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Title: Use of aluminum nitride to obtain temperature measurements in a high temperature and high radiation environment

Abstract

An aluminum nitride piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer successfully operates at temperatures of up to 1000.degree. C. and fast (>1 MeV) neutron fluencies of more than 10.sup.18 n/cm.sup.2. The transducer comprises a transparent, nitrogen rich aluminum nitride (AlN) crystal wafer that is coupled to an aluminum cylinder for pulse-echo measurements. The transducer has the capability to measure in situ gamma heating within the core of a nuclear reactor.

Inventors:
; ; ;
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Bechtel Marine Propulsion Corporation, West Mifflin, PA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1248874
Patent Number(s):
9322720
Application Number:
14/186,244
Assignee:
U.S. Department of Energy (Washington, DC)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01K - MEASURING TEMPERATURE
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01N - INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
DOE Contract Number:  
NR0000031
Resource Type:
Patent
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 2014 Feb 21
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS; 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; 46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Citation Formats

Wernsman, Bernard R., Blasi, Raymond J., Tittman, Bernhard R., and Parks, David A. Use of aluminum nitride to obtain temperature measurements in a high temperature and high radiation environment. United States: N. p., 2016. Web.
Wernsman, Bernard R., Blasi, Raymond J., Tittman, Bernhard R., & Parks, David A. Use of aluminum nitride to obtain temperature measurements in a high temperature and high radiation environment. United States.
Wernsman, Bernard R., Blasi, Raymond J., Tittman, Bernhard R., and Parks, David A. Tue . "Use of aluminum nitride to obtain temperature measurements in a high temperature and high radiation environment". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1248874.
@article{osti_1248874,
title = {Use of aluminum nitride to obtain temperature measurements in a high temperature and high radiation environment},
author = {Wernsman, Bernard R. and Blasi, Raymond J. and Tittman, Bernhard R. and Parks, David A.},
abstractNote = {An aluminum nitride piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer successfully operates at temperatures of up to 1000.degree. C. and fast (>1 MeV) neutron fluencies of more than 10.sup.18 n/cm.sup.2. The transducer comprises a transparent, nitrogen rich aluminum nitride (AlN) crystal wafer that is coupled to an aluminum cylinder for pulse-echo measurements. The transducer has the capability to measure in situ gamma heating within the core of a nuclear reactor.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Apr 26 00:00:00 EDT 2016},
month = {Tue Apr 26 00:00:00 EDT 2016}
}

Works referenced in this record:

Reactor in-vessel sensor and core monitoring apparatus
patent, November 1986


Ultrasonic transreceiver
patent, May 1988


Temperature compensated piezoelectric transducer assembly
patent, April 1989


Ultrasonic inspection system with improved pulser and receiver circuits
patent, April 1994


Piezoelectric sensor
patent, December 1994


Ultrasonic sensor
patent, May 2012