For the safe operation of nuclear power plants, regular endoscope inspection should be conducted in areas including pipes. power generators, condensers, steam generators and turbines for signs of degradation and wear. Where endoscopes are used for monitoring of nuclear processes – long term resistance of the instrument to radiation is critical.
As an international specialist in radiation resistant optical systems – Resolve Optics has established itself as a leading supplier of specialist endoscopic systems for hostile environments where radiation, extremes of temperature / pressure and contact with corrosive materials would render a standard system useless.
Optimised for use with thermal camera
To improve the safety of monitoring of the glass vitrification at a UK radioactive waste reprocessing plant, Resolve Optics recently developed and supplied an Infrared (IR) endoscope optimised to operate with a thermal camera. Operating at 7-14 microns, the prime function of the IR endoscope was to provide the desired field of view to monitor the vitrification cell and to transfer the image to the bolometer based thermal camera. For added safety the thermal camera was mounted after a 90-degree fold to ensure it was not in the shine path of the radiation.
