Count-doubling time safety circuit
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
InventorsGordon K. Rusch, Donald J. Keefe, William P. McDowell
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Abstract
There is provided a nuclear reactor count-factor-increase time monitoring circuit which includes a pulse-type neutron detector, and means for counting the number of detected pulses during specific time periods. Counts are compared and the comparison is utilized to develop a reactor scram signal, if necessary.
Claims5
A rate of change of reactor power level count-factor-increase time monitor for developing a scram signal with the count-factor-increase time less than or equal to a particular value corresponding to an asymptotic period T, comprising a pulse-type neutron detector having a pulsed output developing pulses corresponding to the incidence of a neutron thereon, means coupled to said detector for counting the number of pulses N.sub.1 therefrom during a first time period .DELTA.t, means coupled to said detector for counting the number of pulses N.sub.2 therefrom during a next time period .DELTA.t divided by n, said next time period .DELTA.t beginning at the end of said first time period .DELTA.t, where n is greater than 1 and .DELTA.t=T(1n n), and comparator means coupled to both said means for counting and being responsive to the values counted thereof to develop a scram signal with N.sub.2 .gtoreq.1.1N.sub.1 during said next time period.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.