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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.net.2020.01.027

Fiber-optic humidity sensor system for the monitoring and detection of coolant leakage in nuclear power plants  

Kim, Hye Jin (Chung-Ang University, School of Energy Systems Engineering)
Shin, Hyun Young (Chung-Ang University, School of Energy Systems Engineering)
Pyeon, Cheol Ho (Kyoto University, Research Reactor Institute)
Kim, Sin (Chung-Ang University, School of Energy Systems Engineering)
Lee, Bongsoo (Chung-Ang University, School of Energy Systems Engineering)
Publication Information
Nuclear Engineering and Technology / v.52, no.8, 2020 , pp. 1689-1696 More about this Journal
Abstract
In this study, we developed a fiber-optic humidity sensor (FOHS) system for the monitoring and detection of coolant leakage in nuclear power plants. The FOHS system includes an FOHS, a spectrometer, a halogen white-light source, and a Y-coupler. The FOHS is composed of a humidity-sensing material, a metal tube, a multi-mode plastic optical fiber, and a subminiature version A (SMA) fiber-optic connector. The humidity-sensing material is synthesized from a mixture of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) in distilled water. We measured the optical intensity of the light signals reflected from the FOHS placed inside the humidity chamber with relative humidity (RH) variation from 40 to 95%. We found that the optical intensity of the sensing probe increased linearly with the RH. The reversibility and reproducibility of the FOHS were also evaluated.
Keywords
Coolant leakage; Fiber-optic humidity sensor; Relative humidity; Humidity-sensing material;
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