Method for controlling a nuclear fuel pencil

摘要

An electromagnetic induction detector ( 9 ) is used to check the weld ( 6 ) of a plug ( 3 ) to a nuclear fuel cladding ( 2 ) still containing a spring ( 5 ). A weld made using an excessive energy weakens the metallurgical structure of the spring ( 5 ) which may reduce the electromagnetic coupling and the signal recorded by the detector ( 9 ). A comparison between the peak values of the signal and the plateau value of the signal gives a criterion for estimating the quality of the fuel rods ( 1 ).