Electromagnetic non-destructive testing of the graphite core in advanced gas cooled reactors.
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Manchester
Department Name: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Abstract
The graphite moderators used in UK's advanced gas cooled nuclear reactors (AGRs) become degraded over time due to radiolytic oxidation and neutron bombardment, reducing the density of the brick. This can eventually lead to crack formation. This project extends EDF's research in using Eddy current spectroscopy in crack detection through profiling the moderator's conductivity, which is correlated with the brick density.
The aim of this research is to investigate novel electromagnetic techniques based on eddy currents for profiling electrical conductivity, especially when the probe only has access from one side of the test piece. The techniques will exploit advanced signal processing and electromagnetic inversion algorithms and will use the AGR application as a case study. It is expected that the methodology could be more broadly applied to other eddy inspection problems where surface properties are important such as coating and surface processing.
The aim of this research is to investigate novel electromagnetic techniques based on eddy currents for profiling electrical conductivity, especially when the probe only has access from one side of the test piece. The techniques will exploit advanced signal processing and electromagnetic inversion algorithms and will use the AGR application as a case study. It is expected that the methodology could be more broadly applied to other eddy inspection problems where surface properties are important such as coating and surface processing.
Planned Impact
NDE is an important and growing sector, engaging product suppliers and service companies which deliver high impact in terms of safety, asset value maximization and competitive benefit to client industries. NDE is thus an essential enabling technology for end-users across a wide range of sectors, and NDE research is needed to facilitate new engineering designs and materials for both high value manufacturing, as well as for asset management and life extension of existing infrastructure.
Immediate impact will be with the industrial partners where research engineers (REs) will be placed and where many will be ultimately employed. These include the majority of the UK power, oil & gas, nuclear, defence, aerospace and transportation industries. They will benefit through more efficient and safer operation, fewer interruptions to production, reduced wastage, less outage time, and the ability to support new engineering developments. The IDC will build on emerging links with the TSB Catapult centres and with EPSRC manufacturing research centres to maximise the impact of NDE research in these areas. The new IDC will see more RE placements with supply chain companies who will benefit from the growth opportunities afforded by advanced NDE instrumentation and services. The recruitment of high achieving engineers will contribute to rejuvenation of an ageing workforce as well as the need to introduce new engineering skills and capability.
At a national level, improved NDE capability not only underpins key growth areas such as high value manufacturing and energy, but is also crucial to public safety. Ultimately the whole UK economy will benefit through greater efficiency and less down-time, and UK society through increased safety and reduced environmental risk.
Many of the beneficiaries are existing collaborators, who have been engaged regularly through the UK Research Centre in NDE (RCNDE), an industry-university collaboration, whose hub is at Imperial College. 16 major end-user members of RCNDE are represented by NDEvR, the Industrial Partner in a Strategic Partnership with EPSRC. Through NDEvR, RCNDE now has 30 Associate members from the supply chain (many of them SMEs) to stimulate technology transfer. NDEvR has developed a 5,10 & 20 year vision for research needs across a range of market sectors and the IDC programme will be directed at these priorities.
The biggest impact challenge to NDE is addressing the technology transfer gap between research and industrial application, hence the focus here on placing the majority of REs in projects that include technology translation, addressing goals in the 5 and 10 year NDE vision. There is significant longer term impact (matching the NDE 10 and 20 year vision) to be derived from new laboratory research involving quantitative methods as discussed in the case for support, and these too will be addressed by REs.
Impact will be maximised by focused communication and engagement activities between academic partners and industry. These will include 3 plenary meetings and research review annually, typically 3 technology readiness workshops, university visits by industrialists and industrial visits by academics and REs. REs will progressively become part of this engagement process during their training.
The partner universities are already engaged with intermediary organisations such as trainers, and these links will be expanded. Thus individual members play leading roles in professional institutions including the British Institute of NDT, vital for effective dissemination because the majority of the exploiters of NDE research are members.
REs will engage in outreach programmes to raise the profile of engineering in schools and promote the public understanding of NDE, for example through exhibits at science festivals, secondment and publications in the wider media.
Immediate impact will be with the industrial partners where research engineers (REs) will be placed and where many will be ultimately employed. These include the majority of the UK power, oil & gas, nuclear, defence, aerospace and transportation industries. They will benefit through more efficient and safer operation, fewer interruptions to production, reduced wastage, less outage time, and the ability to support new engineering developments. The IDC will build on emerging links with the TSB Catapult centres and with EPSRC manufacturing research centres to maximise the impact of NDE research in these areas. The new IDC will see more RE placements with supply chain companies who will benefit from the growth opportunities afforded by advanced NDE instrumentation and services. The recruitment of high achieving engineers will contribute to rejuvenation of an ageing workforce as well as the need to introduce new engineering skills and capability.
At a national level, improved NDE capability not only underpins key growth areas such as high value manufacturing and energy, but is also crucial to public safety. Ultimately the whole UK economy will benefit through greater efficiency and less down-time, and UK society through increased safety and reduced environmental risk.
Many of the beneficiaries are existing collaborators, who have been engaged regularly through the UK Research Centre in NDE (RCNDE), an industry-university collaboration, whose hub is at Imperial College. 16 major end-user members of RCNDE are represented by NDEvR, the Industrial Partner in a Strategic Partnership with EPSRC. Through NDEvR, RCNDE now has 30 Associate members from the supply chain (many of them SMEs) to stimulate technology transfer. NDEvR has developed a 5,10 & 20 year vision for research needs across a range of market sectors and the IDC programme will be directed at these priorities.
The biggest impact challenge to NDE is addressing the technology transfer gap between research and industrial application, hence the focus here on placing the majority of REs in projects that include technology translation, addressing goals in the 5 and 10 year NDE vision. There is significant longer term impact (matching the NDE 10 and 20 year vision) to be derived from new laboratory research involving quantitative methods as discussed in the case for support, and these too will be addressed by REs.
Impact will be maximised by focused communication and engagement activities between academic partners and industry. These will include 3 plenary meetings and research review annually, typically 3 technology readiness workshops, university visits by industrialists and industrial visits by academics and REs. REs will progressively become part of this engagement process during their training.
The partner universities are already engaged with intermediary organisations such as trainers, and these links will be expanded. Thus individual members play leading roles in professional institutions including the British Institute of NDT, vital for effective dissemination because the majority of the exploiters of NDE research are members.
REs will engage in outreach programmes to raise the profile of engineering in schools and promote the public understanding of NDE, for example through exhibits at science festivals, secondment and publications in the wider media.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Anthony Peyton (Primary Supervisor) | |
| Joel Hampton (Student) |