Case Studies
Testing of Nuclear Reactor Tubing
The customer needs to test specialized alloy tubing used to carry water within a nuclear reactor for possible damage. This tubing is located in a closed area where there is ambient radiation. Therefore, this test will be performed by a robot arm using ultrasonic non-destructive testing.
They need to sample at 500 MHz on a single channel and save 2,000 samples for each acquisition at a Pulse Repeat Frequency (PRF) of 20 KHz. The ultrasonic transducer generates an ultrasound signal at 10 MHz. They must continuously capture a minimum of 500,000 records, which comprises a complete scan. Consequently, they will be capturing a minimum of:
2,000 Samples/Record ´ 500,000 Records / Scan = 1 GigaSample of total data.
They need to write their own software under MS Windows 2000 for further analysis of data due to the complexity of the task.
GAGE'S SOLUTION
We suggested the CompuScope 8500 because it is the perfect fit for the requirement. The CS8500 is a single channel PCI data acquisition card that is able to sample at up to 500 MS/s with a input analog bandwidth of 250 MHz. The CS8500 is available with up to 2 GigaSamples of on-board acquisition memory.
The Gage CS8500 is the only card able to provide as much as 2 GigaSamples of on-board memory. Furthermore, the CS8500 is the only card that offers the required Multiple Record mode at such high speed. Multiple Record allows sequentially captured records to be stacked in on-board memory. Re-arm between successive records is virtually instantaneous, so that the highest PRF may be accommodated. Consequently, the CS8500 under Multiple Record is the optimal solution because the customer needs such a high speed PRF (20 KHz). It is the easiest solution and is 100% reliable under the multi-tasking MS Windows operating system.
The customer needs to write their own application because it involves many mathematical calculations. Accordingly, we suggested CompuScope Software Development Kit for C/C++, one of our four available CompuScope SDKs, due to its faster overall data transfer rate.
Again, Gage is the only company able to supply such a complete and trouble-free solution.
PRODUCT RECOMMENDED
CompuScope 8500 - 2G
CompuScope SDK for C/C++ for Windows
This application note is provided "as is" without any warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Gage Applied Technologies further does not warrant the accuracy and completeness of the material contained herein. Gage Applied Technologies may make changes to this material, or to the products described in it, at any time without notice.
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