Patent US3683272A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3683272A
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Method and apparatus for determining hydrogen concentration in liquid sodium utilizing an ion pump to ionize the hydrogen
Assignee: United States Atomic Energy Commission
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Filing: 1970-11-24
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Granted: 1972-08-08
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Expires: 1990-11-24
Abstract
Abstract A device for and method of measuring hydrogen concentration in liquid sodium to detect water leaks into the sodium. A thin-wall, tubular, annealed nickel probe in contact with liquid sodium is connected to an ion pump. A vacuum is created within said nickel probe by the ion pump, causing hydrogen atoms in the liquid sodium to diffuse through the wall of the probe and be drawn into the ion pump wherein the hydrogen atoms are ionized. The current generated within the ion pump by the ionization of hydrogen atoms is measured, this current being indicative of the hydrogen concentration in the liquid sodium.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald R Vissers
- 👤 John T Holmes
- 👤 Paul A Nelson
- 👤 Louis G Bartholme
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 10:02
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C17/00; G21C17/002; G21C17/02; G21C17/022; G21C17/025; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
29 words
The device according to claim 1 wherein said device includes means for initially decreasing the pressure within said ion pump and said nickel probe to approximately 10 3 Torr.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
43 words
The device according to claim 2 wherein said nickel probe has a wall thickness of 0.008 to 0.020 inch, an inner diameter no greater than 0.5 inch, a length of 1 to 4 inches, and a surface area of 10 to 60 cm2.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The device according to claim 3 wherein said ion pump contains two titanium or one titanium and one tantalum electrodes and has a pumping rate of 1 to 20 liters/second.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
66 words
The device according to claim 4 wherein said means for applying an accurately controlled voltage to said ion pump comprises an ion pump controller, said controller converting an A.C. input to a D.C. output of 2,700 to 5,000 volts D.C. and applying said output voltage to the electrodes of said ion pump, and voltage-regulating means for maintaining said voltage at said sufficiently precise and constant level.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
113 words
The device according to claim 3 wherein said nickel probe comprises a tubular member, said tubular member being 1 inch in length and having an inner diameter of nine thirty-seconds inch and a wall thickness of 0.01 inch; and hollow, circumferential nickel fins, numbering 15 fins per inch of length of said tubular member, having a wall thickness of 0.01 inch and projecting three thirty-seconds inch out from the outer surface of said tubular member, said fins, the interiors of which are open to the interior of said tubular member, providing increased mechanical strength and increased surface area for greater hydrogen diffusion, the surface area of said nickel probe being approximately 40 cm2.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device according to claim 6 wherein said nickel probe has been annealed at 800* C. for 25 to 30 hours.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device according to claim 7 wherein the ion pump contains two titanium electrodes 0.125 inch in thickness and has a pumping rate of 11 liters/second.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
159 words
The device according to claim 8 wherein said means for applying an accurately controlled voltage to said ion pump comprises an ion pump controller, said controller converting a 110 volt A.C. input to a D.C. output of 4,750 volts D.C. and applying said output voltage to the electrodes of said ion pump, and a voltage regulator wherein the voltage applied to the electrodes of said ion Pump is maintained at a sufficiently precise and constant level so as to result in the current in said ion pump being constant to within + or - 0.05 percent for any particular concentration of hydrogen in said liquid sodium; and wherein said means for accurately indicating current in said ion pump comprises a current meter wherein the current generated in said ion pump by the ionization of hydrogen atoms is indicated in terms of the hydrogen concentration in said liquid sodium to a sensitivity of 0.1 ppm + or - 1 percent.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
188 words
A method for measuring hydrogen concentration in liquid sodium comprising connecting a tubular, thin-wall nickel probe to an ion pump, said nickel probe having been annealed at a temperature of 600* to 900* C. for 10 to 60 hours; applying and maintaining a voltage to said ion pump at a sufficiently precise and constant level so as to result in the current in said ion pump being constant to within + or - 0.1 percent for any particular concentration of hydrogen in said ion pump; creating a vacuum with said ion pump of 10 6 to 10 8 Torr within the nickel probe; contacting the outer surface of said nickel probe with liquid sodium, thereby causing hydrogen atoms in said liquid sodium to diffuse through the wall of the nickel probe and into the interior thereof and be drawn into said ion pump wherein the hydrogen atoms are ionized; and measuring the current generated by the ionization of the hydrogen atoms within the ion pump, said current being linearly related to the number of hydrogen atoms ionized and thereby indicative of the hydrogen concentration in the liquid sodium.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
226 words
A method for detecting water leakage into the liquid sodium coolant of a liquid sodium-cooled nuclear reactor comprising connecting a tubular, thin-wall nickel probe to an ion pump, said nickel probe having been annealed at a temperature of 600* to 900* C. for 10 to 60 hours; applying and maintaining a voltage to said ion pump at a sufficiently precise and constant level so as to result in the current in said ion pump being constant to within + or - 0.1 percent for any particular concentration of hydrogen in said ion pump; creating a vacuum with said ion pump of 10 6 to 10 8 Torr within the nickel probe; inserting said nickel probe into the liquid sodium coolant whereby the outer surface of said nickel probe is in contact with the liquid sodium, thereby causing hydrogen atoms in said liquid sodium coolant to diffuse through the wall of the nickel probe and the interior thereof and be drawn into said ion pump wherein the hydrogen atoms are ionized; and continuously measuring the current generated by the ionization of the hydrogen atoms within the ion pump, said current being linearly related to the number of hydrogen atoms ionized and therefore continuously indicating the hydrogen concentration in the liquid sodium, any unexpected increase of said current being indicative of water leakage into said liquid sodium coolant.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-08 | 1976-02-07 | 1976-08-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-08 | 1980-02-07 | 1980-08-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-08 | 1984-02-07 | 1984-08-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |