The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
May. 13, 1986

Filed:

Oct. 07, 1983
Applicant:
Inventors:

Albert J Impink, Jr, Murrysville, PA (US);

Francis L Langford, Jr, Forest Hills, PA (US);

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G21C / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
376254 ; 376214 ; 376257 ;
Abstract

The approach to criticality of a nuclear reactor provided with an artificial neutron source is monitored by two neutron detectors, one which measures the neutron flux in a localized region around the artificial neutron source, and the other located simlarly with respect to the core geometry but removed from the localized region. When the reactor is subcritical, the artificial source dominates and the outputs of the two detectors are noticeably different. As the reactor approaches criticality, the critical mode distribution of neutrons, which is symmetrical with respect to the two detectors, becomes dominant and the detector outputs approach each other in magnitude. The ratio of the output signals therefore, provides an indication of the reactor reactivity state. Either linear or logarithmic ratio signals can be generated, and if desired, either can be compared with an appropriately scaled reference signal representative of a selected reactivity state, such as a multiplication factor of 0.99, with the result of the comparison used to control a 'near-criticality/not near-criticality' logic output.


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Impink, Jr, Albert. (1986). Method and apparatus for determining the nearness to criticality of a (U.S. Patent No. 4588547). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://idiyas.com/patent/badge/4588547

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