Ultrasonic testing techniques for inspection of BWR internal components welds

As nuclear power plants age, the importance of maintenance increases and there is a need to apply inspection technologies suitable to importance of each item of equipment. In boiling water reactors, advanced inspection technologies are expected for internal components, i.e. shroud supports with complex-shaped Ni-based alloy welds. As an inspection technology for field inspection of the shroud supports phased array technology has been mainly developed for sizing of Stress Corrosion Crackings accessed from the Reactor Pressure Vessel outer diameter side and inter diameter side. (author)