Gamma thermometer based reactor core liquid level detector
Abstract
A system is provided which employs a modified gamma thermometer for determining the liquid coolant level within a nuclear reactor core. The gamma thermometer which normally is employed to monitor local core heat generation rate (reactor power), is modified by thermocouple junctions and leads to obtain an unambiguous indication of the presence or absence of coolant liquid at the gamma thermometer location. A signal processor generates a signal based on the thermometer surface heat transfer coefficient by comparing the signals from the thermocouples at the thermometer location. The generated signal is a direct indication of loss of coolant due to the change in surface heat transfer when coolant liquid drops below the thermometer location. The loss of coolant indication is independent of reactor power at the thermometer location. Further, the same thermometer may still be used for the normal power monitoring function.
- Inventors:
-
- (Knoxville, TN)
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN
- OSTI Identifier:
- 864709
- Patent Number(s):
- 4406011
- Assignee:
- Burns, Thomas J. (Knoxville, TN) ORNL
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- gamma; thermometer; based; reactor; core; liquid; level; detector; provided; employs; modified; determining; coolant; nuclear; normally; employed; monitor; local; heat; generation; rate; power; thermocouple; junctions; leads; obtain; unambiguous; indication; presence; absence; location; signal; processor; generates; surface; transfer; coefficient; comparing; signals; thermocouples; generated; direct; loss; due; change; drops; below; independent; normal; monitoring; function; signal based; processor generates; coolant level; generated signal; liquid coolant; signal processor; nuclear reactor; heat transfer; reactor core; liquid level; level detector; coolant liquid; reactor power; thermocouple junctions; surface heat; transfer coefficient; drops below; gamma thermometer; signal process; heat generation; core heat; core liquid; thermocouple junction; liquid drop; /376/976/
Citation Formats
Burns, Thomas J. Gamma thermometer based reactor core liquid level detector. United States: N. p., 1983.
Web.
Burns, Thomas J. Gamma thermometer based reactor core liquid level detector. United States.
Burns, Thomas J. Sat .
"Gamma thermometer based reactor core liquid level detector". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/864709.
@article{osti_864709,
title = {Gamma thermometer based reactor core liquid level detector},
author = {Burns, Thomas J.},
abstractNote = {A system is provided which employs a modified gamma thermometer for determining the liquid coolant level within a nuclear reactor core. The gamma thermometer which normally is employed to monitor local core heat generation rate (reactor power), is modified by thermocouple junctions and leads to obtain an unambiguous indication of the presence or absence of coolant liquid at the gamma thermometer location. A signal processor generates a signal based on the thermometer surface heat transfer coefficient by comparing the signals from the thermocouples at the thermometer location. The generated signal is a direct indication of loss of coolant due to the change in surface heat transfer when coolant liquid drops below the thermometer location. The loss of coolant indication is independent of reactor power at the thermometer location. Further, the same thermometer may still be used for the normal power monitoring function.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1983},
month = {1}
}