Nuclear reactor system transmitter device structured to wirelessly emit a signal based on detected neutron flux
AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corp.
InventorLyman J. Petrosky
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Abstract
Disclosed is a transmitter device comprising a neutron detector structured to generate electrical current from neutron flux, and an oscillator circuit comprising an electrostatic switch electrically connected to the neutron detector, wherein the electrostatic switch is moveable based on the neutron detector. The transmitter device further comprises an antenna electrically connected with the electrostatic switch. The oscillator circuit is structured to pulse the antenna based on the neutron detector, wherein a period between pulses is related to the neutron flux. The antenna is structured to emit a signal corresponding to a number of characteristic values of the oscillator circuit.
Claims17
A transmitter device comprising:
- a neutron detector structured to generate electrical current from neutron flux;
- an oscillator circuit comprising an electrostatic switch electrically connected to said neutron detector, wherein said electrostatic switch is moveable based on the neutron detector;
- and
- an antenna electrically connected with said electrostatic switch,
- wherein said oscillator circuit is structured to pulse said antenna based on the neutron detector,
- wherein a period between pulses is related to the neutron flux, and
- wherein said antenna is structured to emit a signal corresponding to a number of characteristic values of said oscillator circuit.
A nuclear reactor system comprising:
- a fuel assembly having a fuel rod;
- and
- a transmitter device comprising:
- a neutron detector disposed within said fuel rod, said neutron detector being structured to generate electrical current from neutron flux,
- an oscillator circuit comprising an electrostatic switch electrically connected to said neutron detector, wherein said electrostatic switch is moveable based on the neutron detector, and
- an antenna electrically connected with said electrostatic switch,
- wherein said oscillator circuit is structured to pulse said antenna based on the neutron detector,
- wherein a period between pulses is related to the neutron flux, and
- wherein said antenna is structured to emit a signal corresponding to a number of characteristic values of said oscillator circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.