Wireless in-core neutron monitor

摘要

An in-core neutron monitor that employs vacuum microelectronic devices to configure an in-core instrument thimble assembly that monitors and wirelessly transmits a number of reactor parameters directly from the core of a nuclear reactor without the use of external cabling. The in-core instrument thimble assembly is substantially wholly contained within an instrument guide tube within a nuclear fuel assembly.

主权项

1. A nuclear reactor in-core detector system including an in-core nuclear instrument thimble assembly comprising:
a self-powered, fixed, in-core detector for monitoring a reactor core parameter indicative of a state of a reactor core and providing an electrical output representative of the monitored parameter; a wireless transmitter connected to receive the electrical output, wherein the wireless transmitter comprises a number of electronic components at least one of which is a Vacuum Micro-Electric Device configured as a vacuum diode placed in a grid circuit of an amplifier which is connected to the electrical output of the self-powered, fixed, in-core detector and responds substantially logarithmically, thus enabling the electronic components to follow the monitored neutron flux from startup through full power of a nuclear reactor in which the in-core detector system is disposed; and wherein substantially the entire in-core nuclear instrument thimble assembly is wholly contained within an instrument thimble within a nuclear fuel assembly without any in-core detector wiring external to the instrument thimble, inside a reactor vessel in which the in-core detector system is disposed.