Patent US3860480A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3860480A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Reactor core component vibration monitro
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1973-01-29
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Granted: 1975-01-14
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Expires: 1993-01-29
Abstract
Abstract A method and system is disclosed which employs the neutron signals emanating from the core of a nuclear reactor to monitor reactor core component vibration, on line, during normal operation. At least two neutron detectors are disposed at diametrically opposed spaced points around the periphery of the core. The phase relationship of the spectral components of the respective signals generated by the detectors provide information as to both the magnitude and direction of the motion of the core. By subtracting the respective detector signals an out of phase signal is obtained which is proportional to the amplitude of the core component lateral vibration along the line of the detectors. Similarly, by adding the respective detector signals an in phase signal is obtained, which is proportional to the amplitude of the core component vertical vibration transverse to the line of the detectors. Additional means for normalizing the corresponding A.C. and D.C. components of the respective signals provides vibration measurements which are independent of reactor power level. The addition of a second pair of diametrically opposed neutron detectors around the periphery of the core in spaced relationship to the first pair of detectors provides information which completely defines the magnitude and direction of core vibration.
Inventors
- 👤 Marc F M Carteus
- 👤 Raj Gopal
- 👤 Derek T Rawle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 22:30
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C17/00; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
A nuclear reactor pressure vessel core component vibration monitor comprising: first means, positioned outside the core, responsive to the neutron activity occurring within the core having a spectral component representative of the relative motion of the core to provide outputs indicative thereof; and second circuit means communicatively coupled with said first means and analytically operable on the outputs thereof to process the outputs into a measurement indicative of core vibration.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
70 words
A nuclear reactor pressure vessel core component vibration monitor comprising: first means, positioned outside the core, responsive to the neutron activity occurring within the core having a spectral component representative of the relative motion of the core to provide outputs indicative thereof; and second circuit means communicatively coupled with said first means and analytically operable on the outputs thereof to process the outputs into a measurement indicative of core vibration.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
89 words
The nuclear reactor pressure vessel core component vibration monitor of claim 1 wherein said first means comprises: a first detector responsive to the neutron activity emanating from the core to provide an electrical output representative thereof, said first detector positioned adjacent the core along the periphery of the pressure vessel; and a second detector responsive to the neutron activity emanating from the core to provide an electrical output representative thereof, said second detector positioned adjacent the core along the periphery of the pressure vessel diametrically opposite said first detector.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The neclear reactor pressure vessel core component vibration monitor of claim 2 wherein said second means includes means for adding the respective outputs from said first and second detectors to obtain a signal representative of core vibration in a direction transverse to a line drawn between said detectors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The nuclear reactor pressure vessel core component vibration monitor of claim 2 wherein said second means includes means for subtracting the respective outputs from said first and second detectors to obtain a signal representative of core vibration along the line of said detectors.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
The nuclear reactor pressure vessel core component vibration monitor of claim 2 including: means for separating corresponding AC and DC components of the respective output signals of said first and second detectors; and means for normalizing the corresponding AC components to the respective DC components of said first and second detectors to remove the affect of reactor power on the resulting signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
102 words
The nuclear reactor pressure vessel core component vibration monitor of claim 2 including: a thirs detector responsive to the neutron activity emanating from the core of a nuclear reactor to provide an electrical output representative thereof, said third detector positoned adjacent the core in spaced relationship to said first and second detectors along the periphery of the pressure vessel; and a fourth detector responsive to the neutron activity emanating from the core of a nuclear reactor to provide an electrical output representative thereof, said fourth detector positioned adjacent the core along the periphery of the pressure vessel diametrically opposite said third detector.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
THe nuclear reactor pressure vessel core component vibration monitor of claim 6 wherein the core diameter defined by said first and second detectors is oriented at right angles to the core diameter defined by said third and fourth detectors.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
75 words
A method for measuring nuclear reactor pressure vessel core component vibration comprising the steps of: measuring the neutron activity emanating from the core of a nuclear reactor at at least two diametrically opposed spaced points around the periphery of the reactor core to obtain corresponding electrical signals representative thereof; and electrically processing the electrical signals indicative of the measurements obtained at said two spaced points to determine the amplitude and direction of core component vibration.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
75 words
A method for measuring nuclear reactor pressure vessel core component vibration comprising the steps of: measuring the neutron activity emanating from the core of a nuclear reactor at at least two diametrically opposed spaced points around the periphery of the reactor core to obtain corresponding electrical signals representative thereof; and electrically processing the electrical signals indicative of the measurements obtained at said two spaced points to determine the amplitude and direction of core component vibration.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said processing step includes the step of electrically subtracting the corresponding signals indicative of the measurements obtained at said two spaced points to obtain an out of phase signal representative of core vibration along the line drawn between said two diametrically opposed spaced points.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said processing step includes the step of electrically adding the corresponding signals indicative of the measurements obtained at said two spaced points to obtain an in phase signal representative of core vibration in a direction transverse to a line drawn between said two diametrically opposed spaced points.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 8 including the step of electrically normalizing the corresponding measurements obtained at said two spaced points with respect to the operating power level of the core.
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) | 1978-01-13 | 1978-07-15 | 1979-01-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-01-13 | 1982-07-15 | 1983-01-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-01-13 | 1986-07-15 | 1987-01-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |