Analysis of acoustic leak signals for enhancing sensitivity of control due to the creation of effective diagnostic indicators

Acoustic leak control systems (for instance, SAKT) are used at present for controlling leak tightness of equipment and pipelines, as well as for detecting in timely manner coolant leaks from the primary cooling circuit of nuclear reactor installations (NRI) during operation of power unit on different power levels in the modes of normal operation and during disturbances of normal operation. Time averaged dispersion of acoustic signal is used as the main diagnostic indicator for detecting leaks in these systems. Sensitivity of this indicator is determined by the exceedance by the signal of the preset threshold value which is defined in accordance with the background. Here, background values of acoustic signal depend on the operational modes of the equipment and do not allow in many cases determining coolant leak during early stages of leak development. New approach to the formation of diagnostic indicators for detecting loss of sealing in the circuit during early stage of development of coolant leak is suggested. Methodology for obtaining diagnostic indicators is based on the processing in different frequency bands of acoustic signal accompanying coolant leakage from the pipeline using the method of principal components. Efficiency of the developed methodology of coolant leak detection is illustrated by processing acoustic signals for experimental facility modeling coolant leakage in case of loss of sealing of the circuit. Even in the presence of significant acoustic background sensitivity of the method allows detecting leaks with significantly lower flow rates (up to five times smaller) than the conventional processing of acoustic signals. Implementation of the developed methodology will not require significant expenditures for upgrading already existing leak control systems operated at present on different NPPs