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Detailed introduction
This extremely stable and reliable system monitors the concentration of fission and activation products in the reactor system to detect reduced fuel boundary integrity based on key isotope activity levels and their relative abundances. The FINESS system is a good example of this type of system.
- Monitor the concentration of fission and activation products in the primary coolant to detect the occurrence of fuel element failure
- Provides excellent stability and reliability even under different count rates and temperature conditions
- Provides graphical display of concentration levels
- Monitor user-defined alert levels
- Automatically perform QA checks based on own performance
- Includes*, flexible networking options
question
Each fission reaction in a nuclear reactor will produce two fission fragments with an average kinetic energy of 167 MeV, with the proportion of each fragment being inversely proportional to its mass. The fragments contained xenon and krypton. As the concentration of these gases increases, the fuel expands and puts pressure on the cladding. By increasing the concentration of these gases, and then with the help of radioactive iodine in the main coolant, the cladding can be observed to begin to crack.
Radioactivity concentration levels in nuclear power plant coolants often vary widely. However, careful examination of the gamma-ray spectrum using a germanium detector system allows comparison of short-half-life fission gases and longer-lived fission products to determine whether concentration levels are "normal" and whether a fuel element has failed.
Measurement requirements
An easy-to-use and reliable system with high sensitivity, wide dynamic counting range, high-throughput capability, excellent stability under different temperature conditions, and appropriate quality assurance is required. All these conditions can be met with the digital fuel damage detection spectrometer Sentinel.
Compared to any product on the market, ORTEC's Sentinel is more stable and easier to optimize for any count rate environment. Sentinel is an integrated system that tracks and plots user-specified radionuclides and alerts of incipient fuel element failures.
Key components of Sentinel
The core of Sentinel is DSPEC, a gamma-ray spectrometer using DSP (digital signal processing) technology. Sentinel provides excellent stability despite changing count rates or temperatures, making it ideal for automated monitoring applications. Sentinel runs on a single PC or a network of PCs under Windows® 2000/XP. Expensive custom software, custom shield design and on-site system integration will no longer be an issue.
Sentinel acquires spectra, tracks activity levels in user-defined regions of interest, automates calibration checks, monitors alarm levels, stores data, and automates quality assurance procedures that check source data.
All activities can be performed locally or remotely via GammaVision software.
structure
The detector cabinet contains the shield assembly, liquid nitrogen supply system, inspection source and a 25 mm diameter GLP planar germanium radiation detector that provides excellent energy resolution at low to medium energies. The forced feedback type preamplifier was selected for the high count rates expected. The detector features a robust ion-implanted front contact that eliminates X-ray spectral interferences inherent in less reliable metal contacts. The detector is surrounded by a lead shield assembly with detector collimator. The shield assembly is hinged and the detector is mounted on a sliding drawer for easy removal from the shield and detector cabinet.
quality assurance
To verify correct operation, check sources are automatically initiated based on a user-defined schedule (usually daily). Inspection source data is collected in separate data files for QC inspection of system response.
A check source built into the collimator is used to confirm energy calibration and verify gain stability. The frequency of checking source cycles is selected by the user, and data storage and QA checks are performed automatically.
The network runs, it’s up to you
Sentinel with ORTEC's traditional design integrates easily into existing Ethernet networks. Depending on specific installation requirements, Sentinel can be controlled via the network or a local PC. Sentinel has built-in Ethernet and dual-port memory support.
Built-in security
In addition to standard ORTEC optional password protection, the system features DOD "Level C2" security.
Easy to install
Because ORTEC understands the stringent requirements for instrumentation and control groups in nuclear facilities, we ensured that Sentinel would be installed smoothly and easily.
Complete operation and maintenance documentation
Sentinel comes with complete operating and maintenance manuals and shop test data. The operating manual includes all the information the user needs to start up, set parameters, set alarms, and collect and use data. It also includes explanatory drawings, diagrams, and theoretical and practical background knowledge. The maintenance manual includes calibration, repair and routine maintenance procedures as well as as-built drawings, schematics, wiring diagrams, spare parts lists, test procedures and illustrated installation drawings.
Options
The following options are available for your system:
- Mechanical (without liquid nitrogen) detector cooling
- Strip chart recording of concentration data at a local or remote location
- Local and remote alarm output and display
- Choice of PC: Laptop, Desktop, Industrial Grade or Complete Console
