Oscillation power monitoring system and method for nuclear reactors
US5174946A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 22, 1991 |
| Grant date | Dec 29, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 22, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E30/30
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
To detect core-wide and regional neutron flux oxcillations in a nuclear reactor core induced by thermal-hydraulic instabilities, local power range monitoring (LPRM) strings radially distributed throughout the core and having plural vertically spaced neutron flux detectors are locally assigned to individual oscillation power range monitoring (OPRM) cells radially distributed throughout the core. Groups of OPRM cells are assigned to different OPRM channels based on their geographical positions. Detector signals of the LPRM strings assigned to each OPRM cell are processed pursuant to a unique trip algorithm to detect neutron flux oscillations, and, upon meeting prescribed amplitude and frequency criteria, the assigned OPRM channel is tripped. Suppression of a thermal hydraulic instability is initiated when at least two OPRM channels assigned to geographically adjacent OPRM cells are tripped.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.