7.3 Steam Generator Tube Break
(a) How would the unit operator identify a broken tube inside the Steam Generator?
Steam Generators are basically heat exchangers used to convert water into steam from heat produced in a nuclear reactor core Mostly they are used in pressurized water reactors between the primary and secondary coolant circuits . Basically hot water flows from the reactor vessel through U-shaped generator tubes which creates steam which in thus drives turbine / generator producing electricity .
There are different methods available to identify broken tube inside a steam generator .
applying a low voltage across the metal tube wall looking for irregularities in electrical caused due to flaws and cracks .
one can also apply for or go to SONAR or Radar technologies to detect whether tubes are broken inside or not .
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