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Patent US3849655A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3849655A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Light water reactor primary coolant leakage monitor
Assignee: Combustion Engineering Inc
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Filing: 1972-12-15
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Granted: 1974-11-19
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Expires: 1992-12-15
Abstract
Abstract This invention consists of a method for the detection of leakage of a first fluid into a second fluid or into the surrounding atmospheric envelope. The first fluid is irradiated with high energy radiation to produce radionuclides which decay with the characteristic emission of angularly correlated radiations. One example of such a radionuclide is a positron emitter which decays with the emission of a positron which immediately annihilates with an electron. Two gamma photons are released from the positron-electron annihilation event and the gamma photons propagate in opposite directions. A sample of the second fluid is monitored by at least two scintillation detectors oriented to correspond with the characteristic angles of the angularly correlated radiations. The detectors are electrically connected to coincidence circuitry. Only those pairs of radiation emissions which simultaneously activate the angularly positioned scintillation detectors are registered on a counter.
Inventors
- 👤 J Martucci
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 17:35
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01M; G01M3/00; G01M3/02; G01M3/04; G01M3/20; G01M3/22; G01M3/226; G01M3/228; G21; G21C; G21C17/00; G21C17/002; G21C17/02; G21C17/022; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30; Y10; Y10S; Y10S376/00; Y10S376/913
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A METHOD FOR THE DETECTION OF LEAKAGE FROM THE REACTOR COOLANT PRESSURE BOUNDARY OF A WATER COOLED REACTOR WHICH IS SURROUNDED BY A CONTAINMENT FLUID WHEREIN SAID REACTOR COOLANT IS IRRADIATED WITH HIGH ENERGY PROTONS TO ACTIVATE OXYGEN NUCLEI TO PRODUCE NITROGEN-13 WHICH IS CHEMICALLY BOUND IN AMMONIA MOLECULES, THE METHOD COMPRISING: A. SAMPLING SAID FLUID SURROUNDING THE EXTERIOR OF SAID REACTOR COOLANT PRESSURE BOUNDARY; B. ABSORBING SAID NITROGEN-13 AND AMMONIA, ON A MOLECULAR SIEVE; C. DETECTING GAMMA PHOTONS EMANATING FROM SAID NITROGEN13 BY AT LEAST ONE PAIR OF DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED MUTUALLY FACING RADIATION DETECTORS RESPONSIVE TO GAMMA PHOTONS; AND D. REGISTERING ONLY THOSE DETECTED GAMMA PHOTONS WHICH SIMULTANEOUSLY ACTIVATE ONE PAIR OF SAID DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED DETECTORS.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
117 words
A METHOD FOR THE DETECTION OF LEAKAGE FROM THE REACTOR COOLANT PRESSURE BOUNDARY OF A WATER COOLED REACTOR WHICH IS SURROUNDED BY A CONTAINMENT FLUID WHEREIN SAID REACTOR COOLANT IS IRRADIATED WITH HIGH ENERGY PROTONS TO ACTIVATE OXYGEN NUCLEI TO PRODUCE NITROGEN-13 WHICH IS CHEMICALLY BOUND IN AMMONIA MOLECULES, THE METHOD COMPRISING: A. SAMPLING SAID FLUID SURROUNDING THE EXTERIOR OF SAID REACTOR COOLANT PRESSURE BOUNDARY; B. ABSORBING SAID NITROGEN-13 AND AMMONIA, ON A MOLECULAR SIEVE; C. DETECTING GAMMA PHOTONS EMANATING FROM SAID NITROGEN13 BY AT LEAST ONE PAIR OF DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED MUTUALLY FACING RADIATION DETECTORS RESPONSIVE TO GAMMA PHOTONS; AND D. REGISTERING ONLY THOSE DETECTED GAMMA PHOTONS WHICH SIMULTANEOUSLY ACTIVATE ONE PAIR OF SAID DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED DETECTORS.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
69 words
A method of monitoring nuclear reactor stack discharge vapors for radioactive contamination resulting from the leakage of irradiated water, the method comprising: a. detecting the presence of positron emitting radionuclides by at least one pair of diametrically opposed mutually facing detectors responsive to gamma photons situated around the exterior of said stack; and b. registering only those gamma photons which simultaneously activate one pair of said diametrically opposed detectors.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
69 words
A method of monitoring nuclear reactor stack discharge vapors for radioactive contamination resulting from the leakage of irradiated water, the method comprising: a. detecting the presence of positron emitting radionuclides by at least one pair of diametrically opposed mutually facing detectors responsive to gamma photons situated around the exterior of said stack; and b. registering only those gamma photons which simultaneously activate one pair of said diametrically opposed detectors.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of monitoring a nuclear reactor air ejection vent for discharge of radioactive water vapors, the method comprising: a. detecting the presence of nitrogen-13 by at least one pair of diametrically opposed mutually facing detectors responsive to gamma photons which are situated around the exterior of said air ejection vent; and b. registering only those gamma photons which simultaneously activate one pair of said diametrically opposed detectors.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of monitoring a nuclear reactor air ejection vent for discharge of radioactive water vapors, the method comprising: a. detecting the presence of nitrogen-13 by at least one pair of diametrically opposed mutually facing detectors responsive to gamma photons which are situated around the exterior of said air ejection vent; and b. registering only those gamma photons which simultaneously activate one pair of said diametrically opposed detectors.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
91 words
A method for the detection of leakage from a fluid containing system, one element of said fluid consisting of oxygen, the steps comprising: a. irradiating said fluid with protons to activate the nuclei of said oxygen to produce fluorine-18; b. sampling the fluid surrounding the exterior of said fluid containing system; c. detecting angularly correlated gamma photons emanating from said sample by at least one pair of diametrically opposed mutually facing radiation detectors; and d. registering only those detected gamma photons which simultaneously activate one pair of said diametrically opposed detectors.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
91 words
A method for the detection of leakage from a fluid containing system, one element of said fluid consisting of oxygen, the steps comprising: a. irradiating said fluid with protons to activate the nuclei of said oxygen to produce fluorine-18; b. sampling the fluid surrounding the exterior of said fluid containing system; c. detecting angularly correlated gamma photons emanating from said sample by at least one pair of diametrically opposed mutually facing radiation detectors; and d. registering only those detected gamma photons which simultaneously activate one pair of said diametrically opposed detectors.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for the detection of leakage from the reactor coolant pressure boundary of a water cooled reactor wherein said reactor coolant is irradiated with high energy protons to activate oxygen-18 nuclei to produce fluorine-18, the steps comprising: a. sampling the fluid around said reactor coolant pressure boundary; b. absorbing said fluorine-18 on a molecular sieve; c. detecting gamma photons emanating from said fluorine-18 by at least one pair of diametrically opposed mutually facing radiation detectors responsive to gamma photons; and d. registering only those detected gamma photons which simultaneously activate one pair of said diametrically opposed detectors.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for the detection of leakage from the reactor coolant pressure boundary of a water cooled reactor wherein said reactor coolant is irradiated with high energy protons to activate oxygen-18 nuclei to produce fluorine-18, the steps comprising: a. sampling the fluid around said reactor coolant pressure boundary; b. absorbing said fluorine-18 on a molecular sieve; c. detecting gamma photons emanating from said fluorine-18 by at least one pair of diametrically opposed mutually facing radiation detectors responsive to gamma photons; and d. registering only those detected gamma photons which simultaneously activate one pair of said diametrically opposed detectors.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for the detection of leakage from the reactor coolant pressure boundary of a water cooled reactor which is surrounded by a second fluid wherein said reactor coolant is irradiated with high energy protons to activate oxygen nuclei to produce nitrogen-13 which is chemically bound in ammonia molecules, the method comprising: a. sampling said fluid surrounding the exterior of said reactor coolant pressure boundary; b. detecting gamma photons emanating from said nitrogen-13 by at least one pair of diametrically opposed mutually facing radiation detectors responsive to gamma photons; and c. registering only those detected gamma photons which simultaneously activate one pair of said diametrically opposed detectors.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for the detection of leakage from the reactor coolant pressure boundary of a water cooled reactor which is surrounded by a second fluid wherein said reactor coolant is irradiated with high energy protons to activate oxygen nuclei to produce nitrogen-13 which is chemically bound in ammonia molecules, the method comprising: a. sampling said fluid surrounding the exterior of said reactor coolant pressure boundary; b. detecting gamma photons emanating from said nitrogen-13 by at least one pair of diametrically opposed mutually facing radiation detectors responsive to gamma photons; and c. registering only those detected gamma photons which simultaneously activate one pair of said diametrically opposed detectors.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of detecting leakage of a first fluid containing positron emitting radionuclides into a second fluid of lower relative pressure lacking positron emitting radionuclides wherein said first fluid is the coolant of a nuclear steam supply system and said positron emitting radionuclide is nitrogen-13, the method comprising: a. sampling the second fluid; b. detecting radiation emanating from said sample by at least one pair of diametrically opposed mUtually facing radiation detectors; and c. registering only those gamma photons which simultaneously activate one pair of said diametrically opposed radiation detectors.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of detecting leakage of a first fluid containing positron emitting radionuclides into a second fluid of lower relative pressure lacking positron emitting radionuclides wherein said first fluid is the coolant of a nuclear steam supply system and said positron emitting radionuclide is nitrogen-13, the method comprising: a. sampling the second fluid; b. detecting radiation emanating from said sample by at least one pair of diametrically opposed mUtually facing radiation detectors; and c. registering only those gamma photons which simultaneously activate one pair of said diametrically opposed radiation detectors.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of detecting the leakage of coolant from a nuclear steam supply system into a second fluid as recited in claim 7 wherein said nitrogen-13 is chemically bound in ammonia molecules, the method further comprising the step of: a. absorbing said nitrogen-13 and ammonia on a molecular sieve.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of detecting leakage of a first fluid containing positron emitting radionuclides into a second fluid of lower relative pressure lacking positron emitting radionuclides wherein said first fluid is the coolant of a nuclear steam supply system and said positron emitting radionuclide is fluorine-18, the method comprising: a. sampling the second fluid; b. detecting radiation emanating from said sample by at least one pair of diametrically opposed mutually facing radiation detectors; and c. registering only those gamma photons which simultaneously activate one pair of said diametrically opposed radiation detectors.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of detecting leakage of a first fluid containing positron emitting radionuclides into a second fluid of lower relative pressure lacking positron emitting radionuclides wherein said first fluid is the coolant of a nuclear steam supply system and said positron emitting radionuclide is fluorine-18, the method comprising: a. sampling the second fluid; b. detecting radiation emanating from said sample by at least one pair of diametrically opposed mutually facing radiation detectors; and c. registering only those gamma photons which simultaneously activate one pair of said diametrically opposed radiation detectors.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for the detection of leakage from a fluid containing system, one element of said fluid consisting of oxygen: a. irradiating said fluid with protons to activate the nuclei of said oxygen to produce nitrogen-13; b. sampling the fluid surrounding the exterior of said fluid containing system; c. detecting angularly correlated gamma photons emanating from said sample by at least one pair of diametrically opposed mutually facing radiation detectors; and d. registering only those detected gamma photons which simultaneously activate one pair of said diametrically opposed detectors.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for the detection of leakage from a fluid containing system, one element of said fluid consisting of oxygen: a. irradiating said fluid with protons to activate the nuclei of said oxygen to produce nitrogen-13; b. sampling the fluid surrounding the exterior of said fluid containing system; c. detecting angularly correlated gamma photons emanating from said sample by at least one pair of diametrically opposed mutually facing radiation detectors; and d. registering only those detected gamma photons which simultaneously activate one pair of said diametrically opposed detectors.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method as recited in claim 10 wherein the method further comprises the step of absorbing said nitrogen-13 from said fluid sample on an absorbent bed intermediate the steps of sampling said surrounding fluid and of detecting said gamma photons.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said absorbent bed is a molecular sieve.
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) | 1977-11-18 | 1978-05-20 | 1978-11-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-18 | 1982-05-20 | 1982-11-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-18 | 1986-05-20 | 1986-11-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |