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.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 09, 2006
Filed:
May. 15, 1998
John Paul Ronaldson, Calderbridge, GB;
Robert Jonathan Sharpe, Calderbridge, GB;
John Paul Ronaldson, Calderbridge, GB;
Robert Jonathan Sharpe, Calderbridge, GB;
British Nuclear Fuels PLC, Cheshire, GB;
Abstract
A method and apparatus for monitoring a neutron source are provided, the method comprising: i) providing a plurality of neutron detectors () at known positions relative to one another; ii) monitoring the neutron detection rates for the detectors caused by the unknown source(s); iii) proposing a model source location(s) relative to the detectors and an activity level for the model source(s); iv) predicting neutron detection rates for the model source(s); v) comparing the predicted and actual detection rates; vi) adjusting the model source location(s) and/or activity(s) to reduce the difference between the predicted and actual detection rates. The reduced and preferably minimized, difference between the predicted and actual detection rates leads to a model source location(s) and activity(s) which represents an accurate equivalent to the unknown. The location information and/or activity information may be conveyed to the operator of the method.