Device for inspecting a fuel rod assembly in the pool of a nuclear plant and corresponding inspection method
AssigneeElectricite de France
InventorsRichard Cauvin, Denis Tessier
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to a device for inspecting a fuel assembly in the pool of a nuclear plant, that comprises an image sensor with an observation field, and further comprising a boom with at least one removable fastener to the assembly, a reference graduation extending along an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the assembly, so that the image sensor can monitor within its field both the boom and the assembly. The device is designed so that the boom can be removably attached to the fuel assembly when the latter is suspended outside the pool by the hook of the machine for handling the fuel assemblies. The invention also relates to a corresponding method.
Claims12
A device for inspecting a fuel assembly in a pool of a nuclear plant equipped with a grapnel for displacing and suspending the assembly in the pool, comprising:
- an image sensor including a field of observation, and
- a boom including a reference graduation extending along an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the assembly,
- so that the image sensor may observe in its field both the boom and the assembly,
- wherein the boom includes removable means for fastening it to the assembly, when the assembly is suspended in the pool by the grapnel.
A method for inspecting at least one fuel assembly in a pool of a nuclear plant, equipped with a grapnel for displacing and suspending the assembly in the pool, comprising:
- mounting an image sensor including a field of observation, in proximity to the assembly,
- said method being characterized in that it further includes steps according to which:
- removably fastening a boom including a reference graduation and extending along an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the assembly to the assembly, when the assembly is suspended in the pool by the grapnel, and
- observing via the image sensor both the boom and the assembly in its field.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.