Patent Number: 046559930
Section: abstract

A method for locating defective fuel rod cladding tubes of a water-cooled nuclear reactor within fuel rod bundles combined to form complete fuel assemblies disposed in a water-filled fuel assembly storage pit, including a mooring, a carriage disposed on the mooring, a manipulator disposed on the carriage and having a water proof space disposed therein, driving elements of the manipulator disposed in the water proof space, probes disposed directly in the water of the pit and connected to the driving elements, at least one ultrasonic test head disposed on each of the probes, and a lifting device for holding the fuel assemblies, includes: centering a fuel assembly to be tested on the mooring with the lifting device, moving the carriage into a test position, and transmitting motion cycles of the driving elements in the water proof space to the probes in the water of the pit for moving the probes and the test heads between the cladding tubes, and a device for carrying out the method.