Identify and Quantify the Mechanistic Sources of Sensor Performance Variation Between Individual Sensors SN1 and SN2

Abstract

Director. Additionally, PNNL recognizes Mr. Tom Sowinski as the DOE Technical Manager and Mr. Carl Sink as the HQ Program Director. PNNL would like to thank Mr. Grandy for his guidance and technical direction throughout the course of this effort. The Technical Team would also like to thank our colleagues at ANL for working jointly with PNNL staff over the course of this collaborative effort. At PNNL, the authors wish to thank Ms. Katie Holton for her coordination and support of PNNL project logistics and for her help in handling travel-related reporting. The Team is indebted to Mr. Royce Mathews (also a co-author on this TLR) for providing in-Lab support across the entire spectrum of technical activities conducted on this project. In addition, the Team would like to express their thanks to Mr. Clyde Chamberlin, who was very responsive to our needs as we required his expertise in developing and employing an effective procedure for polishing the faceplate of the prototype probes, prior to insodium testing. The Team would also like to extend their gratitude to Ms. Lori Bisping for all of her hard work in providing administrative and financial reporting support to this project. Working with the PICS system can be challenging, and Lori's expertise and efficiency are second to none. Finally, the PNNL technical team would like to extend their thanks to Ms. Kay Hass for her ongoing support, attention to detail, and technical editing expertise in preparing and finalizing this Technical Letter Report.

Characterize the Quantitative Dependence of 3D Image Quality on the Primary Inspection Parameters

“…This assessment includes target-detection/imaging performance of the probes in water and in-sodium, and focuses on the performance characteristics and primary inspection parameters described in Section 3.0. The results discussed here can be directly correlated to the measured performance characteristics of both probes reported previously (Diaz et al 2014).…”

“…This included improvements and modifications to structural bonding processes, laser etching, soldering of the leads to the individual elements, ensuring a suitable bond of the multi-element crystal to the nickel substrate, improving surface polishing procedures, providing a thicker Ni faceplate, and enhancing sodium purification and regeneration processes to reduce impurities and oxygen levels in the sodium. The detailed description of the specific probe differences and performance variability between SN1 and SN2 prototypes has been previously documented (Diaz et al 2014).…”

FY16 Status of Immersion Phased Array Ultrasonic Probe Development and Performance Demonstration Results for Under Sodium Viewing

“…In order to address these issues, PNNL developed a process for effective surface preparation and polishing of the Ni faceplate of the probe prior to in-sodium testing. This process has been well documented in Diaz et al (2014b) and Diaz et al (2015).…”

“…This section of the report summarizes the key design and fabrication aspects and differences between the SN2 22-element linear PA-UT probe design and the SN3 2D matrix array probe design, built at PNNL during FY14 and FY15, which to a large degree, play a role in probe performance. Prior to embarking on the design of the 2D matrix array PA-UT probe (SN3), PNNL fully documented the second-generation (SN2), 22-element linear probe design and fabrication methods/processes (Diaz et al 2014b). PNNL then developed a test methodology, test targets, and a probe positioner for characterizing next-generation PA prototypes by acoustic microscopy, and ultrasonic testing in water, hot oil, and eventually in sodium.…”

“…PNNL then developed a test methodology, test targets, and a probe positioner for characterizing next-generation PA prototypes by acoustic microscopy, and ultrasonic testing in water, hot oil, and eventually in sodium. The SN2 second generation, 22-element linear probe was characterized, performance tested, and documented in FY14 (Diaz et al 2014b). In FY15, the first-generation 2D matrix array 10×3(×2) PA-UT probe (SN3) was developed.…”