System and method for determining noble metal concentrations in reactor coolant streams

摘要

A system and method for determining a noble metal concentration in a sample that is representative of a noble metal concentration in either a volume of water circulated through a nuclear reactor or a surface of a nuclear reactor component exposed to the volume of water. The system comprises: at least one standard having a predetermined concentration of the noble metal disposed its surface; an electrolyte bath for immersing one of the sample and the standard therein; an auxiliary electrode connectable to one of the sample and the standard; a power source connectable to a reference electrode and one of the standard and the sample; and a current measurement device capable of measuring a current passing between the auxiliary electrode and one of the sample and the standard. The power source is capable of providing a potential across the reference electrode and one of the sample and the standard, The noble metal concentration in the sample is determined relative to the predetermined concentration in the standard by comparing a sample current passing through the sample to a standard current passing through the standard.