Acoustic emission technique for leak detection in an end shield of a pressurised heavy water reactor

Kalyanasundaram, P and Jayakumar, T and Raj, B and Murthy, CRL and Krishnan, A (1989) Acoustic emission technique for leak detection in an end shield of a pressurised heavy water reactor. In: International Journal of Pressure Vessels and Piping, 36 (1). pp. 65-74.

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Abstract

This paper discusses a successful application of the Acoustic Emission Technique (AET) for the detection and location of leak paths present on an inaccessible side of an end shield of a Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR). The methodology was based on the fact that air- and water-leak AE signals have different characteristic features. Baseline data was generated from a sound end shield of a PHWR for characterising the background noise. A mock-up end shield system with saw-cut leak paths was used to verify the validity of the methodology. It was found that air-leak signals under pressurisation (as low as 3 psi) could be detected by frequency domain analysis. Signals due to air leaks from various locations of defective end shield were acquired and analysed. It was possible to detect and locate leak paths. The presence of detected leak paths was further confirmed by an alternative test.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	International Journal of Pressure Vessels and Piping
Publisher:	Elsevier Science
Additional Information:	Copyright of this article belongs to Elsevier Science.
Department/Centre:	Division of Mechanical Sciences > Aerospace Engineering(Formerly Aeronautical Engineering)
Date Deposited:	05 Aug 2010 11:00
Last Modified:	19 Sep 2010 06:13
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/31152

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