SEDL / STP / STP824-EB / STP34467S

On-Line Ultrasonic Inside-Diameter Control System for Zircaloy Tube Etching

Tanaka, Y
Kobe Steel Ltd., Tokyo Head Office, Tokyo,

Komatsu, M
Kobe Steel, Ltd., Chofu-kita Plant, Shimonoseki,

Fujii, N
Kobe Steel, Ltd., Chofu-kita Plant, Shimonoseki,

Kubota, H
Kobe Steel, Ltd., Chofu-kita Plant, Shimonoseki,

Pages: 8    Published: Jan 1984

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Abstract

An ultrasonic inside-diameter (ID) control system was used during the final etching process for producing Zircaloy nuclear fuel cladding tubes. This results in establishing automatic inside-diameter control during etching with an automatic etching system.

In this system, the inside-diameter at the center point in the length of each tube is continuously measured with the ultrasonic inside-diameter measuring equipment during the etching process and the etching is automatically stopped by a signal from the control equipment when the inside-diameter reaches the target value.

This made the final etching process economical and suitable for large-scale production, having an equal or better level at the inside-diameter of tubes etched with this system than those made by a process controlled by an air-micrometer.