SOLUTION OF AN INVERSE THERMAL PROBLEM BY AN ANALYTICAL AND IMPULSE-RESPONSE METHOD - APPLICATION TO THE DETERMINATION OF PARIETAL TEMPERATURE-FLUCTUATIONS INSIDE A PIPE

Solution of an inverse heat conduction problem (estimation of parietal temperature fluctuations inside a pipe from external measurements) using transfer functions is proposed. An analytical method and impulse response technique are studied, compared and tested for a PWR pipe, in working conditions favourable to thermal striping. The study shows the advantages of thermal stress measurements in comparison with temperature measurements for a better efficiency of the inverse method and gives proof of the better suitability of the impulse response technique for complex geometries.