Neutron monitoring systems including gamma thermometers and methods of calibrating nuclear instruments using gamma thermometers
Abstract
A method of calibrating a nuclear instrument using a gamma thermometer may include: measuring, in the instrument, local neutron flux; generating, from the instrument, a first signal proportional to the neutron flux; measuring, in the gamma thermometer, local gamma flux; generating, from the gamma thermometer, a second signal proportional to the gamma flux; compensating the second signal; and calibrating a gain of the instrument based on the compensated second signal. Compensating the second signal may include: calculating selected yield fractions for specific groups of delayed gamma sources; calculating time constants for the specific groups; calculating a third signal that corresponds to delayed local gamma flux based on the selected yield fractions and time constants; and calculating the compensated second signal by subtracting the third signal from the second signal. The specific groups may have decay time constants greater than 5.times.10.sup.-1 seconds and less than 5.times.10.sup.5 seconds.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC, Wilmington, NC (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1176469
- Patent Number(s):
- 8238509
- Application Number:
- 12/557,631
- Assignee:
- GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC (Wilmington, NC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01T - MEASUREMENT OF NUCLEAR OR X-RADIATION
G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21C - NUCLEAR REACTORS
- DOE Contract Number:
- FC07-07ID14778
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 2009 Sep 11
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Citation Formats
Moen, Stephan Craig, Meyers, Craig Glenn, Petzen, John Alexander, and Foard, Adam Muhling. Neutron monitoring systems including gamma thermometers and methods of calibrating nuclear instruments using gamma thermometers. United States: N. p., 2012.
Web.
Moen, Stephan Craig, Meyers, Craig Glenn, Petzen, John Alexander, & Foard, Adam Muhling. Neutron monitoring systems including gamma thermometers and methods of calibrating nuclear instruments using gamma thermometers. United States.
Moen, Stephan Craig, Meyers, Craig Glenn, Petzen, John Alexander, and Foard, Adam Muhling. Tue .
"Neutron monitoring systems including gamma thermometers and methods of calibrating nuclear instruments using gamma thermometers". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1176469.
@article{osti_1176469,
title = {Neutron monitoring systems including gamma thermometers and methods of calibrating nuclear instruments using gamma thermometers},
author = {Moen, Stephan Craig and Meyers, Craig Glenn and Petzen, John Alexander and Foard, Adam Muhling},
abstractNote = {A method of calibrating a nuclear instrument using a gamma thermometer may include: measuring, in the instrument, local neutron flux; generating, from the instrument, a first signal proportional to the neutron flux; measuring, in the gamma thermometer, local gamma flux; generating, from the gamma thermometer, a second signal proportional to the gamma flux; compensating the second signal; and calibrating a gain of the instrument based on the compensated second signal. Compensating the second signal may include: calculating selected yield fractions for specific groups of delayed gamma sources; calculating time constants for the specific groups; calculating a third signal that corresponds to delayed local gamma flux based on the selected yield fractions and time constants; and calculating the compensated second signal by subtracting the third signal from the second signal. The specific groups may have decay time constants greater than 5.times.10.sup.-1 seconds and less than 5.times.10.sup.5 seconds.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Aug 07 00:00:00 EDT 2012},
month = {Tue Aug 07 00:00:00 EDT 2012}
}