METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING OF FAILED FUEL RODS BY THE USE OF ENERGY WAVE ATTENUATION

摘要

The method and apparatus according to the invention relates to the measurement of the stresses generated by the internal gas pressure of the fuel rods in the coating of the nuclear fuel rods. This is done by determining the attenuation rate of two specific frequencies from the broadband low frequency acoustic energy spectrum. The relative pressure difference is measurable, so the loss of nuclear fuel rod gas pressure is a direct indicator of failure of the nuclear fuel rod sheath.