Description of the Performance Demonstration Initiative (PDI) program
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) establishes rules and regulations for the operation of domestic nuclear facilities publicized in the United States Federal Register under 10CFR50. The NRC has established the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code as the engineering authority for the design, construction and operation of nuclear reactors. Section XI of the ASME Code contains the rules for in-service inspection of nuclear plant components. Appendix VIII describes the additional requirements for performance demonstration of UT examinations systems that integrate personnel, equipment and procedures into a single entity. That entity is the PDI program owned by the utilities. EPRI is the operator of the PDI program.
In order to be used by a vendor during an examination, ultrasonic equipment and probes have to successfully meet the requirements of the general procedure through performance demonstration on controlled samples as administrated at the EPRI PDI laboratory.
PDI Procedures for Piping
PDI-UT-3 is a generic PDI procedure covering pipe through wall sizing in welding examinations.
- PDI UT-3: Through Wall Sizing
- Ferritic Piping
- Austenitic Pipe Welds
- Austenitic Pipe Welds with IGSC
PDI UT-3 is specific to accurate through wall sizing of defects in both ferritic and austenitic piping. This procedure is applicable to piping with a diameter range from 3.5" and greater. Thicknesses can range from 0.237" to 8" for ferritic piping and from 0.237" to 3.125" for austenitic piping. Where possible, examination should be performed from both sides of the weld.
Generalized Qualification Matrices
Olympus flaw detectors and transducers used for qualification are outlined in the following tables.
| PDI UT-3 Through Wall Sizing Qualification Matrix - Ferritic pipings | ||||||||
| Flaw Detector | ||||||||
| Vendor | Probe | Element | Frequency | Wedges or angles | EPOCH XT | EPOCH 1000i | EPOCH 600 | |
| Olympus | C540-SM | 0.5 | 2.25 | ABSA-5T-45°,60°,70°Steel |
X
| |||
| C541-SM | 0.5 | 5 | ABSA-5T-45°,70° Steel |
X
| ||||
| C541-SM | 0.5 | 5 | ABSA-5T-60°Steel |
X
|
X
| |||
| C542-SM | 0.25 | 2.25 | ABSA-4T-45°,60°,70°Steel |
X
| ||||
| C543-SM | 0.25 | 5 | ABSA-4T-45°,60°,70° Steel |
X
| ||||
| C549-SM | 0.375 | 2.25 | ABSA-7T-45°,60°,70° Steel |
X
| ||||
| C551-SM | 0.375 | 5 | ABSA-7T-45°,60°,70° Steel |
X
| ||||
| GE | COMP-G | 0.25 | 2.25 | 45, 70 |
X
| |||
| COMP-G | 0.25 | 2.25 | 60 |
X
|
X
| |||
| COMP-G | 0.25 | 5 | 45 |
X
|
X
| |||
| COMP-G | 0.25 | 5 | 60 |
X
|
X
| |||
| COMP-G | 0.25 | 5 | 70 |
X
| ||||
| COMP-G | 0.375 | 2.25 | 45, 60, 70 |
X
|
X
| |||
| COMP-G | 0.375 | 5 | 45, 60, 70 |
X
|
X
| |||
| COMP-G | 0.5 | 2.25 | 45 |
X
|
X
|
X
| ||
| COMP-G | 0.5 | 2.25 | 60 |
X
| ||||
| COMP-G | 0.5 | 2.25 | 70 |
X
|
X
| |||
| COMP-G | 0.5 | 5 | 45 |
X
|
X
|
X
| ||
| COMP-G | 0.5 | 5 | 60, 70 |
X
|
X
| |||
| RTD | ADEPT | 2(8x7.5)mm | 3 |
X
| ||||
| TRCR | 2(7x10)mm | 2 | ODCR |
X
| ||||
| TRLA | 2(20x34) | 2 | 45 |
X
| ||||
| UTL | ADEPT | 2(8x7.5)mm | 3 |
X
|
X
| |||
| PDI UT-3 Through Wall Sizing Qualification Matrix - Austenitic pipings | ||||||||
| Flaw Detector | ||||||||
| Vendor | Probe | Element | Frequency | Wedges or angles | EPOCH XT | EPOCH 1000i | EPOCH 600 | |
| Olympus | C5010 | 0.375 | 1.5 | ABSA-7T-45°,60°,70° Steel |
X
| |||
| C5011 | 0.5 | 1.5 | ABSA-5T-45°,60°,70° Steel |
X
| ||||
| C540-SM | 0.5 | 2.25 | ABSA-5T-45°,60°,70° Steel |
X
| ||||
| C540-SM | 0.5 | 2.25 | ABSA-5T-45°,70° Steel |
X
| ||||
| C542-SM | 0.25 | 2.25 | ABSA-4T-60° Steel |
X
|
X
| |||
| C543-SM | 0.25 | 5 | ABSA-4T-45°,60°,70° Steel |
X
| ||||
| C549-SM | 0.375 | 2.25 | ABSA-7T-60°,70°Steel |
X
| ||||
| C549-SM | 0.375 | 2.25 | ABSA-7T-45° |
X
|
X
| |||
| C551-SM | 0.375 | 5 | ABSA-7T-45°Steel |
X
|
X
| |||
| C551-SM | 0.375 | 5 | ABSA-7T-60°,70° Steel |
X
| ||||
| GE | COMP-G | 0.25 | 2.25 | 45, 60 |
X
|
X
|
X
| |
| COMP-G | 0.25 | 2.25 | 70 |
X
|
X
| |||
| COMP-G | 0.25 | 5 | 45, 60, 70 |
X
|
X
| |||
| COMP-G | 0.375 | 1.5 | 45, 60, 70 |
X
| ||||
| COMP-G | 0.375 | 2.25 | 45, 60, 70 |
X
|
X
| |||
| COMP-G | 0.375 | 5 | 45, 60, 70 |
X
|
X
| |||
| COMP-G | 0.5 | 1.5 | 45, 60, 70 |
X
| ||||
| COMP-G | 0.5 | 2.25 | 45 |
X
|
X
|
X
| ||
| COMP-G | 0.5 | 2.25 | 60 |
X
|
X
| |||
| COMP-G | 0.5 | 5 | 45, 60 |
X
| ||||
| RTD | TRCR | 2(7x10)mm | 2 | ODCR |
X
| |||
| TRCR | 2(7x10)mm | 4 | ODCR |
X
| ||||
| TRCR | 2(7x13)mm | 4 | ODCR |
X
|
X
| |||
| TRCR | 2(6x13)mm | 4 | ODCR | |||||
| TRCR | 2(8x14)mm | 2 | ODCR |
X
| ||||
| TRLA | 2(8x14)mm | 2 | 45 |
X
| ||||
| TRLA | 2(8x14)mm | 2 | ODCR |
X
| ||||
| ADEPT | 2(8x7.5)mm | 3 |
X
|
X
| ||||
| PDI UT-3 Through Wall Sizing Qualification Matrix - Austenitic pipings with IGSCC | ||||||||
| Flaw Detector | ||||||||
| Vendor | Probe | Element | Frequency | Wedges or angles | EPOCH XT | EPOCH 1000i | EPOCH 600 | |
| Olympus | C549-SM | 0.375 | 2.25 | ABSA-7T-45° |
X
| |||
| C551-SM | 0.375 | 5 | ABSA-7T-45°Steel |
X
| ||||
| GE | COMP-G | 0.375 | 2.25 | 45 |
X
| |||
| COMP-G | 0.375 | 5 | 45 |
X
| ||||
| WSY-70 | 10 mm | 2 | 70 |
X
| ||||
| RTD | TRCR | 2(6x13)mm | 4 | ODCR |
X
| |||
| TRCR | 2(7x13)mm | 4 | ODCR |
X
|
X
| |||
| TRCR | 2(8x14)mm | 2 | ODCR |
X
| ||||
| TRLA | 2(8x14)mm | 4 | 70 |
X
| ||||
| ADEPT | 2(8x7.5)mm | 3 |
X
| |||||
| AUTO | RRW | 0.375 | 5 | 45 |
X
| |||
Qualified Legacy Equipment:
Note that the following models were also qualified during their lifetime for PDI UT-1, UT-2 and UT-3:
- EPOCH II, II B, III and 4
- SONIC 1200S, 136 and 137
Customers should refer to PDI tables for specific qualification matrices.
Other EPRI Procedures:
It should be noted that there are additional generic procedures.
PDI-UT-4 Studs and Bolts from the Bore
PDI-UT-5 SB Inspection of Bolts and Studs
PDI-UT-6 Reactor Pressure Vessel Welds
PDI-UT-7 Through Wall and Length Sizing in Reactor Pressure Vessel Welds
PDI-UT-8 Weld Overlaid Similar and Dissimilar Metals
PDI-UT-10 Dissimilar Metal Welds
P DI-UT-11 Detection and Sizing of Reactor Pressure Vessel Nozzle to Shell Welds and Nozzle Inner Radius
Updates will be provided on a regular basis as we are actively pursuing these areas.
