• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제52권4호
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• pp.863-868
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• 2020

Co Self-Powered Neutron Detector (SPND) is confronted with the problem of material consumption, which causes the response current can neither reflect the change of neutron flux in time nor be proportional to the neutron flux. In this paper, a deconvolution-based method is established to solve this problem. First of all, a step signal of neutron flux is taken as an example to analyze its performance. When the material consumption of Co SPND is 10%, after compensation, the response current can be in correspondence of neutron flux. Finally, the effects of this model in different Signal-to-Noise Ratio are analyzed, which fully confirms the truth of its excellent performance for compensating Co SPND's signal.

• 센서학회지
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.229-234
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• 2016

Self-powered neutron detector (SPND) is being widely used to monitor the reactor core of the nuclear power plants. The SPND contains a neutron-sensitive metallic emitter surrounded by a ceramic insulator. Currently, the vanadium (V) SPND has been being developed to be used in OPR1000 nuclear power plants. Some Monte Carlo simulations were accomplished to calculate the initial sensitivity of vanadium emitter material and alumina insulator with a cylindrical geometry. An MCNP code was used to simulate some factors (neutron self-shielding factor and beta escape probability from the emitter) and space charge effect of an insulator necessary to calculate the sensitivity of vanadium detector. The simulation results were compared with some theoretical and experimental values. The method presented here can be used to analyze the optimum design of the vanadium SPND and contribute to the development of TMI (Top-mount In-core Instrumentation) which might be used in the SMART and SMR.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제37권6호
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• pp.605-610
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• 2005

A method to estimate the relative sensitivity of a self-powered rhodium detector for an upcoming cycle is developed by combining the rhodium depletion data from a nuclear design with the site measurement data. This method can be used both by nuclear power plant designers and by site staffs of Korean standard nuclear power plants for determining which rhodium detectors should be replaced during overhauls.

• 센서학회지
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.264-270
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• 2016

Self-powered neutron detector (SPND) is a sensor to monitor a neutron flux proportional to a reactor power of the nuclear power plants. Since an SPND is usually installed in the reactor core and does not require additional outside power, it generates electrons itself from interaction between neutrons and a neutron-sensitive material called an emitter, such as rhodium and vanadium. This paper presents the simulations of the depletion sensitivity evaluations based on MCNP models of rhodium and vanadium SPNDs and light water reactor fuel assembly. The evaluations include the detail geometries of the detectors and fuel assembly, and the modeling of rhodium and vanadium emitter depletion using MCNP and ORIGEN-S codes, and the realistic energy spectrum of beta rays using BETA-S code. The results of the simulations show that the lifetime of an SPND can be prolonged by using vanadium SPND than rhodium SPND. Also, the methods presented here can be used to analyze a life-time of those SPNDs using various emitter materials.

• 한국원자력학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국원자력학회 1999년도 춘계학술발표회요약집
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• pp.50-50
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• 1999

• 한국원자력학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국원자력학회 1998년도 추계학술발표회요약집
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• pp.110-110
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• 1998

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.205-211
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• 1994

로듐 자기출력형 중성자계측기에 대하여 3가지 디지탈 동적 보상방법을 개발 및 적용하여 가장 우수한 방법을 제시하였다. 3가지 디지탈 동적 보상방법은 기존 COLSS의 Dominant POL Tustin 방법과 Direct Inversion 방법 및 Kalman Filter 방법이다. 이 논문에서는 D. Hoppe와 R. Maletti의 Direct Inversion 방법을 개선하였으며 Kalman Filter를 이용한 방법을 개발하였다. 3가지 방법론을 비교한 결과 같은 Noise 중가 조건하에서 Step 중성자속 입력에 대한 90% 도달 시간이 각각 28.1초, 17.2초 및 6.5초로 나타나 Kalman Filter 방법이 가장 우수함을 알 수 있었다.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제49권1호
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• pp.141-147
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• 2017

Mechanical shim is an advanced technology for reactor power and axial offset control with control rod assemblies. To address the adverse accuracy impact on the ex-core power range neutron flux measurements-based axial offset control resulting from the variable positions of control rod assemblies, the lead-lag-compensated in-core self-powered vanadium detector signals are utilized. The prompt ${\gamma}$ current of self-powered detector is ignored normally due to its weakness compared with the delayed ${\beta}$ current, although it promptly reflects the flux change of the core. Based on the features of the prompt ${\gamma}$ current, a method for configuration of the lead-lag dynamic compensator is proposed. The simulations indicate that the method can improve dynamic response significantly with negligible adverse effects on the steady response. The robustness of the design implies that the method is of great value for engineering applications.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제33권2호
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• pp.121-131
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• 2001

An investigation of the sensitivity depletion laws for rhodium SPNDs was performed to reduce the uncertainty of the sensitivity depletion laws used in Combustion Engineering (CE) reactors and to develop calculational tools that provide the sensitivity depletion laws to interpret the signal of the newly designed rhodium SPND into the local neutron flux. The calculational tools developed in this work are computer programs for a time-dependent neutron flux distribution in the rhodium emitter during depletion and for a time-dependent beta escape probability that a beta particle generated in the emitter escapes into the collector. These programs provide the sensitivity depletion laws and show the reduction of the uncertainty by about 1 % compared to that of the method employed by CE in interpreting the signal into the local neutron flux. A reduction in the uncertainty by 1 % in interpreting the signal into the local neutron flux reduces the uncertainty tv about 1 % in interpreting the signal into the local power and lengthens the lifetime of the rhodium SPND by about 10% or more.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제52권12호
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• pp.2852-2859
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• 2020

This paper deals with the simulation-based design optimization and experimental validation of the characteristics of an in-core silver Self-Powered Neutron Detector (SPND). Optimized dimensions of the SPND are determined by combining Monte Carlo simulations and analytical methods. As a first step, the Monte Carlo transport code MCNPX is used to follow the trajectory and fate of the neutrons emitted from an external source. This simulation is able to seamlessly integrate various phenomena, including neutron slowing-down and shielding effects. Then, the expected number of beta particles and their energy spectrum following a neutron capture reaction in the silver emitter are fetched from the TENDEL database using the JANIS software interface and integrated with the data from the first step to yield the origin and spectrum of the source electrons. Eventually, the MCNPX transport code is used for the Monte Carlo calculation of the ballistic current of beta particles in the various regions of the SPND. Then, the output current and the maximum insulator thickness to avoid breakdown are determined. The optimum design of the SPND is then manufactured and experimental tests are conducted. The calculated design parameters of this detector have been found in good agreement with the obtained experimental results.