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Detection of core thermal hydraulic oscillations

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6153717

A method is described for detecting thermal hydraulic oscillation in a nuclear fission reactor core through which a reactor coolant passes while the fission reactions in the core generate neutrons and gamma radiation, comprising the steps of positioning a first plurality of sensors, which are primarily responsive to neutron flux, at a respective plurality of first locations in the core; positioning a second plurality of sensors, which are primarily responsive to gamma radiation flux, at a respective plurality of second locations in the core; generating an output signal from each of said neutron sensors, commensurate with the neutron flux at each neutron sensor; generating an output signal from each of said gamma sensors, commensurate with the gamma radiation flux at each gamma sensor; comparing each neutron sensor output signal with a respective gamma sensor output signal and generating a comparison value signal for each of said comparisons; and in response to the comparison value signals generating output data indicative of core thermal hydraulic oscillations.

Assignee:
Combustion Engineering, Inc., Windsor, CT (United States)
Patent Number(s):
US 5225149; A
Application Number:
PPN: US 7-767831
OSTI ID:
6153717
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English