Development of Fuel Nunber Reader by Ultrasonic Imaging Techniques

A spent fuel ID number reader using ultrasonic imaging techniques has been developed to realize efficient and automatic verification of furl numbers,therby to reduce mental load and radiation exposure for operators engaged in the verification task. The ultrasonic imaging techniques for automatic fuel number recognition are described. High-speed and high r e l i a b i l i t y imaging of the spent fuel ID number are obtained by using linear arrey type ultrasonic probe. The ultrasonic wave is scanned by switching arrey probe in vertical direction,and scanned mechanically in horizontal direction. Tiie for imaging of spent fuel ID number on assembly was confirmed less than three seconds by these techniques. And it can recognize spent fuel ID number even if spent fueln ID umber can not be visualize by an optical method because of depositing fuel number regions by soft crad. In order to recognize spent fuel ID number more rapidly and more reliably, coded fuel number expressed by plural separate recesses form is developed. Every coded fuel number consists six small holes (about 1mm dia.) and can be marked adjacent to the existing fuel number expressed by letters and numbers.