Problem:

- In power plants failure to detect defects in superheated steam pipe results in a catastrophic failure

- A typical electricity power plant of 500MW (both nuclear and conventional) has up to ~4 kilometres of pipe work carrying superheated steam.

- Cracks (due to creep and fatigue) are generated particularly in pipe welds and if undiscovered, may grow until the pipe ruptures.

Proposed Solution:

- To develop a long range ultrasonic system with high temperature capability for continuous in service inspection and structural health monitoring of steam pipes in power generation plants.

Proposed Objectives:

- To determine by modelling the optimum LRU mode at normal and elevated temperatures

- To produce LRU transducer collar arrays that can operate at temperatures of up to 580°C

- To produce an LRU pulser-receiver that can operate multiple LRU transducer collar arrays

- To develop software that will perform trend analysis on data received continuously over long time periods