Method of detecting an existence of a loose part in a steam generator of a nuclear power plant

A method of non-destructively detecting an existence of a loose part within a steam generator of a nuclear power plant, the steam generator having a plurality of tubes within an interior thereof, the method comprising:

• detecting, via an eddy current sensor, a first eddy current indicative of an electromagnetic field through the eddy current sensor;
• generating, via the eddy current sensor, a first eddy current signal indicative of the detected eddy current;
• processing, via a processor, the first eddy current signal to detect a first signal anomaly at a first tube position along a first tube from among the plurality of tubes;
• converting the first tube position along the first tube into a three-dimensional first anomaly location within the interior of the steam generator;
• detecting, via the eddy current sensor, a second eddy current indicative of an electromagnetic field through the eddy current sensor;
• generating, via the eddy current sensor, a second eddy current signal indicative of the detected second eddy current;
• processing, via the processor, the second eddy current signal to detect a second signal anomaly at a second tube position along a second tube from among the plurality of tubes different from the first tube, and converting the second tube position along the second tube into a three-dimensional second anomaly location within the interior of the steam generator;
• comparing the first anomaly location and second anomaly location;
• determining that the first anomaly location and the second anomaly location are within a predetermined proximity of one another;
• determining that a loose part exists in the vicinity of the first and second anomaly locations based at least in part upon the first and second signal anomalies and the determination that the first anomaly location and the second anomaly location are within the predetermined proximity of one another;
• initiating an inspection of the steam generator in the vicinity of the first and second anomaly locations to determine a degree of damage that has occurred to at least one tube of the plurality of tubes;
• repairing the at least one tube of the plurality of tubes based on the inspection of the steam generator.