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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Recent evolution of HTGR instrumentation in the USA

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5336574
The reactor instrumentation system for the 2240 MW(t) HTGR includes ex-core neutron detectors for automatic nuclear power control, separate ex-core neutron detectors for automatic protection purposes (reactor trip), reactor core outlet thermocouples that measure the temperature of the primary coolant (helium) as it exits the nuclear core, cold helium thermocouples that measure the temperature of the primary coolant as it enters the core, external pressure differential gages that measure primary coolant flow, in-core fission chambers that are utilized to map neutron flux, and ex-core primary coolant moisture monitors. All of these subsystems, except for the in-core flux mapping units, are also part of the FSV HTGR, which has provided significant experience for the design of the new system. A search for in-core sensors to facilitate mapping neutron flux distributions in the larger core of the 2240 MW(t) HTGR has led to the selection of a high temperature fission chamber, which has been tested up to 1000/sup 0/C at General Atomic. The chamber shows adequate signal to noise ratio and repeatability. Other reactor instruments planned for the 2240 MW(t) are of the FSV type (i.e., thermocouples) or improved versions of the FSV design (i.e., moisture monitors). New concepts such as acoustic thermometers are also being considered.
Research Organization:
General Atomic Co., San Diego, CA (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AT03-76ET35301
OSTI ID:
5336574
Report Number(s):
GA-A-16753; CONF-820653-2; ON: DE82017144
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English