On-line 4-face colour CCD fuel inspection during off-load

In 2003 Ahlberg Electronics AB delivered the patent pending 4-face fuel inspection system to the Ringhals nuclear power plant in Sweden. It was followed by implementations in South Korea (from 2004) and in the US (from 2006).The utilities demands were to implement a radiation tolerant underwater colour CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) camera system for simultaneous on-line inspection of all four faces of fuel assemblies during off-load without affecting the critical path. The collected information is used as an important tool for immediate detection of fuel with spacer damages, debris and for direct selection of fuel that is subject for further examination, and for deciding whether the fuel is removed, repaired or loaded back to the core