Development of acoustic leak detection/location system for sodium heated steam generators of FBR

An experimental and analytical study was made of an acoustic location and detection system of water leakage into sodium for use with steam generators. This system uses an array of acoustic sensors mounted onto the outside of the steam generator vessel and makes it possible to detect a small leak even if in a noisy environment. In this method, the position of sound source is assumed in an observing space and the power of sound from each source is estimated by the sum of cross spectra between every pair of sensor outputs. This procedure is repeated scanning all over the assumed points and the leak is detected if the power peak is observed continuously. This method was proved to be put into practice by computer simulations and model experiments. (author)