Design of a Phased Array EMAT for Inspection Applications in Liquid Sodium

Area of Science:

• Nuclear Engineering
• Materials Science
• Non-Destructive Testing

Background:

• In-service inspection of Sodium Fast Reactors (SFRs) requires specialized techniques for harsh environments.
• Hot and opaque sodium environments pose significant challenges for conventional inspection methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and test an in-house phased array Electro Magnetic Acoustic Transducer (EMAT) suitable for SFRs.
• To improve in-service inspection capabilities for the ASTRID reactor project.

Main Methods:

• Design and fabrication of a phased array EMAT system.
• Adaptation of the EMAT for operation in high-temperature, opaque sodium.
• Laboratory experimental testing and validation of the EMAT performance.

Main Results:

• Successful development of a French CEA in-house phased array EMAT.
• Demonstration of EMAT's suitability for hot and opaque sodium environments.
• Experimental validation of the designed EMAT's performance characteristics.

Conclusions:

• The developed phased array EMAT is a viable solution for in-service inspection of SFRs.
• This technology enhances the safety and maintenance protocols for advanced nuclear reactors.