Automated analysis coverage verification (AACV)
View Patent ↗The invention relates to systems and methods for verifying complete analysis coverage in a steam generator tube inspection. The analysis is conducted by an automated analysis process. The process includes setup and analysis functions. Information is entered into the setup function to identify abnormalities to be inspected and to model the steam generator tubes. The verification includes employing a software verification program to detect and identify a gap within analysis coverage for a particular abnormality or set of abnormalities for which the steam generator tube is inspected, in a particular portion of the steam generator tube.
1. A system for verifying complete analysis coverage in a steam generator tube inspection, in a nuclear reactor plant, the system comprising:
a steam generator having a plurality of tubes;
an analytical tool to generate a plant-specific map of the plurality of tubes in the steam generator, to partition each of the plurality of tubes into a plurality of segments, to measure and record a length for each of the plurality of segments, and to conduct an analysis of each of the plurality of segments to selectively analyze for one or more abnormalities;
a computer coupled to the analytical tool to receive results of the analysis, to identify each of the plurality of segments that is inspected for the one or more abnormalities, to detect and identify each of the plurality of segments that is not inspected for the one or more abnormalities, and to generate a visual display showing the results of the analysis, wherein the visual display comprises:
a different visual indicator representing each of the one or more abnormalities;
a first column that identifies the plurality of segments and a character designation selected from the group consisting of numbers, letters and combinations thereof, corresponding to each of the plurality of segments; and
one or more additional columns being horizontally spaced apart from the first column and each of the one or more additional columns corresponding to each of the one or more abnormalities for which the steam generator tube is inspected,
wherein, when a segment of the plurality of segments is inspected for an abnormality of the one or more abnormalities, the visual indicator representing said abnormality appears in a column of the one or more additional columns corresponding to said abnormality, and said visual indicator is horizontally aligned with the character designation in the first column corresponding to said segment, and
wherein, when a segment of the plurality of segments is not inspected for an abnormality of the one or more abnormalities, the visual indicator representing said abnormality does not appear in a portion of a column of the one or more additional columns corresponding to said abnormality that is horizontally aligned with the character designation in the first column corresponding to said segment, to identify a gap in the analysis.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the analytical tool is selected from the group consisting of EADS and RTAA.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the steam generator is located within a pressurized water or boiling water nuclear reactor.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the gap in analysis coverage is visually observed as a blank space in the one or more additional columns on a computer print-out.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the gap is visually identified by an absence of shading in the one or more additional columns and analysis coverage is identified by the presence of a shaded area in the one or more additional columns.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more abnormalities is selected from the group consisting of dents, dings, tube flaws and combinations thereof.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of segments extend from a hot leg tube end to a cold leg tube end.
8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an assessment of a portion of the steam generator tube corresponding to the gap to determine if the gap is acceptable or unacceptable.
9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a report to identify all of the gaps identified during the steam generator tube inspection.
10. A method of method for verifying complete analysis coverage in a steam generator tube inspection of a steam generator having a plurality of tubes, in a nuclear reactor, the method comprising:
employing an analytical tool for performing steps, comprising:
generating a map of the plurality of tubes in the steam generator;
partitioning each of the plurality of tubes into a plurality of segments;
measuring and recording a length for each of the plurality of segments; and
conducting an analysis of each of the plurality of segments to selectively analyze for one or more abnormalities;
coupling a computer to the analytical tool; and
employing the computer for performing steps, comprising:
receiving results of the analysis;
analytically identifying in the results each of the plurality of segments that is analyzed for the one or more abnormalities selected and, detecting and identifying each of the plurality of segments that is not analyzed for the one or more abnormalities; and
generating a visual display, comprising:
identifying the one or more abnormalities for which the steam generator tube is inspected and a different visual indicator representing each of the one or more abnormalities;
providing a first column that identifies the plurality of segments and a character designation selected from the group consisting of numbers, letters and combinations thereof, corresponding to each of the plurality of segments; and
providing one or more additional columns horizontally spaced apart from the first column and each of the one or more additional columns corresponding to each of the one or more abnormalities for which the steam generator tube is inspected,
wherein, when a segment of the plurality of segments is inspected for an abnormality of the one or more abnormalities, the visual indicator representing said abnormality appears in a column of the one or more additional columns corresponding to said abnormality, and said visual indicator is horizontally aligned with the character designation in the first column corresponding to said segment, and
wherein, when a segment of the plurality of segments is not inspected for an abnormality of the one or more abnormalities, the visual indicator representing said abnormality does not appear in a portion of a column of the one or more additional columns corresponding to said abnormality that is horizontally aligned with the character designation in the first column corresponding to said segment, to identify a gap in the analysis.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the gap is a blank space in the one or more additional columns on a computer print-out.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the gap is visually identified by an absence of shading in the one or more additional columns and analysis coverage is identified by the presence of a shaded area in the one or more additional columns.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the one or more abnormalities is selected from the group consisting of dents, dings, tube flaws and combinations thereof.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of segments extend from a hot leg tube end to a cold leg tube end.
15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising assessing the gap to determine if it is acceptable or unacceptable.
16. The method of claim 10 , further comprising generating a report to identify all of the gaps identified during the steam generator tube inspection.