Abstract
Fast imaging techiques with a linear array type ultrasonic probe and character recognition using a coded dot pattern have been developed for an automated reading of fuel ID numberson fuel assemblies in nuclear fuel reprocessing facilities etc. As fast imaging techniques, electronic and mechanical scanning of ultrasonic beam (hybrid ultrasonic beam scanning) and associated signal processing were developed using the linear array ultrasonic probe which consists of a one-dimensional array with 64 transducer elements of 1mm thick and 9mm wide. Fast imaging within 3s, which is about 1/20 of the conventional full mechanical scanning method, was realized for fuel assemblies of the present light water reactors. The coded dot pattern expressed by 2×3 dots was proposed as a method for the fast recognition of fuel ID numbers, and it gave the fast recognitions within 1s.
