Neural net controlled tag gas sampling system for nuclear reactors
AssigneeThe University of Chicago
InventorsKenneth C. Gross, Matthew T. Laug, John D. B. Lambert, James P. Herzog
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Abstract
A method and system for providing a tag gas identifier to a nuclear fuel rod and analyze escaped tag gas to identify a particular failed nuclear fuel rod. The method and system include disposing a unique tag gas composition into a plenum of a nuclear fuel rod, monitoring gamma ray activity, analyzing gamma ray signals to assess whether a nuclear fuel rod has failed and is emitting tag gas, activating a tag gas sampling and analysis system upon sensing tag gas emission from a failed nuclear rod and evaluating the escaped tag gas to identify the particular failed nuclear fuel rod.
Claims14
A method of providing nuclear fuel rods with a tag gas and analyzing escaped tag gas to identify a failed nuclear fuel rod in a nuclear reactor, comprising the steps of:
- (a) disposing a unique composition tag gas into a nuclear fuel rod;
- (b) monitoring gamma ray activity associated with the nuclear reactor to generate monitor signals;
- (c) analyzing the monitor signals to diagnose abnormal gamma ray activity associated with escaping tag gas arising from a failed nuclear fuel rod and generating analysis signals;
- and
- (d) activating a tag gas analysis system by generating an activation signal upon detecting the abnormal gamma ray activity, said tag gas analysis system carrying out the steps comprised of:
- (1) passing the escaping tag gas through a dryer to remove water vapor;
- (2) passing the dried tag gas through a catalytic recombiner;
- (3) passing the tag gas through a nitrogen getter;
- (4) passing the tag gas through a helium cryostill to separate the tag gas into separate noble gas constituents;
- (5) collecting the separated noble gas constituents in containers for analysis;
- and
- (6) analyzing the noble gas constituents to enable identifying said failed nuclear fuel rod.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.