High-temperature fission chamber for He- and FLiBe-cooled reactors

Z. W. Bell; M. J. Harrison; D. E. Holcomb; R. J.B. Warmack; M. J. Lance; R. G. Miller; D. F. Wilson; D. R. Giuliano

High-temperature fission chamber for He- and FLiBe-cooled reactors

Z. W. Bell, M. J. Harrison, D. E. Holcomb, R. J.B. Warmack, M. J. Lance, R. G. Miller, D. F. Wilson, D. R. Giuliano

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

Abstract

We have evaluated candidate technologies for in-core fission chambers for high-temperature reactors to monitor power level via measurements of neutron flux from start-up through full power at up to 800°C. This research is important because there are no commercially available instruments capable of operating above 550 °C. Component materials and processes were investigated for fission chambers suitable for operation at 800 °C in reactors cooled by molten fluoride salt (FLiBe) or flowing He, with an emphasis placed on sensitivity (≥ 1 cps/nv), service lifetime (2 years at full power), and resistance to direct immersion in FLiBe. The latter gives the instrument the ability to survive accidents involving breach of a thimble. The device is envisioned to be a two-gap, three-electrode instrument constructed from concentric nickel-plated alumina cylinders and using a noble gas-nitrogen fill-gas. We report the results of measurements and calculations of the response of fill gasses, impurity migration in nickel alloy, brazing of the alumina insulator, and thermodynamic calculations.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	9th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Plant Instrumentation, Control, and Human-Machine Interface Technologies, NPIC and HMIT 2015
Publisher	American Nuclear Society
Pages	1109-1120
Number of pages	12
ISBN (Electronic)	9781510808096
State	Published - 2015
Event	9th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Plant Instrumentation, Control, and Human-Machine Interface Technologies, NPIC and HMIT 2015 - Charlotte, United States Duration: Feb 22 2015 → Feb 26 2015

Publication series

Name	9th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Plant Instrumentation, Control, and Human-Machine Interface Technologies, NPIC and HMIT 2015
Volume	2

Conference

Conference	9th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Plant Instrumentation, Control, and Human-Machine Interface Technologies, NPIC and HMIT 2015
Country/Territory	United States
City	Charlotte
Period	02/22/15 → 02/26/15

Keywords

Fission chamber
High-temperature reactor
In-core instrumentation

Cite this

Bell, Z. W., Harrison, M. J., Holcomb, D. E., Warmack, R. J. B., Lance, M. J., Miller, R. G., Wilson, D. F., & Giuliano, D. R. (2015). High-temperature fission chamber for He- and FLiBe-cooled reactors. In 9th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Plant Instrumentation, Control, and Human-Machine Interface Technologies, NPIC and HMIT 2015 (pp. 1109-1120). (9th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Plant Instrumentation, Control, and Human-Machine Interface Technologies, NPIC and HMIT 2015; Vol. 2). American Nuclear Society.

Bell, Z. W. ; Harrison, M. J. ; Holcomb, D. E. et al. / High-temperature fission chamber for He- and FLiBe-cooled reactors. 9th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Plant Instrumentation, Control, and Human-Machine Interface Technologies, NPIC and HMIT 2015. American Nuclear Society, 2015. pp. 1109-1120 (9th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Plant Instrumentation, Control, and Human-Machine Interface Technologies, NPIC and HMIT 2015).

@inproceedings{3c63506aabf44b59a75e3b656517a35b,

title = "High-temperature fission chamber for He- and FLiBe-cooled reactors",

abstract = "We have evaluated candidate technologies for in-core fission chambers for high-temperature reactors to monitor power level via measurements of neutron flux from start-up through full power at up to 800°C. This research is important because there are no commercially available instruments capable of operating above 550 °C. Component materials and processes were investigated for fission chambers suitable for operation at 800 °C in reactors cooled by molten fluoride salt (FLiBe) or flowing He, with an emphasis placed on sensitivity (≥ 1 cps/nv), service lifetime (2 years at full power), and resistance to direct immersion in FLiBe. The latter gives the instrument the ability to survive accidents involving breach of a thimble. The device is envisioned to be a two-gap, three-electrode instrument constructed from concentric nickel-plated alumina cylinders and using a noble gas-nitrogen fill-gas. We report the results of measurements and calculations of the response of fill gasses, impurity migration in nickel alloy, brazing of the alumina insulator, and thermodynamic calculations.",

keywords = "Fission chamber, High-temperature reactor, In-core instrumentation",

author = "Bell, {Z. W.} and Harrison, {M. J.} and Holcomb, {D. E.} and Warmack, {R. J.B.} and Lance, {M. J.} and Miller, {R. G.} and Wilson, {D. F.} and Giuliano, {D. R.}",

year = "2015",

language = "English",

series = "9th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Plant Instrumentation, Control, and Human-Machine Interface Technologies, NPIC and HMIT 2015",

publisher = "American Nuclear Society",

pages = "1109--1120",

booktitle = "9th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Plant Instrumentation, Control, and Human-Machine Interface Technologies, NPIC and HMIT 2015",

note = "9th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Plant Instrumentation, Control, and Human-Machine Interface Technologies, NPIC and HMIT 2015 ; Conference date: 22-02-2015 Through 26-02-2015",

}

Bell, ZW, Harrison, MJ, Holcomb, DE, Warmack, RJB, Lance, MJ , Miller, RG, Wilson, DF & Giuliano, DR 2015, High-temperature fission chamber for He- and FLiBe-cooled reactors. in 9th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Plant Instrumentation, Control, and Human-Machine Interface Technologies, NPIC and HMIT 2015. 9th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Plant Instrumentation, Control, and Human-Machine Interface Technologies, NPIC and HMIT 2015, vol. 2, American Nuclear Society, pp. 1109-1120, 9th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Plant Instrumentation, Control, and Human-Machine Interface Technologies, NPIC and HMIT 2015, Charlotte, United States, 02/22/15.

High-temperature fission chamber for He- and FLiBe-cooled reactors. / Bell, Z. W.; Harrison, M. J.; Holcomb, D. E. et al.
9th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Plant Instrumentation, Control, and Human-Machine Interface Technologies, NPIC and HMIT 2015. American Nuclear Society, 2015. p. 1109-1120 (9th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Plant Instrumentation, Control, and Human-Machine Interface Technologies, NPIC and HMIT 2015; Vol. 2).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - High-temperature fission chamber for He- and FLiBe-cooled reactors

AU - Bell, Z. W.

AU - Harrison, M. J.

AU - Holcomb, D. E.

AU - Warmack, R. J.B.

AU - Lance, M. J.

AU - Miller, R. G.

AU - Wilson, D. F.

AU - Giuliano, D. R.

PY - 2015

Y1 - 2015

N2 - We have evaluated candidate technologies for in-core fission chambers for high-temperature reactors to monitor power level via measurements of neutron flux from start-up through full power at up to 800°C. This research is important because there are no commercially available instruments capable of operating above 550 °C. Component materials and processes were investigated for fission chambers suitable for operation at 800 °C in reactors cooled by molten fluoride salt (FLiBe) or flowing He, with an emphasis placed on sensitivity (≥ 1 cps/nv), service lifetime (2 years at full power), and resistance to direct immersion in FLiBe. The latter gives the instrument the ability to survive accidents involving breach of a thimble. The device is envisioned to be a two-gap, three-electrode instrument constructed from concentric nickel-plated alumina cylinders and using a noble gas-nitrogen fill-gas. We report the results of measurements and calculations of the response of fill gasses, impurity migration in nickel alloy, brazing of the alumina insulator, and thermodynamic calculations.

AB - We have evaluated candidate technologies for in-core fission chambers for high-temperature reactors to monitor power level via measurements of neutron flux from start-up through full power at up to 800°C. This research is important because there are no commercially available instruments capable of operating above 550 °C. Component materials and processes were investigated for fission chambers suitable for operation at 800 °C in reactors cooled by molten fluoride salt (FLiBe) or flowing He, with an emphasis placed on sensitivity (≥ 1 cps/nv), service lifetime (2 years at full power), and resistance to direct immersion in FLiBe. The latter gives the instrument the ability to survive accidents involving breach of a thimble. The device is envisioned to be a two-gap, three-electrode instrument constructed from concentric nickel-plated alumina cylinders and using a noble gas-nitrogen fill-gas. We report the results of measurements and calculations of the response of fill gasses, impurity migration in nickel alloy, brazing of the alumina insulator, and thermodynamic calculations.

KW - Fission chamber

KW - High-temperature reactor

KW - In-core instrumentation

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M3 - Conference contribution

AN - SCOPUS:84946110063

T3 - 9th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Plant Instrumentation, Control, and Human-Machine Interface Technologies, NPIC and HMIT 2015

SP - 1109

EP - 1120

BT - 9th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Plant Instrumentation, Control, and Human-Machine Interface Technologies, NPIC and HMIT 2015

PB - American Nuclear Society

T2 - 9th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Plant Instrumentation, Control, and Human-Machine Interface Technologies, NPIC and HMIT 2015

Y2 - 22 February 2015 through 26 February 2015

ER -

Bell ZW, Harrison MJ, Holcomb DE, Warmack RJB, Lance MJ , Miller RG et al. High-temperature fission chamber for He- and FLiBe-cooled reactors. In 9th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Plant Instrumentation, Control, and Human-Machine Interface Technologies, NPIC and HMIT 2015. American Nuclear Society. 2015. p. 1109-1120. (9th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Plant Instrumentation, Control, and Human-Machine Interface Technologies, NPIC and HMIT 2015).

High-temperature fission chamber for He- and FLiBe-cooled reactors

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Keywords

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