The Development And Application Of A Novel Camera System For Visual Inspection Of Graphite Fuel Channels At Magnox Nuclear Power Stations

摘要

Remote visual inspection of channels in graphite bricks in Magnox reactor cores has become a vital part of the safety-case for continued operation of these power stations.rnThis paper gives a brief summary of the history of graphite inspection and the challenges faced inspecting the internal bore of a fuel (or control rod) channel 100 mm diameter and 8 m high in a hazardous and highly radioactive environment.rnThe concept of a radical new design of inspection system, incorporating a conical mirror to provide a full 360-degree circumferential view, is introduced. The challenges of turning a concept into a viable working system in a short period of time whilst keeping key stakeholders on board are described.rnThe system has gone through several stages of evolution following initial on-site operations and has now completed the detailed visual inspection of thousands of fuel channels in Magnox reactors across the UK.rnThe results from this camera system have been important in supporting the continued safe operation of Magnox reactors.