Method and device for inspecting a fuel element in a nuclear reactor
AssigneeFramatome ANP GmbH
InventorsMartin Beier, Wolfgang Hummel, Wolfram Kindlein, Jürgen Uckert
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Abstract
A method for inspecting an irradiated fuel element in a nuclear power plant includes the step of measuring, with a measuring device, a spacer of a fuel element for providing measurements of the spacer. The measuring device also measures a calibration rod for providing measurements of the calibration rod, the calibration rod having known dimensions. The measurements of the spacer are calibrated by using the measurements of the calibration rod. It is possible thereby to measure at least the maximum width of the spacer with a measuring error of less than 20 μm. A device for inspecting an irradiated fuel element in a nuclear power plant is also provided.
Claims21
A method for inspecting an irradiated fuel element having a spacer with two outer surfaces in a nuclear power plant, the method which comprises:
- measuring, with a measuring device, a respective relative position of the two outer surfaces of the spacer of the fuel element;
- measuring, with the measuring device, a calibration rod for providing measurements of the calibration rod, the calibration rod having known dimensions;
- and
- calibrating, with a computing device connected to the measuring device, the measurements of the spacer by comparing the measurements of the calibration rod with the known dimensions of the calibration rod.
A method for inspecting an irradiated fuel element having a spacer with two outer surfaces in a nuclear power plant, the method which comprises:
- measuring, with a measuring device, a respective relative position of the two outer surfaces of the spacer of the fuel element;
- measuring, with the measuring device, a calibration rod for providing measurements of the calibration rod, the calibration rod having known dimensions;
- and
- calibrating the measurements of the spacer by comparing the measurements of the calibration rod with the known dimensions of the calibration rod.
A device for inspecting an irradiated fuel element having a spacer with two outer surfaces, comprising:
- a measuring device having a calibration rod with known dimensions, said measuring device being directed toward the two outer surfaces of the spacer and said calibration rod for forming measuring values defining relative positions of the outer surfaces and said calibration rod;
- and
- a computing device connected to said measuring device for calibrating the measurements of the spacer by comparing the measurements of the calibration rod with a known dimensions of the calibration rod.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.