A co-operative project between Ignalina nuclear power plant and Ultrasound Institute
Contract No.: 6279
The objective of the project
To develop the instrumentation to measure diameter and the wall thickness of the zirconium tubes in the RBMK-1500 type reactors at Ignalina NPP.
The necessity to measure
Nuclear fuel pellets are loaded into zirconium tubes, which are assembled into bundles. These bundies are loaded in the zirconium tubes of the technical channels. The heat exchange between the fuel bundies and surrounding water flow takes place. The dimensions of the zirconium tubes during operation time are changed. In order to fulfil high safety requirements, dimensions of the tubes should be periodically checked.
Main features of the zirconium tube meter
- Diameter and wall thickness measurements with uncertainty of ±50 μm;
- Performance in high radioactivity conditions and temperatures up to 100°C;
- Measurement control and data acquisition using remote PC;
- Processing and filtering of acquired data.
Related information
- R. Kažys, L. Mažeika, R. Šliteris, A. Vladišauskas, A. Voleišis and K. Kundrotas. Ultrasonic measurement of zirconium tubes used in channel-type nuclear reactors. NDT & E International. 1996. Vol. 29. No. 1. P. 37-49. /pdf/
- L.Mažeika, R.Šliteris, A. Voleišis, K.Kundrotas, V.Kiseliov. The measurements of the zirconium tubes parameters in the RBMK reactors. Ultragarsas. 1996. Vol. 26. No.1. p.15-16. /pdf/
