally qualified system must be verified. The eddy current tester is the most important part of an eddy current testing system because it excites and transmits alternating currents to the probe, receives coil impedance of the probe and generates signals for anomalies. The Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., Ltd. (KHNP) developed an eddy current testing system with an eddy current tester and data acquisition-analysis program for inspecting the steam generator tubing in NPPs; this system can be used for an array probe and as a bobbin and rotating probes. The equivalency assessment for the currently developed system was carried out, and we describe the results in this paper.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.40-47
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• 2013

The capacity factor of nuclear power plant in Korea is the highest level in the world. However, the integrity assessment of nuclear power plant is depended on foreign country. Especially, most eddy current testing systems for inspecting steam generators in nuclear power plant are currently imported from USA, Canada, and so on. Therefore, the eddy current testing system can react more active and adaptive from economic and managerial standpoint for actual nuclear power plants in Korea is required. In this paper, an eddy current testing system for inspecting steam generators in nuclear power plants is introduced. Frequency generator, analog circuit, analog digital converter circuit, and digital control circuit are composed in eddy current testing system. A benchmarking of acquisition system and acquisition software, eddynet 11i made by Zetec, and modifications are carried out based on the test environment of Korea nuclear power plants. Finally, all eddy current apparatus are integrated to inspect steam generator tubes in nuclear power plants.

• Journal of international Conference on Electrical Machines and Systems
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.412-418
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• 2012

Eddy current brakes are electromechanical devices used as variable mechanical loads for testing electrical machines. Accurate modeling of eddy current loss is an important t factor for optimum design of eddy brake systems. In this second part, we propose novel formulations of eddy current loss in novel claw-pole eddy brake system. The proposed model for eddy current loss in novel claw-pole eddy brake system depends on the size of the claw poles. Also, in this paper, the flux density is measured by using the magnetic circuit of the novel claw pole. The model results are compared with experimental results and they are found to be in good agreement.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.24 no.6
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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 Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.203-210
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• 1998

An experimental study of an eddy current nondestructive testing system to measure dimensions of cylindrical metallic rods, such as cross-sectional area or diameter, is presented. Impedance characteristics of a solenoid sensor, which are generally based on Maxwell's equations in electromagnetic field, are briefly discussed for inspecting geometrical parameters of the coil sensor and testing materials. A measurement system for detecting the diameter of the metallic rod is implemented. This instrument has capabilities for detecting the sensor output signals and estimating demensions of the testing material, continuously. As a result, it was shown that the eddy current sensor with an encircling coil could estimate the diameter of metallic rod. The implemented measurement system gives accurate information for inspecting the dimension of conducting rod with good sensitivity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Technology Engineers
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.306-312
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• 2017

Press rolls are constantly exposed to physical and heat stresses on their surface and are prone to crack, bruise, and spall if the accumulated stress goes beyond the critical point. Such surface phenomenon can cause them to lose their functionality and eventually lead to a halted production line. Eddy current testing can be considered a useful method to investigate the surface of the roll. The method involves the application of a high intensity magnetic field onto the surface of the roll, and thereby finding any early stage of possible defects. When the method was applied for roll inspection, the cross section of the sensor was regulated as per the overall testing speed. A smaller cross sectional area implied a better resolution but a longer testing time. In this paper, a convenient method to increase both overall system resolution and inspection speed of eddy current roll inspection is suggested by using a devised array sensor structure.

• 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.33 no.5
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• pp.465-471
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• 2013

A steam generator in nuclear power plant is a heatexchager which is used to convert water into steam from heat produced in a nuclear reactor core, and the steam produced in steam generator is delivered to the turbine to generate electricity. Because of damage to steam generator tubing may impair its ability to adequately perform required safety functions in terms of both structural integrity and leakage integrity, eddy current testing is periodically performed to evaluate the integrity of tubes in steam generator. This assessment is normally performed during a reactor refueling outage. Currently, the eddy current testing for steam generator of nuclear power plant in Korea is performed in accordance with KEPIC & ASME Code requirements, the eddy current testing system is consists of remote data acquisition unit and data analysis program to evaluate the acquired data. The KEPIC & ASME Code require that the electrical properties of remote data acquisition unit, such as total harmonic distortion, input & output impedance, amplifier linearity & stability, phase linearity, bandwidth & demodulation filter response, analog-to-digital conversion, and channel crosstalk shall be measured in accordance with the KEPIC & ASME Code requirements. In this paper, the measurement requirements of electrical properties for eddy current testing instrument described in KEPIC & ASME Code are presented, and the measurement results of newly developed eddy current testing instrument by KHNP(Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., LTD) are presented.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.13-19
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• 2015

Steam generator is one of the most important component of nuclear power plant, and it's integrity and reliability are to be assured to high level by pre-service inspection and in-service inspection. To improve the reliability of steam generator heat exchanger tubes and to secure the management of nuclear power plant safely, KHNP CRI recently has developed eddy current testing system for steam generator. KHNP CRI have performed a series of experimental verification and field application to confirm the performance of the developed ECT system in accordance with ASME Code requirements. The ECT system consists of a remote data acquisition unit, an ECT signal acquisition and analysis software, a water chamber robot controller and a probe push-puller. In this paper, we will details of the developed ECT system and the software and their experimental performance. And also we will report the field applying performance and the issues for further steps.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.356-363
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• 2003

An eddy current testing system was developed for detection of flaws in the ferromagnetic steel tubes. Because the eddy current signals from the ferromagnetic steel tubes could be distorted easily due to an irregularity of magnetic permeability, magnetic saturation is required to suppress this variation of magnetic fields. A magnetic saturation probe with the Hemholtz coil was designed for the inspection of the steel tubes. The bandwidth pass filters were adapted to minimize the noise from the DC magnetization. When using the designed test probe, the flaw signals could be discriminated from the noise. The system was tested at the production line and showed a capability of detecting flaws, like a drilled hole of the diameter of 2.0mm at the moving speed of 1m/sec.