Ion chamber radiation detector
AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corp.
InventorMichael D. Heibel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An in-core nuclear detector for detecting the neutron population surrounding the detector. The detector is an ion chamber having a cylindrical outer electrode that is insulated from a central electrode and capped to contain an Argon gas. An electron radiator that produces prompt neutron capture gamma radiation that is substantially, directly proportional to the local neutron population is disposed between the outer tubular electrode and the central electrode.
Claims17
An ion chamber radiation detector with enhanced fission gamma radiation response comprising:
- an outer tubular cathode electrode having an upper and lower end;
- a lower electrically insulated end cap closing off the lower end of the outer tubular electrode;
- an upper electrically insulated end cap closing off the upper end of the outer tubular electrode;
- a central anode electrode extending substantially from the lower end cap up and through the upper end cap;
- an electron radiator that produces prompt neutron capture gamma radiation that is substantially, directly proportional to the local neutron population disposed between and spaced from the outer tubular electrode and the central electrode;
- and
- a filler gas occupying the space between the outer tubular electrode, the central electrode, the electron radiator, the upper electrically insulated end cap and the lower electrically insulated end cap.
A nuclear reactor power distribution monitoring system having a plurality of in-core detectors that monitor power at different axial and radial locations within a core of the nuclear reactor, the in-core detectors comprising ion chambers comprising;
- an outer tubular cathode electrode having an upper and lower end;
- a lower electrically insulated end cap closing of the lower end of the outer tubular electrode;
- an upper electrically insulated end cap closing off the upper end of the outer tubular electrode;
- a central anode electrode extending substantially from the lower end cap up and through the upper end cap;
- an electron radiator that produces prompt neutron capture gamma radiation that is substantially, directly proportional to the local neutron population disposed between the outer tubular electrode and the central electrode;
- an electrical bias electrically connected to the anode;
- a ground connected to the cathode;
- and
- a filler gas occupying the space between the outer tubular electrode, the electron radiator, the upper electrically insulated end cap and the lower electrically insulated end cap.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.