Apparatus for and method of monitoring for breached fuel elements
Abstract
This invention teaches improved apparatus for the method of detecting a breach in cladded fuel used in a nuclear reactor. The detector apparatus uses a separate bypass loop for conveying part of the reactor coolant away from the core, and at least three separate delayed-neutron detectors mounted proximate this detector loop. The detectors are spaced apart so that the coolant flow time from the core to each detector is different, and these differences are known. The delayed-neutron activity at the detectors is a function of the delay time after the reaction in the fuel until the coolant carrying the delayed-neutron emitter passes the respective detector. This time delay is broken down into separate components including an isotopic holdup time required for the emitter to move through the fuel from the reaction to the coolant at the breach, and two transit times required for the emitter now in the coolant to flow from the breach to the detector loop and then via the loop to the detector.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- OSTI Identifier:
- 6312872
- Application Number:
- ON: DE83010464
- Assignee:
- ERA-08-029614; NTS-83-012024; EDB-83-094303
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31-109-ENG-38
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS; 46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; FAILED ELEMENT MONITORS; NEUTRON DETECTORS; POWER REACTORS; FAILED ELEMENT DETECTION; DETECTION; MEASURING INSTRUMENTS; MONITORS; RADIATION DETECTORS; REACTORS; 220200* - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Components & Accessories; 440101 - Radiation Instrumentation- General Detectors or Monitors & Radiometric Instruments
Citation Formats
Gross, K C, and Strain, R V. Apparatus for and method of monitoring for breached fuel elements. United States: N. p., 1981.
Web.
Gross, K C, & Strain, R V. Apparatus for and method of monitoring for breached fuel elements. United States.
Gross, K C, and Strain, R V. Tue .
"Apparatus for and method of monitoring for breached fuel elements". United States.
@article{osti_6312872,
title = {Apparatus for and method of monitoring for breached fuel elements},
author = {Gross, K C and Strain, R V},
abstractNote = {This invention teaches improved apparatus for the method of detecting a breach in cladded fuel used in a nuclear reactor. The detector apparatus uses a separate bypass loop for conveying part of the reactor coolant away from the core, and at least three separate delayed-neutron detectors mounted proximate this detector loop. The detectors are spaced apart so that the coolant flow time from the core to each detector is different, and these differences are known. The delayed-neutron activity at the detectors is a function of the delay time after the reaction in the fuel until the coolant carrying the delayed-neutron emitter passes the respective detector. This time delay is broken down into separate components including an isotopic holdup time required for the emitter to move through the fuel from the reaction to the coolant at the breach, and two transit times required for the emitter now in the coolant to flow from the breach to the detector loop and then via the loop to the detector.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1981},
month = {4}
}