Abstract: A method and a system for performing real-time, continuous, measurements of the boron concentration in the water entering a nuclear reactor coolant system. The invention utilizes knowledge of the impact that boron contained in liquid water has on the attenuation of acoustic or ultrasonic waves. This information, coupled with radiation damage resistant and high temperature operability capable transmitter and receiver equipment, provides the means to place the measurement system sensors and signal processing electronics on the reactor coolant system charging flow piping or the hot leg or cold leg of the reactor coolant loop. This will allow the reactor operator to directly monitor both the reactor coolant system boron concentration value and detect changes in the reactor coolant system boron concentration relative to a reference value as they occur.

Abstract: A system that measures the temperature distribution of the reactor coolant flowing through the hot leg or cold leg pipes by measuring the speed of sound time delay. This concept uses radiation hardened and temperature tolerant ultrasonic signal drivers based on vacuum micro-electronic technology. The system employs ultrasonic signals propagated through water, and relies on the characteristic that the speed of sound changes as the density and temperature of the water changes. Thus, a measured difference in the speed of sound in water may be directly correlated to a temperature change of the water.

Abstract: A method and a system for performing real-time, continuous, measurements of the boron concentration in the water entering a nuclear reactor coolant system. The invention utilizes knowledge of the impact that boron contained in liquid water has on the attenuation of acoustic or ultrasonic waves. This information, coupled with radiation damage resistant and high temperature operability capable transmitter and receiver equipment, provides the means to place the measurement system sensors and signal processing electronics on the reactor coolant system charging flow piping or the hot leg or cold leg of the reactor coolant loop. This will allow the reactor operator to directly monitor both the reactor coolant system boron concentration value and detect changes in the reactor coolant system boron concentration relative to a reference value as they occur.

Abstract: Apparatus for amplifying low level signals within a nuclear plant's containment building, derived from the ex-core nuclear instrumentation system. The system employs vacuum micro-electronic devices in place of conventional pre-amplifier assemblies to position the pre-amplifier assemblies closer to and within the vicinity of the ex-core detector outputs.

Abstract: A pulsed sonar-based wireless rod position indication system that utilizes nuclear radiation and high temperature tolerant hardware. The pulsed sonar-based rod position indication system can precisely locate the rod position by measuring the time of flight of a transmitted signal and by using the phase and amplitude information of the same transmitted signal. Primary and secondary antenna probes located in the interior of the control rod drive rod travel housing and full hardware redundancy provide for improved accuracy. The time of flight, phase and amplitude raw signals are inputted to a wireless data transmitter capable of sending the raw signals to a receiver antenna located elsewhere inside a containment for further processing.

Abstract: A silicon carbide Schottky diode solid state radiation detector that has an electron donor layer such as platinum placed over and spaced above the Schottky contact to contribute high energy Compton and photoelectrical electrons from the platinum layer to the active region of the detector to enhance charged particle collection from incident gamma radiation.

Abstract: A method and a system for performing real-time, continuous, measurements of the boron concentration in the water entering a nuclear reactor coolant system. The invention utilizes knowledge of the impact that boron contained in liquid water has on the attenuation of acoustic or ultrasonic waves. This information, coupled with radiation damage resistant and high temperature operability capable transmitter and receiver equipment, provides the means to place the measurement system sensors and signal processing electronics on the reactor coolant system charging flow piping or the hot leg or cold leg of the reactor coolant loop. This will allow the reactor operator to directly monitor both the reactor coolant system boron concentration value and detect changes in the reactor coolant system boron concentration relative to a reference value as they occur.

Abstract: A system that measures the temperature distribution of the reactor coolant flowing through the hot leg or cold leg pipes by measuring the speed of sound time delay. This concept uses radiation hardened and temperature tolerant ultrasonic signal drivers based on vacuum micro-electronic technology. The system employs ultrasonic signals propagated through water, and relies on the characteristic that the speed of sound changes as the density and temperature of the water changes. Thus, a measured difference in the speed of sound in water may be directly correlated to a temperature change of the water.

Abstract: Apparatus for amplifying low level signals within a nuclear plant's containment building, derived from the ex-core nuclear instrumentation system. The system employs vacuum micro-electronic devices in place of conventional pre-amplifier assemblies to position the pre-amplifier assemblies closer to and within the vicinity of the ex-core detector outputs.

Abstract: A pulsed sonar-based wireless rod position indication system that utilizes nuclear radiation and high temperature tolerant hardware. The pulsed sonar-based rod position indication system can precisely locate the rod position by measuring the time of flight of a transmitted signal and by using the phase and amplitude information of the same transmitted signal. Primary and secondary antenna probes located in the interior of the control rod drive rod travel housing and full hardware redundancy provide for improved accuracy. The time of flight, phase and amplitude raw signals are inputted to a wireless data transmitter capable of sending the raw signals to a receiver antenna located elsewhere inside a containment for further processing.

Abstract: A method includes detecting on an ongoing basis the currently existing dose rates while a worker is performing a maintenance or other operation within the RCA, and visually outputting information that pertains to the ionizing radiation to which the worker is being exposed during the operation. The information that is visually output can include information such as the current dose rate and the overall dose to which the worker has been subjected, but can additionally include information such as the time remaining before which the worker will have been exposed to the maximum allowable dose. Furthermore, it is possible for the visual display to output visual indicia that represent a comparison the exposure to ionizing radiation that had been planned as a function of time prior to the operation being commenced with the actual exposure to ionizing radiation as the operation is performed.

Abstract: A method includes detecting on an ongoing basis the currently existing dose rates while a worker is performing a maintenance or other operation within the RCA, and visually outputting information that pertains to the ionizing radiation to which the worker is being exposed during the operation. The information that is visually output can include information such as the current dose rate and the overall dose to which the worker has been subjected, but can additionally include information such as the time remaining before which the worker will have been exposed to the maximum allowable dose. Furthermore, it is possible for the visual display to output visual indicia that represent a comparison the exposure to ionizing radiation that had been planned as a function of time prior to the operation being commenced with the actual exposure to ionizing radiation as the operation is performed.

Abstract: A silicon carbide Schottky diode solid state radiation detector that has an electron donor layer such as platinum placed over and spaced above the Schottky contact to contribute high energy Compton and photoelectrical electrons from the platinum layer to the active region of the detector to enhance charged particle collection from incident gamma radiation.