PROCEDIMIENTO DE DETECCION ACUSTICA DE CONJUNTOS COMBUSTIBLES DE UN REACTOR NUCLEAR QUE RESULTAN DEFECTUOSOS.

摘要

Gases contained in the sheaths of the fuel elements are made to expand in order to cause the escape of gas bubbles in the protective liquid into which the fuel assemblies are immersed. The progress of the gas bubbles in the protective liquid is arrested by means of a screen (1) located above the assembly and an acoustic phenomenon associated with the impact of the gas bubbles on the screen or with the accumulation of gas below the surface of the screen is recorded. The appearance of this acoustic phenomenon permits the detection of defective assemblies. The invention applies in particular to pressurized water nuclear reactors.