2D Ultrasonic Antenna System for Imaging in Liquid Sodium

2D Ultrasonic Antenna System for Imaging in Liquid Sodium

Blog Article

Ultrasonic techniques are developed at CEA (French Alternative Energies and Nuclear Energy Commission) for in-service inspection of Wooden Flower sodium-cooled reactors (SFRs).Among them, an ultrasound imaging system made up of two orthogonal antennas and originally based on an underwater imaging system is studied for long-distance vision in the liquid sodium of the reactor’s primary circuit.After a description of the imaging principle of this system, some results of a simulation study performed with Fridge Door Thimble the software CIVA in order to optimize the antenna parameters are presented.

Then, experimental measurements carried out in a water tank illustrate the system capabilities.Finally, the limitations of the imaging performances and the ongoing search of solutions to address them are discussed.