Deployment of Pulsed Eddy Current as an Inspection Tool for Nuclear Power Plants Vincent DEMERS-CARPENTIER 1 , Maxime ROCHETTE 1 , Marc GRENIER 1 , Charles TREMBLAY 1 , Marco Michele SISTO 1 , Florian HARDY 1 , Martin TURGEON 1 1 Eddyfi, 2800 rue Louis-Lumière, bureau 100, Québec (Québec), G1P 0A4, Canada Phone: (418) 780-1565 ; e-mail: mturgeon@eddyfi.com Abstract Pulsed Eddy Current (PEC) has been successfully deployed over the last decades for a variety of corrosion- related applications, most notably for Corrosion Under Insulation (CUI) inspections, Corrosion Under Fireproofing (CUF) and Flow Accelerated Corrosion (FAC). This technology has proven to be an efficient screening tool, allowing for detection of corrosion without having to remove coating or insulating material over typical pipes, tanks and vessels. However, the use of this technique has been largely focused on petrochemical applications. In the spring of 2016, a leading NDT service provider conducted a PEC inspection at a North American power plant using a new-generation instrument. This paper discusses the possibilities and limitations of the technology for addressing NDT needs specific to the nuclear power industry. Field results are presented and discussed, and performances are compared for further insight. Keywords: Pulsed Eddy Currents, Nuclear Power, Corrosion Under Insulation 1. Introduction Pulsed Eddy Currents (PEC) is a versatile non-destructive evaluation technique that can measure wall thickness of conductive components at high lift offs[1], [2]. As such, PEC is uniquely suited to detect corrosion under insulation, one of the most important unresolved issues facing the petrochemical industry today[3], [4]. Pulsed Eddy currents has been shown to work through weather jacket (or cladding) and presents major upsides compared to the brute force approach which consists in removing the insulation to perform a visual or ultrasounds inspection[5]. Insulated pipes and vessels are ubiquitous on oil refinery, therefore PEC has been used in a variety of applications[6], especially for inspections where X-rays radiography is inconvenient or down right impossible to use due to component geometry and placement. Recent advancements in PEC technology have contributed to a rapid expansion in the scope of its usage for a wide array of applications[7]. Comparatively, PEC adoption for the nuclear power generation industry has been slow despite the numerous potential benefits. Herein we present experimental data acquired using the PEC instrument developed by Eddyfi (the Lyft™) at a North American power plant and discuss how the technique can provide valuable insight for asset owners worldwide. PEC is best used as a screening tool owing to its ability to inspect in-service components through insulation and cladding. By allowing to identify corrosion areas outside of shutdown period, it permits the expansion of inspection scope and frequency without increasing its schedule. This broader screening permits a more focused application of complimentary quantitative methods such as radiography and ultrasounds during shutdowns. Lyft is a versatile tool that can inspect insulated pipes, vessels, steam lines, heat exchanger shells, essentially anything made of carbon steel for wall thickness up to 2.5’’ and insulation between 0 and 8’’ whether they are cladded in aluminum sheets or not. 2. Technical information A pulsed Eddy Currents measurements occurs in three distinct steps, as shown in Scheme 1. First the probe projects a strong magnetic field which fully penetrates the material and More info about this article: http://www.ndt.net/?id=20423