Nondestructive evaluation technologies at work in other industries could be successfully adapted to nuclear plant applications.

Solutions to nuclear plant inspection issues usually require the development and implementation of sophisticated nondestructive evaluation (NDE) techniques and tooling. The cost and time required for new NDE technology research and development, however, can be considerable.

To expand the pool of available options, EPRI is evaluating NDE technologies used in other industries to assess their value in addressing nuclear plant inspection issues. In many cases, materials degradation issues in other industries are similar to those found in nuclear components, indicating that NDE technologies may be similarly applicable as well. The advantage of applying proven technologies from other industries is that the cost and time to research and develop a new technology may be reduced. EPRI Reports 1019143 and 1021158, Nondestructive Evaluation: Assessment of NDE Technologies and Practices in Other Industries (Volumes 1 and 2), document the results of an evaluation of several technologies from other industries.

Use of fiber-optic to sensors for strain measurement on stress corrosion cracking mock-up.

Several of these evaluations have already evolved into follow-up projects. In 2009, for example, an evaluation of an NDE and inspection services vendor led to discussions with the Pipeline Research Council International (PRCI) organization. PRCI is a global collaborative for the energy pipeline industry that performs research to address issues like the degradation of buried piping. As a result of that initial investigation, EPRI has joined PRCI, gaining access to many technologies already being implemented by the energy pipeline industry. This relationship allows EPRI to deliver buried piping inspection solutions to nuclear plants in a more timely and cost-effective manner.

Fiber-optic sensors are used in industries such as aviation to measure strain and temperature on components under dynamic loading. EPRI personnel first observed fiber-optic sensors during wind turbine blade NDE testing at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's National Wind Test Center. EPRI recognized that such sensors could have value in nuclear applications. Research is in progress to use the sensors to measure the relaxation of containment post-tensioning tendons, which will provide a safer, better alternative to the current method for determining tendon tension. In addition, the sensors are being used to monitor crack growth and strain for early detection of stress corrosion cracking and creep in nuclear materials.

For more information, contact John Lindberg at 704-595-2625 or jlindberg@epri.com.