Temperature-Compensated Tuning Fork Sensor for Internal Pressure Monitoring of Spent Fuel Canisters

Measuring internal pressure is crucial in industrial applications, including non-destructive evaluation (NDE) of spent fuel canisters. This study utilized a double-ended tuning fork (DETF) to measure internal pressure by detecting changes in hoop strain on the canister’s surface, which affects the tuning fork’s resonance frequency. Finite element simulations were conducted to analyze strain distribution and sensor response, followed by calibration and temperature compensation experiments. The sensor outperformed other strain sensors such as strain gauges and surface acoustic wave sensors, achieving a minimum measurable strain of $0.0679~\mu $ and pressure of 0.3 kPa, with a pressure sensitivity of 0.6221 kHz/MPa (35286 ppm/MPa). The study highlights the effectiveness of DETF sensors for precise pressure measurement, demonstrating their suitability for use in harsh environments using the temperature compensation technique demonstrated in this work. The sensor’s performance highlights its potential for widespread adoption in applications where accurate pressure measurement is critical.