VISUAL INSPECTION TECHNIQUES FOR NUCLEAR APPLICATIONS
J. N. Kayal, B. B. Rupani and R. K. Sinha
Reactor Engineering Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai 400 085, India
Keywords: Visual inspection; video system; radiation environment; lighting; nonbrowning optics
ABSTRACT Visual inspection techniques have been proven to be immensely useful tools for accomplishing the tasks of carrying out remote inspection in nuclear radiation areas having very limited access. Visual inspection is used as a part of comprehensive in-service inspection plan during annual shut down of nuclear reactors. It has also been used for generating inputs for planned as well as unplanned maintenance and repair work. These techniques have also helped in establishing the gross condition and health of reactor components. Such tasks have also been successfully performed for the radiation source of a food irradiator. The paper describes mainly the inspection activities carried out using miniature radiation resistant video inspection system. The effect and requirements of optics and lighting for various conditions during the inspection are discussed. The design and development of hardware needed for carrying out these tasks remotely in radiation environments have also been elaborated. Major constraints posed due to limited access and in scaling the images/indications and during interpretation are highlighted.
Publication Source: Trends in NDE Science & Technology; Proceedings of the 14th World Conference on Non-Destructive Testing, New Delhi, 8-13 December 1996.full paper not received
Publisher: Ashgate Publishing Company
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