Modeling of eddy current NDE probe for steam generator tubes

Calculations were performed with a three-dimensional (3-D) finite-element model to describe the response of an eddy current (EC) probe to defects in steam generator (SG) tubing of a nuclear reactor. Such calculations could be very helpful in understanding and interpreting the EC probe response to complex tube/defect geometries associated with longitudinal inner/outer notches, roll transitions, sludge, and through-wall holes in SG tubes. The governing field equations are derived in terms of coupled magnetic vector and electric scalar potentials in the conducting media and total or reduced scalar potentials in the non-conducting regions. To assess the validity of the model, we compared the signal responses for two numerical approaches, stored-energy-and-power-loss approach and magnetic-flux approach for various tube/defect geometries. Simulation results are also presented on the tube/defect geometries for the pancake coil response and the transmitter/receiver (T/R) probe response. The results indicate that the eddy-current NDE modeling is capable of predicting EC probe response to flaws in steam generator tubes