Optimal Axial-Probe Design for Foucault-Current Tomography: A Global Optimization Approach Based on Linear Sampling Method

• Published in: Energies (Basel) Vol. 16; no. 5; p. 2448
• Main Authors: Benaissa, Brahim, Khatir, Samir, Jouini, Mohamed Soufiane, Riahi, Mohamed Kamel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.03.2023
• Subjects: Boilers; Design; Design and construction; Design optimization; eddy-current; Electric fields; finite element method; Global optimization; Image processing; inverse problem; Inverse problems; linear sampling method; Mathematical models; Mathematical optimization; Methods; NDT; Non-destructive testing; Nondestructive testing; optimal design; Partial differential equations; Radiation; Search algorithms; Sensors; Signal processing; Steam-boilers; Symmetry; Testing; Tomography; Japan
• ISSN: 1996-1073; 1996-1073
• DOI: 10.3390/en16052448

This paper is concerned with the optimal design of axial probes, commonly used in the Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) of tube boiling in steam generators. The goal is to improve the low-frequency Foucault-current imaging of these deposits by designing a novel probe. The approach uses a combination of an inverse problem solver with global optimization to find the optimal probe characteristics by minimizing a function of merit defined using image processing techniques. The evaluation of the function of merit is computationally intensive and a surrogate optimization approach is used, incorporating a multi-particle search algorithm. The proposed design is validated through numerical experiments and aims to improve the accuracy and efficiency of identifying deposits in steam generator tubes.