Automated Inspection Systems for PHWR Fuel at Nuclear Fuel Complex

Abstract

Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC), Hyderabad is the sole manufacturer of fuel for Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) in India. The fuel production was progressively increased due to commissioning of new nuclear power plants and operating the existing ones at design load factors. In order to carry out inspection of millions of components to meet the increasing fuel production requirements, NFC has indigenously developed several automatic and semi-automatic inspection systems. These include systems for fuel pellet density measurement, pellet visual inspection, ultrasonic testing for PHWR end closure welds, PHWR fuel bundle backfilling and leak testing with Helium recirculation and bulk metallographic sample preparation. Introduction of these systems have enhanced inspection throughput with higher reliability while reducing human fatigue and monotony. The paper brings out various details of the various systems and their benefits.