US3818231A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
N-16 nuclear reactor coolant flow rate measuring system
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1971-07-20
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Granted: 1974-06-18
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Expires: 1991-07-20
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus is disclosed for measuring the primary coolant flow rate in the coolant loops of a nuclear reactor which utilizes the statistical variation of the N-16 activity in the coolant water. The flow rate is calculated based upon knowing the distance between two N-16 detectors positioned along the reactor coolant loops and determining the time which elapses for an activity pattern to travel from one detector to a second detector positioned downstream.
Inventors
- 👤 R Gopal
- 👤 H Weiss
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 05:24
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F1/00; G01F1/704; G01F1/708; G01F1/712; G21; G21C; G21C17/00; G21C17/10; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
A system for measuring the rate of coolant flow within a coolant loop of a nuclear reactor which comprises: a first detector responsive to the delayed gamma radiation emanating from the nitrogen 16 activity within the reactor coolant positioned substantially adjacent the coolant loop; a second detector responsive to the delayed gamma radiation emanating from the nitrogen 16 activity within the reactor coolant and positioned substantially adjacent the coolant loop downstream of said first detectoR; and means for cross-correlating the signals received from said first and second detectors and delaying said first detector signal with respect to said second detector signal until said crosscorrelation function reaches a maximum so as to determine the delay time between corresponding points in said first and second detector signals.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
125 words
A system for measuring the rate of coolant flow within a coolant loop of a nuclear reactor which comprises: a first detector responsive to the delayed gamma radiation emanating from the nitrogen 16 activity within the reactor coolant positioned substantially adjacent the coolant loop; a second detector responsive to the delayed gamma radiation emanating from the nitrogen 16 activity within the reactor coolant and positioned substantially adjacent the coolant loop downstream of said first detectoR; and means for cross-correlating the signals received from said first and second detectors and delaying said first detector signal with respect to said second detector signal until said crosscorrelation function reaches a maximum so as to determine the delay time between corresponding points in said first and second detector signals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first and second detectors are substantially surrounded by lead collimators assuring that the radiation from only a small portion of the coolant volume is received by said first and second detectors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said correlating means comprises an electronic correlator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
82 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said electronic correlator comprises: a variable delay line having an input from said first detector and an output; means for varying the delay time of said delay line so as to delay the output of said first detector with respect to time; and electrical means for arithmetically operating on said delay line output and said second detector output for determining the delay time between corresponding points in the signals received from said first and second detectors.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said electrical means comprises: means for summing the outputs from said delay line and said second detector; and means for indicating the delay time that produces a maximum output from said summing means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the reactor coolant loop has a hot and cold leg and said first and second detectors are positioned along the hot leg of said coolant loop.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of measuring the coolant flow rate within a coolant loop of a nuclear reactor comprising the steps of: detecting the gamma radiation of irregularly fluctuating magnitude emanating from the nitrogen 16 activity within the reactor coolant at a first position along the reactor coolant loop; detecting the gamma radiation of irregularly fluctuating magnitude emanating from the nitrogen 16 activity within the reactor coolant at a second position along the reactor coolant loop downstream of said first position; correlating the fluctuating gamma radiation signals received from said first and second positions respectively; and determining the delay time between corresponding points in said fluctuating signals.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of measuring the coolant flow rate within a coolant loop of a nuclear reactor comprising the steps of: detecting the gamma radiation of irregularly fluctuating magnitude emanating from the nitrogen 16 activity within the reactor coolant at a first position along the reactor coolant loop; detecting the gamma radiation of irregularly fluctuating magnitude emanating from the nitrogen 16 activity within the reactor coolant at a second position along the reactor coolant loop downstream of said first position; correlating the fluctuating gamma radiation signals received from said first and second positions respectively; and determining the delay time between corresponding points in said fluctuating signals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said correlating step comprises the steps of taking the cross-correlation function of the signals received from said first and second positions, respectively, and said determining step comprises the step of delaying the signal received from said first position with respect to the signal received from said second position until said cross-correlation function is a maximum.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3239663A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-17 | 1977-12-17 | 1978-06-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-17 | 1981-12-17 | 1982-06-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-17 | 1985-12-17 | 1986-06-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |