Nuclear reactor system, transmitter device therefor, and associated method of measuring a number of environmental conditions

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, and
• an antenna electrically connected with said electrostatic switch,
• wherein said oscillator circuit is structured to pulse said antenna, and
• wherein said antenna is structured to emit a signal corresponding to a number of characteristic values of said oscillator circuit.

A method of measuring a number of environmental conditions with a transmitter device, said 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, and an antenna electrically connected with said electrostatic switch, wherein said oscillator circuit is structured to pulse said antenna, said oscillator circuit further comprising a capacitor and an inductor configured to be electrically connected with said capacitor, said capacitor being electrically connected with said neutron detector, the method comprising the steps of:

• generating the electrical current with said neutron detector;
• storing energy in said capacitor until a trigger voltage of said electrostatic switch is reached;
• and
• emitting a signal with said antenna corresponding to a number of characteristic values of said oscillator circuit.