蒸汽发生器传热管的无损检测对核电站的安全和经济运行十分重要。采用轴向探头的涡流检验技术可快速、有效地对早期蒸汽发生器的降质进行检验和缺陷尺寸的测量。但是，近年来蒸汽发生器出现了新的降质形式，需要采用多种检测技术，对不同降质的损坏采用不同的检测工具。用涡流和超声技术来检测缺陷有其局限性，并且有些方法对缺陷尺寸的检测能力极为有限，有时需要通过取管金相检验来对比确定。

Nondestructive testing of the steam generator tubes was critical to the safe and economical operation of nuclear power stations. Eddy current testing using bobbin coil probes was fast and effective in detecting and sizing the degradation that took place in early steam generators. However, new forms of degradation had appeared in recent years that required development of more sophisticated inspection technology. Different damages of the degradation required different inspection tools. The eddy current testing and ultrasonic testing had some limitations in detecting degradation damage. The sizing capabilities for these inspection methods were particularly limited.In some cases, the uncertainties in sizing of the defects were determined by comparing with metallographic examinations of pulled tubes.