Patents Represented by Attorney Harness, Dikey & Pierce, P.L.C.
  • Patent number: 8238509
    Abstract: A method of calibrating a nuclear instrument using a gamma thermometer may include: measuring, in the instrument, local neutron flux; generating, from the instrument, a first signal proportional to the neutron flux; measuring, in the gamma thermometer, local gamma flux; generating, from the gamma thermometer, a second signal proportional to the gamma flux; compensating the second signal; and calibrating a gain of the instrument based on the compensated second signal. Compensating the second signal may include: calculating selected yield fractions for specific groups of delayed gamma sources; calculating time constants for the specific groups; calculating a third signal that corresponds to delayed local gamma flux based on the selected yield fractions and time constants; and calculating the compensated second signal by subtracting the third signal from the second signal. The specific groups may have decay time constants greater than 5×10?1 seconds and less than 5×105 seconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC
    Inventors: Stephan Craig Moen, Craig Glenn Meyers, John Alexander Petzen, Adam Muhling Foard