Method of automatically monitoring the power distribution of a nuclear reactor employing movable incore detectors

Abstract

A method of automatically monitoring the power distribution of a nuclear reactor during normal power operation employing in-core detectors maintained within the thermal environment of the reactor at a prearranged storage location, normally outside the core reactivity region. The detectors are intermittently inserted into the core region according to a periodic predetermined time program. Upon insertion, the detectors are moved along corresponding preselected linear paths which terminate at the detector storage locations. Detector output vs. position is continuously recorded during travel to provide a partial core flux map. Four detectors, arranged in two electronically redundant groups, are alternately inserted into the core at staggered intervals dictated by the time program to obtain the desired flux information. Reinitation of the program is effected upon a given movement of the reactor control rods to remap the corresponding reactivity changes and provide a complete and updated readout of the reactor core power distribution.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.