Wet channel measurement of pressure tube to calandria tube spacing in CANDU reactors

The pressure tube (PT) to calandria tube (CT) spacing in CANDU reactors is an important parameter that relates to the general condition of the fuel channels. The measurement system that was developed to measure this parameter during the wet channel inspections of Pickering Units 1 and 2 is described in this paper. A send-receive eddy current probe was designed which is primarily sensitive to variations in PT/CT spacing but is also affected by pressure tube wall thickness. A computer simulation showed that the phase angles of the response to these variables are similar for all usable frequencies, thus eliminating the possibility of multifrequency compensation. A marriage of technologies was proposed involving the ultrasonic measurement of wall thickness values which are then used to extract the spacing information from the eddy current signal. The accuracy of the system is approximately ±(30% +.1mm) which has been sufficient to determine if and where any of the pressure tubes have come in contact with their calandria tube. Field experience with the new system is discussed and areas for development are also outlined