Problem
- in power plants failure to detect defects in superheated steam pipe results in a catastrophic failure
- a typical electricity power plant of 500 MW (both nuclear and conventional) has up to ~4 kilometres of pipe work carrying superheated steam.
- Cracks (due to creep and fatigue) are generated particularly in pipe welds and if undiscovered, may grow until the pipe ruptures.
Proposed Solution
- to develop a long range ultrasonic system with high temperature capability for continuous in service inspection and structural health monitoring of steam pipes in power generation plants.
Proposed Objectives
- to determine by modelling the optimum LRU mode at normal and elevated temperatures
- to produce LRU transducer collar arrays that can operate at temperatures of up to 580°C
- to produce an LRU pulser-receiver that can operate multiple LRU transducer collar arrays
- to develop software that will perform trend analysis on data received continuously over long time periods
More info at http://www.hotscan.eu/project/index.jsp