US3898467A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for continuous monitoring and control of neutron absorption properties of chemical shim with temperature compensation
Assignee: Combustion Engineering Inc
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Filing: 1974-03-18
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Granted: 1975-08-05
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Expires: 1994-03-18
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method of operation thereof, to continuously monitor and control the neutron absorption properties of chemical shim used in regulating reactivity of a pressurized water nuclear reactor. Coolant-moderator fluid, containing soluble chemical shim with a neutron absorption property is continuously passed through a chamber having at least one neutron detector spaced from a neutron source of known strength. Utilizing the neutron absorptiometery principle, a signal relating to the concentration of the chemical shim in the coolant-moderator is derived. In addition, the temperature of the sample of coolant is obtained and a temperature compensation signal is generated. The signal related to chemical shim concentration is modified by the temperature compensation signal to correct for temperature related effects. The corrected signal is then applied to a readout and alarm device so that constant monitoring of the shim concentration may be accomplished; additionally, the signal may be applied to maintain the concentration of the chemical shim in the coolant-moderator at a desired level.
Inventors
- 👤 Glen Elwin Schukei
- 👤 Joseph Edward Kowles
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 00:28
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N23/00; G01N23/02; G01N23/06; G01N23/09
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
In combination with a chemical shim concentration analyzer of the type wherein a sample of liquid containing dissolved chemical shim is bombarded with neutrons and a flux of unabsorbed neutrons is detected after passing through the liquid sample by neutron detectors spaced from the neutron source to generate a signal related to chemical shim concentration, the improvement comprising: a. means for generating a temperature signal (T) which varies as a function of the temperature of said liquid through which said detected neutrons pass unabsorbed; b. means responsive to said temperature signal generation means for generating a compensation signal commensurate with change of liquid sample chemical shim concentration due to change in temperature of said liquid sample; and c. means for correcting said signal related to chemical shim concentration by an amount commensurate with said compensation signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
In combination with a chemical shim concentration analyzer of the type wherein a sample of liquid containing dissolved chemical shim is bombarded with neutrons and a flux of unabsorbed neutrons is detected after passing through the liquid sample by neutron detectors spaced from the neutron source to generate a signal related to chemical shim concentration, the improvement comprising: a. means for generating a temperature signal (T) which varies as a function of the temperature of said liquid through which said detected neutrons pass unabsorbed; b. means responsive to said temperature signal generation means for generating a compensation signal commensurate with change of liquid sample chemical shim concentration due to change in temperature of said liquid sample; and c. means for correcting said signal related to chemical shim concentration by an amount commensurate with said compensation signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
79 words
The improvement as recited in claim 1 wherein said means connected to said temperature signal generation means for generating a compensation signal includes: a. means for generating a temperature calibration signal; b. means for comparing said temperature signal to said temperature calibration signal and for generating a difference signal representative of the difference between said temperature signal and said temperature calibration signal; and c. means for generating a compensation signal which varies as function of said temperature difference signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
69 words
The improvement as recited in claim 2 wherein said means for generating a compensation signal which varies as a function of said temperature difference signal includes: a. means for multiplying said signal related to chemical shim concentration by said temperature difference signal to obtain a product signal; and b. means responsive to said temperature difference signal and to said product signal for obtaining a signal commensurate with their sum.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
154 words
In combination with a chemical shim concentration analyzer of the type wherein a sample of liquid containing dissolved chemical shim is bombarded with neutrons and a flux of unabsorbed neutrons is detected after passing through the liquid sample by neutron detectors spaced from the neutron source to generate a signal related to chemical shim concentration, the improvement comprising: a. means for generating a temperature signal (T) which varies as a function of the temperature of said liquid sample through which said detected neutrons pass unabsorbed; b. means responsive to said neutron detectors for generating a concentration signal uncorrected for temperature effects; c. means repsonsive to said temperature signal and to said uncorrected concentration signal for generating a compensation signal commensurate with change of liquid sample chemical shim concentration due to change in temperature of said liquid sample; and d. means for correcting said uncorrected concentration signal by an amount commensurate with said compensation signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
154 words
In combination with a chemical shim concentration analyzer of the type wherein a sample of liquid containing dissolved chemical shim is bombarded with neutrons and a flux of unabsorbed neutrons is detected after passing through the liquid sample by neutron detectors spaced from the neutron source to generate a signal related to chemical shim concentration, the improvement comprising: a. means for generating a temperature signal (T) which varies as a function of the temperature of said liquid sample through which said detected neutrons pass unabsorbed; b. means responsive to said neutron detectors for generating a concentration signal uncorrected for temperature effects; c. means repsonsive to said temperature signal and to said uncorrected concentration signal for generating a compensation signal commensurate with change of liquid sample chemical shim concentration due to change in temperature of said liquid sample; and d. means for correcting said uncorrected concentration signal by an amount commensurate with said compensation signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The improvement as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for correcting said signal related to chemical shim concentration by an amount commensurate with said compensation signal includes a summer which adds said compensation signal to said signal related to said chemical shim concentration.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
199 words
The improvement as recited in claim 1 wherein said means repsonsive to said temperature measuring means for generating a compensation signal includes: a. means for generating a calibration signal commensurate with a calibration temperature (Tcal); b. means responsive to said calibration signal (Tcal) and to said temperature signal (T) for generating a signal commensurate with their difference ( Delta T); c. means responsive to said difference signal ( Delta T) and said signal related to chemical shim concentration (PPM) for generating a signal commensurate with their product (( Delta T) X (PPM)); d. means responsive to said product signal (( Delta T) X (PPM))and to said temperature difference signal ( Delta T) for generating a compensation signal commensurate with their sum (K1 Delta T +K2 ( ( Delta T X (PPM)))where K1 and K2 are gain constants; and e. means responsive to said compensation signal (K1 Delta T +K2 ( ( Delta T) X (PPM))) and to said signal related to said chemical shim concentration (PPM) for adding said compensation signal and said signal related to said chemical shim concentration signal to generate a chemical shim concentration signal corrected for effects caused by the temperature of said liquid sample.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of producing a signal which is proportional to the chemical shim concentration of a liquid sample, comprising the steps of: a. bombarding said liquid sample with neutrons; b. detecting a portion of said neutrons which pass through said liquid sample unabsorbed and generating a signal indicative thereof; c. generating a signal proportional to chemical shim concentration uncompensated for temperature from said signal indicative of unabsorbed neutrons; d. monitoring the temperature of said sample and generating a signal which varies with said temperature; e. generating a chemical shim concentration compensation signal from said temperature signal; and f. correcting said signal proportional to chemical shim concentration uncompensated for temperature by said chemical shim concentration compensation signal.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of producing a signal which is proportional to the chemical shim concentration of a liquid sample, comprising the steps of: a. bombarding said liquid sample with neutrons; b. detecting a portion of said neutrons which pass through said liquid sample unabsorbed and generating a signal indicative thereof; c. generating a signal proportional to chemical shim concentration uncompensated for temperature from said signal indicative of unabsorbed neutrons; d. monitoring the temperature of said sample and generating a signal which varies with said temperature; e. generating a chemical shim concentration compensation signal from said temperature signal; and f. correcting said signal proportional to chemical shim concentration uncompensated for temperature by said chemical shim concentration compensation signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method as claim in claim 7 wherein said step of generating a chemical shim concentration compensation signal includes the steps of: a. multipying said temperature signal by said signal proportional to chemical shim concentration uncompensated for temperature to generate a multiplicative signal; and b. adding to said multiplicative signal said signal which varies with temperature to obtain a compensation signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method as claimed in claim 8 wherein said step of correcting said signal proportional to chemical shim concentration uncompensated for temperature by said chemical shim concentration compensation signal includes the step of: a. adding said compensation signal to said signal proportional to chemical shim concentration uncompensated for temperature.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3602711A
Cited
US3578562A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-08-04 | 1979-02-03 | 1979-08-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-04 | 1983-02-03 | 1983-08-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-04 | 1987-02-03 | 1987-08-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |