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New flux detectors for CANDU 6 reactors

Abstract

CANDU reactors utilize large numbers of in-core self-powered detectors for control and protection. In the original design, the detectors (coaxial cables) were wound on carrier tubes and immersed in the heavy water moderator. Failures occurred due to corrosion and other factors, and replacement was very costly because the assemblies were not designed with maintenance in mind. A new design was conceived based on straight detectors, of larger diameter, in a sealed package of individual `well` tubes. This protected the detectors from hostile environments and enabled individual failed sensors to be replaced by inserting spares in vacant neighbouring tubes. The new design was made retrofittable to older CANDU reactors. Provision was made for on-line scanning of the core with a miniature fission chamber. The modified detectors were tested in a lengthy development program and found to exhibit superior performance to that of the original detectors. Most of the CANDU reactors have now adopted the new design. In the case of the Gentilly-2 and Point Lepreau reactors, advantage was taken of the opportunity to redesign the detector layout (using better codes and the increased flexibility in positioning detectors) to achieve better coverage of abnormal events, leading to higher trip setpoints and wider  More>>
Publication Date:
Jun 01, 1992
Product Type:
Technical Report
Report Number:
AECL-10227
Reference Number:
SCA: 220400; 210400; PA: AIX-24:007111; SN: 93000931966
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: Jun 1992
Subject:
22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS; 21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS; GENTILLY-2 REACTOR; FISSION CHAMBERS; DESIGN; FAILURES; POINT LEPREAU-1 REACTOR; 220400; 210400; CONTROL SYSTEMS; POWER REACTORS, NONBREEDING, OTHERWISE MODERATED OR UNMODERATED
OSTI ID:
10118995
Research Organizations:
Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., Sheridan Park, ON (Canada). CANDU Operations
Country of Origin:
Canada
Language:
English
Other Identifying Numbers:
Other: ON: DE93612299; TRN: CA9201037007111
Availability:
OSTI; NTIS (US Sales Only); INIS
Submitting Site:
INIS
Size:
[21] p.
Announcement Date:
Jun 30, 2005

Citation Formats

Cuttler, J M, and Medak, N. New flux detectors for CANDU 6 reactors. Canada: N. p., 1992. Web.
Cuttler, J M, & Medak, N. New flux detectors for CANDU 6 reactors. Canada.
Cuttler, J M, and Medak, N. 1992. "New flux detectors for CANDU 6 reactors." Canada.
@misc{etde_10118995,
title = {New flux detectors for CANDU 6 reactors}
author = {Cuttler, J M, and Medak, N}
abstractNote = {CANDU reactors utilize large numbers of in-core self-powered detectors for control and protection. In the original design, the detectors (coaxial cables) were wound on carrier tubes and immersed in the heavy water moderator. Failures occurred due to corrosion and other factors, and replacement was very costly because the assemblies were not designed with maintenance in mind. A new design was conceived based on straight detectors, of larger diameter, in a sealed package of individual `well` tubes. This protected the detectors from hostile environments and enabled individual failed sensors to be replaced by inserting spares in vacant neighbouring tubes. The new design was made retrofittable to older CANDU reactors. Provision was made for on-line scanning of the core with a miniature fission chamber. The modified detectors were tested in a lengthy development program and found to exhibit superior performance to that of the original detectors. Most of the CANDU reactors have now adopted the new design. In the case of the Gentilly-2 and Point Lepreau reactors, advantage was taken of the opportunity to redesign the detector layout (using better codes and the increased flexibility in positioning detectors) to achieve better coverage of abnormal events, leading to higher trip setpoints and wider operating margins.}
place = {Canada}
year = {1992}
month = {Jun}
}