High-temperature ultrasonic thickness monitoring for pipe thinning in a flow-accelerated corrosion proof test facility

• Published in: Nuclear engineering and technology Vol. 49; no. 7; pp. 1463 - 1471
• Main Authors: Cheong, Yong-Moo, Kim, Kyung-Mo, Kim, Dong-Jin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.10.2017; Elsevier; 한국원자력학회
• Subjects: FAC (Flow Accelerated Corrosion); High Temperature Pipe Thinning; Structural Health Monitoring; Ultrasonic Thickness Monitoring; Ultrasonic Waveguide; 원자력공학; Ultrasonic Thickness Monitoring; Structural Health Monitoring; High Temperature Pipe Thinning; FAC (Flow Accelerated Corrosion); Ultrasonic Waveguide
• ISSN: 1738-5733; 2234-358X; 2234-358X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.net.2017.05.002

In order to monitor the pipe thinning caused by flow-accelerated corrosion (FAC) that occurs in coolant piping systems, a shear horizontal ultrasonic pitch-catch waveguide technique was developed for accurate pipe wall thickness monitoring. A clamping device for dry coupling contact between the end of the waveguide and pipe surface was designed and fabricated. A computer program for multi-channel on-line monitoring of the pipe thickness at high temperature was also developed. Both a four-channel buffer rod pulse-echo type and a shear horizontal ultrasonic waveguide type for high-temperature thickness monitoring system were successfully installed to the test section of the FAC proof test facility. The overall measurement error can be estimated as ± 10 μm during a cycle from room temperature to 200°C.