Patents by Inventor Qui V. Le
Qui V. Le has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11898986Abstract: The systems and methods of the invention pertain to analyzing steam generator tube data for the detection of wear. Further, the invention is capable of performing a comparison of current tube signal data to baseline or historic tube signal data, e.g., from previous and/or the first, in-service inspection of the steam generator. The systems and methods are automated and can generate results to show potential tube-to-tube contact wear areas as well as the progression of tube-to-tube gap reduction within a steam generator tube bundle. In certain embodiments, the invention is capable of comparing current and historical eddy current data to determine the difference that may be related to degradation or other interested phenomena, and of processing and trending historical comparison results to establish normal variance and detect abnormal variances.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2018Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: Qui V. Le, William K. Cullen, Craig Bowser
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Publication number: 20210241931Abstract: A plurality of signal anomalies are identified in a number of tubes in a steam generator. Since the geometry of the steam generator is known, the location of each signal anomaly along each tube is converted into a location within the interior of the steam generator. If a plurality of signal anomalies are at locations within the steam generator that are within a predetermined proximity of one another, such a spatial confluence of signal anomalies is determined to correspond with a loose part situated within the steam generator. Additional methodologies can be employed to confirm the existence of the loose part. Historic tube sheet transition signal data can be retrieved and subtracted from present signals in order to enable the system to ignore the relatively strong eddy current sensor signal of a tube sheet which would mask the relatively weak signal from a loose part at the tube sheet transition.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2021Publication date: August 5, 2021Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventor: Qui V. LE
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Patent number: 10896767Abstract: A plurality of signal anomalies are identified in a number of tubes in a steam generator. Since the geometry of the steam generator is known, the location of each signal anomaly along each tube is converted into a location within the interior of the steam generator. If a plurality of signal anomalies are at locations within the steam generator that are within a predetermined proximity of one another, such a spatial confluence of signal anomalies is determined to correspond with a loose part situated within the steam generator. Additional methodologies can be employed to confirm the existence of the loose part. Historic tube sheet transition signal data can be retrieved and subtracted from present signals in order to enable the system to ignore the relatively strong eddy current sensor signal of a tube sheet which would mask the relatively weak signal from a loose part at the tube sheet transition.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2012Date of Patent: January 19, 2021Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventor: Qui V. Le
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Patent number: 10746697Abstract: A method of employing an eddy current sensor to perform an inspection of a tube of a steam generator involves accelerating and decelerating the eddy current sensor in a predetermined fashion that substantially reduces the likelihood of damage to the eddy current sensor. The reduction of probe stresses reduces radiological waste and reduces radiation exposure to workers involved in changing damaged probes The recording of an eddy current signal at each of a plurality of equally spaced apart locations along the tube permits the velocity of the eddy current sensor to be varied without compromising the validity of the data that has been recorded. The inspection system employs an encoder that outputs a series of signals as the probe is advanced incremental distances within the tube of the steam generator, and eddy current sensor signals are recorded responsive to at least some of the signals from the encoder.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2017Date of Patent: August 18, 2020Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: John C. Lichauer, Daniel C. Wood, Thomas W. Nenno, Qui V. Le, Kyle M. Flanigan
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Publication number: 20190056356Abstract: The systems and methods of the invention pertain to analyzing steam generator tube data for the detection of wear. Further, the invention is capable of performing a comparison of current tube signal data to baseline or historic tube signal data, e.g., from previous and/or the first, in-service inspection of the steam generator. The systems and methods are automated and can generate results to show potential tube-to-tube contact wear areas as well as the progression of tube-to-tube gap reduction within a steam generator tube bundle. In certain embodiments, the invention is capable of comparing current and historical eddy current data to determine the difference that may be related to degradation or other interested phenomena, and of processing and trending historical comparison results to establish normal variance and detect abnormal variances.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2018Publication date: February 21, 2019Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: Qui V. Le, William K. Cullen, Craig Bowser
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Publication number: 20180284067Abstract: A method of employing an eddy current sensor to perform an inspection of a tube of a steam generator involves accelerating and decelerating the eddy current sensor in a predetermined fashion that substantially reduces the likelihood of damage to the eddy current sensor. The reduction of probe stresses reduces radiological waste and reduces radiation exposure to workers involved in changing damaged probes The recording of an eddy current signal at each of a plurality of equally spaced apart locations along the tube permits the velocity of the eddy current sensor to be varied without compromising the validity of the data that has been recorded. The inspection system employs an encoder that outputs a series of signals as the probe is advanced incremental distances within the tube of the steam generator, and eddy current sensor signals are recorded responsive to at least some of the signals from the encoder.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2017Publication date: October 4, 2018Applicant: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY LLCInventors: JOHN C. LICHAUER, DANIEL C. WOOD, THOMAS W. NENNO, QUI V. LE, KYLE M. FLANIGAN
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Patent number: 9945814Abstract: The invention relates to improved systems and methods for inspecting the tubes of a steam generator of a nuclear reactor that involves modeling the steam generator, comparing signals of a tube from an eddy current sensor with aspects of the model to determine whether further analysis is required, employing primary and secondary analysis processes, and producing a combined report of the primary and secondary analysis results.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2015Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: Qui V. Le, Stephen J. Beehner
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Patent number: 9423407Abstract: The invention relates to systems and methods for verifying complete analysis coverage in a steam generator tube inspection. The analysis is conducted by an automated analysis process. The process includes setup and analysis functions. Information is entered into the setup function to identify abnormalities to be inspected and to model the steam generator tubes. The verification includes employing a software verification program to detect and identify a gap within analysis coverage for a particular abnormality or set of abnormalities for which the steam generator tube is inspected, in a particular portion of the steam generator tube.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2012Date of Patent: August 23, 2016Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: Qui V. Le, Craig Bowser, Stephen Beehner
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Publication number: 20160202212Abstract: The systems and methods of the invention pertain to analyzing steam generator tube data for the detection of wear. Further, the invention is capable of performing a comparison of current tube signal data to baseline or historic tube signal data, e.g., from previous and/or the first, in-service inspection of the steam generator. The systems and methods are automated and can generate results to show potential tube-to-tube contact wear areas as well as the progression of tube-to-tube gap reduction within a steam generator tube bundle. In certain embodiments, the invention is capable of comparing current and historical eddy current data to determine the difference that may be related to degradation or other interested phenomena, and of processing and trending historical comparison results to establish normal variance and detect abnormal variances.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2016Publication date: July 14, 2016Applicant: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY LLCInventors: QUI V. LE, WILLIAM K. CULLEN, CRAIG BOWSER
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Patent number: 9335296Abstract: The systems and methods of the invention pertain to analyzing steam generator tube data for the detection of wear. Further, the invention is capable of performing a comparison of current tube signal data to baseline or historic tube signal data, e.g., from previous and/or the first, in-service inspection of the steam generator. The systems and methods are automated and can generate results to show potential tube-to-tube contact wear areas as well as the progression of tube-to-tube gap reduction within a steam generator tube bundle. In certain embodiments, the invention is capable of comparing current and historical eddy current data to determine the difference that may be related to degradation or other interested phenomena, and of processing and trending historical comparison results to establish normal variance and detect abnormal variances.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2013Date of Patent: May 10, 2016Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: Qui V. Le, William K. Cullen, Craig Bowser
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Publication number: 20160018362Abstract: The invention relates to improved systems and methods for inspecting the tubes of a steam generator of a nuclear reactor that involves modeling the steam generator, comparing signals of a tube from an eddy current sensor with aspects of the model to determine whether further analysis is required, employing primary and secondary analysis processes, and producing a combined report of the primary and secondary analyses results.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2015Publication date: January 21, 2016Applicant: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY, LLC.Inventors: QUI V. LE, STEPHEN J. BEEHNER
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Patent number: 9177678Abstract: An improved method of inspecting the tubes of a steam generator of a nuclear reactor involves collecting historic data regarding the tube sheet transition regions of each tube for use during a subsequent analysis to create a new simpler signal from which historic artifacts have been removed.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2010Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventor: Qui V. Le
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Publication number: 20140097834Abstract: The systems and methods of the invention pertain to analyzing steam generator tube data for the detection of wear. Further, the invention is capable of performing a comparison of current tube signal data to baseline or historic tube signal data, e.g., from previous and/or the first, in-service inspection of the steam generator. The systems and methods are automated and can generate results to show potential tube-to-tube contact wear areas as well as the progression of tube-to-tube gap reduction within a steam generator tube bundle. In certain embodiments, the invention is capable of comparing current and historical eddy current data to determine the difference that may be related to degradation or other interested phenomena, and of processing and trending historical comparison results to establish normal variance and detect abnormal variances.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2013Publication date: April 10, 2014Applicant: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY LLCInventors: QUI V. LE, WILLIAM K. CULLEN, CRAIG BOWSER
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Patent number: 8412483Abstract: An improved method for verifying a position of a sensor with respect to an object under test includes detecting a signal from the sensor that is positioned at a given location on an object under test and comparing the signal from the sensor with a historical signal that is associated with a Uniquely Identified Location (UIL) on the object under test. If the two signals are consistent, and if the position of the sensor at the given location on the object under test is the same as the UIL, it is concluded that the position of the sensor is correct.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2010Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: Qui V. Le, Jayne L. Boynton
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Patent number: 8387444Abstract: An improved method of inspecting the tubes of a steam generator of a nuclear reactor involves modeling the steam generator and comparing signals of a tube from an eddy current sensor with aspects of the model to determine whether further analysis is required. The model can advantageously include exception data with regard to particular regions of interest (ROIs) of particular tubes that is based upon historic data collected from the steam generator.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2010Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventor: Qui V. Le
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Publication number: 20120257705Abstract: A plurality of signal anomalies are identified in a number of tubes in a steam generator. Since the geometry of the steam generator is known, the location of each signal anomaly along each tube is converted into a location within the interior of the steam generator. If a plurality of signal anomalies are at locations within the steam generator that are within a predetermined proximity of one another, such a spatial confluence of signal anomalies is determined to correspond with a loose part situated within the steam generator. Additional methodologies can be employed to confirm the existence of the loose part. Historic tube sheet transition signal data can be retrieved and subtracted from present signals in order to enable the system to ignore the relatively strong eddy current sensor signal of a tube sheet which would mask the relatively weak signal from a loose part at the tube sheet transition.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2012Publication date: October 11, 2012Applicant: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY LLCInventor: Qui V. Le
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Publication number: 20120081108Abstract: A method of eddy current testing for flaws in a tube is provided that includes passing an eddy current probe through the tube and obtaining eddy current data for a number of positions along the tube, analyzing the eddy current data to generate background noise data for a number of positions along the tube, analyzing the eddy current data to generate extracted data for a number of positions along the tube, and determining whether a flaw of a particular category is present in the tube based on a set of one or more of rules applied to at least a portion of the extracted data, wherein at least one of the rules uses a particular part of the extracted data and employs a threshold that is a function a particular part of the background noise data that is associated with the particular part of the extracted data.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2010Publication date: April 5, 2012Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: Qui V. Le, G. Craig Bowser
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Publication number: 20120065927Abstract: An improved method for verifying a position of a sensor with respect to an object under test includes detecting a signal from the sensor that is positioned at a given location on an object under test and comparing the signal from the sensor with a historical signal that is associated with a Uniquely Identified Location (UIL) on the object under test. If the two signals are consistent, and if the position of the sensor at the given location on the object under test is the same as the UIL, it is concluded that the position of the sensor is correct.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2010Publication date: March 15, 2012Applicant: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY LLCInventors: Qui V. Le, Jayne L. Boynton
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Publication number: 20110172964Abstract: An improved method of inspecting the tubes of a steam generator of a nuclear reactor involves collecting historic data regarding the tube sheet transition regions of each tube for use during a subsequent analysis to create a new simpler signal from which historic artifacts have been removed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2010Publication date: July 14, 2011Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventor: Qui V. Le
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Publication number: 20110172980Abstract: An improved method of inspecting the tubes of a steam generator of a nuclear reactor involves modeling the steam generator and comparing signals of a tube from an eddy current sensor with aspects of the model to determine whether further analysis is required. The model can advantageously include exception data with regard to particular regions of interest (ROIs) of particular tubes that is based upon historic data collected from the steam generator.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2010Publication date: July 14, 2011Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventor: Qui V. Le