田湾核电站线功率密度保护参数计算

田湾核电站(TNPS)堆内核测量系统的54个中子温度测量通道分成4组,每组通道将自给能探测器电流转换为功率并通过扩展计算获得全堆芯的功率分布。电流转换为功率的系数等参数由堆内测量系统上层服务器计算获得并传递给下层服务器。每个燃料组件最大线功率密度由周边影响区域内的4个中子温度测量通道计算的线功率密度值加权平均得到,权重系数与自给能探测器到周边影响区域内燃料组件的距离有关。本文阐述这种由自给能探测器电流计算线功率密度保护参数的方法。该方法简易、响应及时,且误差小于5.7%,已成功应用在田湾核电站运行机组的实时在线保护中。     

MC方法计算自给能铑中子探测器灵敏度

利用MC方法结合自给能探测器空间电场效应,计算了典型的铑探测器信号电流和灵敏度并与公开文献中的实验测量值做对比验证。结果表明:使用该方法的理论计算值与实验测量值吻合良好,证明该计算方法正确可靠,而且具备相当的精度,可为大型先进压水堆堆芯测量和自给能探测器的设计研发提供参考和借鉴。     

基于鲁棒滤波理论的钒自给能探测器动态补偿算法研究

先进堆芯监测系统中的钒自给能探测器信号可用于重构堆芯的三维功率分布。由于自给能探测器对通量变化的响应存在延迟,为保证中子通量测量的准确性,需要对自给能探测器的输出响应进行动态补偿。本文基于鲁棒性滤波理论进行了钒自给能探测器响应延迟消除的算法研究,将相应滤波器的设计转化为线性矩阵不等式(LMI)的求解。数值模拟结果表明基于鲁棒滤波理论设计的3种滤波器均可以起到良好的延迟消除效果,并且可以有效抑制噪声的放大。     

核电厂反应堆堆芯中子与温度探测器组件研制

针对ACP1000堆型,研制了用于反应堆堆芯核测系统的堆芯中子和温度测量探测器组件。论文介绍了探测器组件的设计、性能指标和试验结果。设计的堆芯中子和温度探测器组件集成了中子自给能探测器和测温元件并固定安装在堆内。试验结果表明测量敏感元件的性能满足设计要求,外壳和密封组件能保证反应堆一回路压力边界的要求。堆芯测量探测器组件一体化的设计可提高安全性和可靠性,实现实时测量,可用于反应堆保护。     

基于堆外中子能谱测量的堆芯中子场反演方法

目前商用反应堆堆内采用的自给能探测器(Self-Powered Detector,SPD)可以实现堆芯中子通量分布的在线测量,但难以测量中子能谱。同时由于一些先进反应堆堆内服役环境更加恶劣,现有的堆内测量系统难以满足先进反应堆堆芯中子场在线测量的需求。本文提出了一种基于堆外中子能谱测量的堆芯中子场反演方法,通过正向中子输运计算构建堆芯相邻截断面之间的能谱响应矩阵,实现反应堆堆芯中子场的反演计算。通过采用两个简化的反应堆模型进行验证,其中对压力容器处反演的中子能谱与蒙特卡罗输运计算结果平均相对偏差约为14%,在外层燃料组件区域反演的中子能谱与蒙特卡罗输运计算结果平均相对偏差约为11%,初步验证了本方法的可行性。     

β衰变自给能中子探测器灵敏度影响因素研究

研究推导出了发射体采用圆柱体拉丝工艺的β衰变自给能中子探测器灵敏度计算公式和β电子在绝缘层内的逃逸因子(K_g)计算公式。计算绘制了绝缘层与K_g的关系曲线。研究发现文献[1]提供的K因子图存在偏差,不适合直接应用于探测器研发。计算给出了相同机械尺寸的钒和铑探测器在恒定中子场内灵敏度随累积中子照射时间变化趋势曲线,参考堆芯中子通量分布仿真结果提出灵敏度修正需考虑堆芯轴向中子通量分布影响的观点。     

γ辐射对堆芯自给能探测器探测性能影响研究

为确定堆芯γ射线对自给能探测器输出信号的影响。将钒和铑自给能探测器放置在试验堆某一稳定的中子和γ辐照水平下,通过停堆给自给能探测器施加一个中子注量率阶跃信号,观察探测器输出信号的变化来推断γ射线对自给能探测器输出信号的影响。     

堆内自给能中子探测器信号电流计算方法研究

自给能中子探测器（Self-Powered Neutron Detectors,SPNDs）是核反应堆监测和保护系统的核心设备,其测量到的电流直接反映堆芯功率的大小和分布。探测器绝缘体是影响信号电流计算精度的主要因素,在SPND的研发设计中占有重要地位。为进一步提升SPND信号电流计算方法的精度,本文根据SPND电流产生机理以及绝缘体中固有的空间电场效应,提出了三种不同的中子、光子电流计算方法,并进行了详细的对比验证。结果表明：三种方法计算结果的差异小于1%,显示了相当的精度。此外,以反应堆工程中应用广泛的铑SPND为例,计算结果表明其信号电流主要由中子产生,光子引起的电流一般不超过5%。本文所提出的电流计算方法在反应堆上经过了大量的实验验证,理论和实验结果的差异均小于3%,证明了其有效性和精度。该方法已经应用于中国第三代先进大型压水反应堆——“华龙一号”,并具有通用性。它可用于不同类型自给能探测器的电流分析,也可为其他反应堆（如第四代快中子堆和后续的聚变堆）的堆芯监测系统提供有益的参考。     

反应堆堆芯中子-温度测量探测器研制改进及试验验证

反应堆堆芯中子-温度测量探测器组件是集成了铑自给能中子探测器与热电偶温度计的一体化探测器。该组件可同时测量堆芯中子注量率和燃料组件出口温度。本文重点介绍了堆芯中子-温度测量探测器组件研制过程中的设计方案,针对假想事故条件下可能出现的短路风险,提出优化结构和加工工艺的改进方案,并通过试验验证了方案的有效性,无限振动试验、拉力、热老化和辐照老化等试验结果表明探测器电气连续性能正常,绝缘电阻大于1 G?。设计和工艺改进方案满足探测器技术规格书的要求。     

铑自给能中子探测器的灵敏度

本文给出了铑自给能探测器的热中子灵敏度和中子灵敏度的理论计算公式、燃耗修正公式以及不同中子温度下的换算公式。运用这些公式对ZTRh 123型铑自给能探测器的热中子灵敏度和中子灵敏度进行了理论计算,并在反应堆中对其进行了实验验证。其结果表明,理论计算值和实验标定值是相吻合的。其偏差:热中子灵敏度为8.5％,中子灵敏度为3.9％。     

Reactor noise measurements in the safety and regulating systems of CANDU stations

Reactor noise measurements of safety and regulating system intrumentation are performed in the CANDU nuclear power stations of Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and Bruce Power. Station signals included in the noise measurements are in-core flux detectors (ICFD), ion chambers (I/C), flow transmitters, pressure transmitters, and resistance temperature detectors (RTD). Their frequency dependent noise signatures are regularly measured during steady-state operation, and are used for parameter estimation and anomaly detection.

The specific applications include the following areas:

Flux noise measurements to detect and characterize (a) anomalies of in-core flux detectors, ion chambers and their electronics, (b) mechanical vibration of fuel channels and in-core detector tubes induced by coolant/moderator flow.

Pressure and flow noise measurements to estimate the in-situ response times of flow/pressure transmitters and their sensing lines installed in the reactor's coolant loops.

Temperature noise measurements to estimate the in-situ response times of thermal-well or strap-on type RTDs installed in the reactor's coolant and moderator loops.

铑自给能探测器延迟信号数字处理算法与实验研究

铑自给能探测器（RSPND）输出电流信号的慢响应特性严重影响反应堆内中子注量率的实时测量,不利于反应堆的控制和安全管理。采用反函数计算或各种补偿方法改进其响应特性,有利于RSPND的使用。本文研究了前向差分变换法、后向差分变换法、阶跃响应不变法及双线性变换法等4种数字处理算法,有效缩短了铑自给能探测器输出信号的响应时间,时间常数缩短到5 s以内。通过数字实验系统,验证了算法的正确性,为该探测器用于反应堆内中子注量率测量的快速响应提供了可行性。      

In-core coolant flow monitoring of pressurized water reactors using temperature and neutron noise

Noise measurements were performed at the Loss-of-Fluid-Test (LOFT) and Sequoyah-1 pressurized water reactors (PWRs) in order to investigate the possibility of inferring in-core coolant velocities from cross-power spectral density (CPSD) phases of core-exit thermocouple and in-core neutron detector signals. These noise measurements were used to investigate the effects of inlet coolant temperature, core flow, reactor power, and random heat transfer fluctuations on the noise-inferred coolant velocities. The effect on the inferred velocities of varying in-core neutron detector and core-exit thermocouple locations was also investigated. Theoretical models of temperature noise were developed, and the results were used to interpret the experimental measurements.Results of these studies indicate that the neutron detector/thermocouple phase is useful for monitoring core flow in PWRs. Our results show that the interpretation of the phase between these signals depends on the source of temperature noise, the response times and locations of the sensors, and the neutron dynamics of the reactor. At Sequoyah-1 we found that the in-core neutron detector/core-exit thermocouple phase can be used to infer in-core coolant velocities, provided that the measurements are corrected for the thermocouple response time.     

On-line reconstruction of in-core power distribution by harmonics expansion method

Fixed in-core detectors are most suitable in real-time response to in-core power distributions in pressurized water reactors (PWRs). In this paper, a harmonics expansion method is used to reconstruct the in-core power distribution of a PWR on-line. In this method, the in-core power distribution is expanded by the harmonics of one reference case. The expansion coefficients are calculated using signals provided by fixed in-core detectors. To conserve computing time and improve reconstruction precision, a harmonics data library containing the harmonics of different reference cases is constructed. Upon reconstruction of the in-core power distribution on-line, the two closest reference cases are searched from the harmonics data library to produce expanded harmonics by interpolation. The Unit 1 reactor of DayaBay Nuclear Power Plant (DayaBay NPP) in China is considered for verification. The maximum relative error between the measurement and reconstruction results is less than 5.5%, and the computing time is about 0.53 s for a single reconstruction, indicating that this method is suitable for the on-line monitoring of PWRs.     

In-Core Neutron Flux Instrumentation

A survey of the new work in the neutron monitoring of a nuclear power reactor is presented. The sensors have been moved into the reactor and the three modes of measurement necessary to cover the ten decades of the in-core neutron range from startup to rated power are described. The system specifications and life performance data are reviewed. Several innovative extensions of in-core monitoring such as the traversing probe and the Campbell method are covered in detail.     

基于贝叶斯推断的堆芯功率分布重构

基于贝叶斯推断理论,实现了一种有效融合堆内中子探测器实际测量值与中子学理论计算值两类信息的堆芯功率分布重构方法。应用大亚湾核电站1号机组的测量数据对贝叶斯推断方法的功率分布重构精度进行了验证,并将贝叶斯推断方法与卡尔曼滤波方法以及耦合系数法进行了精度对比。验证结果显示,贝叶斯推断方法在整个循环寿期内的均方根误差、最大相对误差、功率峰重构误差分别不大于0.31%、1.64%和0.07%,且重构精度优于卡尔曼滤波方法以及耦合系数法。重构精度以及计算速度表明贝叶斯推断方法有潜力被应用于功率分布在线监测系统。      

A methodology for benefit assessment of using in-core neutron detector signals in core protection calculator system (CPCS) for Korea standard nuclear power plants (KSNPP)

Core Protection Calculator System (CPCS) is a digital computer based safety system generating trip signals based on the calculation of departure from nucleate boiling ratio (DNBR) and local power density (LPD). Currently, CPCS uses ex-core detector signals for core power calculation and it has some uncertainties. In this work, a quantitative economic benefit assessment of using in-core neutron detector signals is carried out. In-core detector signals which directly measure the inside neutron flux of core are applied to CPCS to obtain more accurate power distribution profile, DNBR and LPD to reduce the calculation uncertainties. In order to improve axial power distribution calculation, piecewise cubic spline method is applied. Simulation is also carried out to verify its applicability to power distribution calculation in this work. Simulation result shows that the improved method reduces the calculational uncertainties significantly and it allows larger operational margin. It is also assured that no power reduction is required while Core Operating Limit Supervisory System (COLSS) is out-of-service when the improved method is applied.     

Characteristics of Fabricated Neutron Detectors Based on a SiC Semiconductor

Wide-band-gap semiconductors such as SiC, AlN, and GaN are promising materials for harsh environment applications due to their high-temperature operation capability. Two types of PIN-type semiconductor neutron detectors based on SiC were designed and fabricated for nuclear power plant (NPP) applications such an in-core reactor neutron flux monitoring and safeguarding nuclear materials. One is for fast neutron detection and the other, which was evaporated with ⁶LiF, is for thermal neutron detection. In this study, preliminary tests, such as the determination of I-V and alpha responses, were performed. Reaction probabilities with respect to neutron energies were also calculated by using an MCNPX code for comparison with the experimental results. Responses of the neutrons were measured at the Ex-core Neutron irradiation Facility (ENF) of the High-flux Advanced Neutron Application Reactor (HANARO) research reactor at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI). Pulse height spectra and count rates were measured with respect to the neutron fluxes from 1:6 × 10⁶ n/cm²·s to 1:9 × 10⁷ n/cm²·s. Also, a 0.99 root-mean-square value of linearity against the fluxes to the count rates was obtained with the fabricated neutron detectors. For a thermal neutron detector, a 3.3% detection efficiency was obtained.     

Diagnostics of core barrel vibrations by in-core and ex-core neutron noise

Diagnostics of core-barrel vibrations has traditionally been made by use of ex-vessel neutron detector signals. We suggest that in addition to the ex-core noise, also the in-core noise, induced by core barrel vibrations, be also used. This would enhance the possibilities of diagnostics where the number of the ex-core detectors is not sufficient or their positions are disadvantageous for effective diagnostics, especially for shell-mode vibrations.

To this order, the theory of in-core noise induced by a fluctuating core boundary has been elaborated and applied to the diagnostics of beam and shell mode vibrations. The formulas were tested on some measurements taken in the Ringhals PWRs. The results confirm the validity of the model itself, and the possibilities for enhanced diagnostics were demonstrated. A more effective use of these novel possibilities requires more in-core detectors and/or better detector positioning.