3D RFEC simulations for the in-service inspection of steam generator tubes in fast breeder reactors

Mihalache, O. ; Yamaguchi, Toshihiko ; Ueda, Masashi ; Miyahara, Shinya  

In FBR, one of the techniques used in the ISI of magnetic steam generator (SG) tubes is the remote field eddy current technique (RF-ECT). The SG tubes, made of 2.25Cr-1Mo alloy, are very long, including several parts with helical, bent and straight shape. The longer parts of these tubes are fixed in a helical shape-structure using multiple support plates (SP) which are also ferromagnetic. The complicated shape of the SP and multiple connections of several tubes to the SP can be quantitatively analyzed only by a 3-dimensional analysis, in order to evaluate the influences in the ECT signal due to the close proximity of the SG tubes. Also, the tube curvature and additionally the presence of sodium on the outer tube surface induces supplementary effects. The paper presents 3D finite element simulations of the SG inspection using RF-ECT. It is evaluated the influences of the SG tubes curvature on the eddy current sensor signal.