METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE TIGHTNESS OF METAL TANKS Russian patent published in 2022 - IPC G01M3/00 G01N25/72 

FIELD: testing technology.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to the field of non-destructive control and makes it possible to accurately localize leak sites in spent nuclear fuel holding pools of nuclear power plants, as well as in metal tanks filled with liquid. A method for controlling the tightness of metal tanks filled with liquid is proposed, including immersion in liquid and movement at the required speed along the surface of the tank of a supporting structure on wheels with a base and sensors fixed on it, conducting leak control by moving the supporting structure on wheels along the surface of the tank and with constantly registering the coordinates of the base. A heating inductor with controlled power and frequency, a light-emitting source, a video camera, a microphone, a temperature meter and a device for creating a permanent magnetic field are fixed on the base. The adjustment is carried out by heating a defect-free section of a metal tank using a heating inductor until bubbles of boiling liquid appear on the surface of the tank at the place of local heating, the power and frequency of the heating inductor are changed until the boiling of the liquid stops, tightness is monitored by moving the supporting structure on wheels along the surface of the tank and its local induction heating, lighting and video surveillance of the surface of the heating place, measuring the temperature of the liquid at the heating point. The presence and place of discontinuity is visually recorded by a video camera by the appearance of boiling liquid bubbles in the area of local induction heating, or the presence of discontinuity is determined by a microphone that picks up the sound of the appearance of boiling liquid bubbles in the area of local induction heating, or the presence of discontinuity is determined by an increase in the temperature of the liquid.

EFFECT: increase in the safety of spent nuclear fuel storage by accurately locating leak sites without removing liquid, including during the operation of the pool, which affects the reduction of the repair time of the spent nuclear fuel holding pool.

2 cl, 4 dwg