Sodium-cesium ionization detector
AssigneeTerraPower, LLC
InventorsRobert Alan Corbin, David Nash, Christopher M. Regan, Shane Schweiger, Randy Thompson, Jacob Wilcox
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Sodium-cesium detection systems and methods for the simultaneous detection of both sodium (Na) and cesium (Cs) in gas are provided. The detection systems include two non-identical ionization chambers each having an anode and a cathode that ionize Na and Cs in gas. Each ionization chamber generates a current proportional to the Na and Cs concentration and based on the current, Na concentration and Cs concentration in the gas is determined.
Claims21
A detector comprising:
- a first ionization chamber having a first anode and a first cathode, the first anode having a first anode geometry;
- and
- a second ionization chamber having a second anode and a second cathode, the second anode having a second anode geometry different from the first anode geometry.
A sodium-cesium detector comprising:
- a first ionization chamber having a heated, coiled anode within a tubular cathode and outputting a first current proportional to sodium and cesium ions flowing through the first ionization chamber;
- a second ionization chamber having a heated, straight anode within a tubular cathode and outputting a second current proportional to sodium and cesium ions flowing through the second ionization chamber;
- and
- a data processor outputting a sodium concentration and a cesium concentration based on the first current and the second current.
A method of monitoring a gas for two analytes comprising:
- flowing gas through a first ionization chamber, thereby creating a first ionization current that is a known first function, F1, of the concentration of a first analyte and a second analyte;
- flowing gas through a second ionization chamber, thereby creating a second ionization current that is a known second function, F2, of the concentration of a first analyte and a second analyte;
- analyzing the first and second currents to determine a concentration of the first and second analytes based on the first function, F1, and the second function, F2;
- comparing the concentration of at least one analyte to a threshold;
- and
- generating a signal upon determination that the concentration of at least one analyte exceeds the threshold.
A sodium-cooled nuclear reactor comprising:
- a reactor core;
- a sodium coolant system;
- a reactor control system;
- and
- at least one sodium-cesium detector, each sodium-cesium detector having:
- a first ionization chamber having a heated, coiled anode within a tubular cathode and outputting a first current proportional to sodium and cesium ions flowing through the first ionization chamber;
- a second ionization chamber having a heated, straight anode within a tubular cathode and outputting a second current proportional to sodium and cesium ions flowing through the second ionization chamber;
- and
- a data processor outputting to the reactor control system a sodium concentration and a cesium concentration determined based on the first current and the second current.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.