Main requirements for acoustic emission test systems in nuclear power engineering

Listed are the main elements and units of WWER type power reactor, requiring special attention at developing a perspective method of acoustic emission (AE) testing. Among the main reasons for defect formation in metal constructions of the reactor facility considered are the following ones: radiation effect, corrosion processes, cyclic stress effect, temperature effect. Classification of the AE testing system is presented, and the main requirements for the mentioned systems relatively to the conditions of atomic energy are considered. Described are noise characteristics, occurring at AE testing of NPP equipment. The main data on AE sound wave propagation of different types in solid bodies are given