Patent ID: 6876195
Filing Date: 2005-04-05
Classification: G01B,G21C,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A process for measuring a thickness of a layer of oxide on a rod cladding in a fuel assembly having a bundle of rods distributed in an axial direction of the bundle, such that the rods are disposed in parallel rows with passing spaces provided between them and each disposed between two rows of rods comprising: moving an eddy current probe under water and remotely in a bath in at least one space between two rows of rods, such that one of an active portion and a measuring head of the probe comes into contact with a generatrix of each rod in one of one and an other of the rows situated on either side of the passing space; collecting and processing a signal of the probe corresponding to at least one of components of a voltage signal of the probe supplied with alternating current in an impedance plane to obtain values of the thickness of oxide on the rods with which the probe comes into contact, based on a calibration curve that is updated each time the probe passes in a space between two rows of rods further comprising: