Fast Reactors and Accelerator Driven Systems Knowledge Base

Conference Article: 1995 benchmark data based on experimental results from the prototype fast reactor at Dounreay

Currie, R.;Wright, P.J.;Widdowson, I.R.;Ramsay, P.;Shallcross, R.E. (AEA Technology, Risley (United Kingdom))

Abstract

During the final year of operation of the Prototype Fast Reactor (PFR) at Dounreay and during the first 3 months following its closure on March 31 1994, a series of experiments was conducted to obtain data on the performance of leak detection systems. In June 1994, a series of injections of argon, hydrogen and steam was performed in Evaporator 3. Two injection locations were studied: one within the tube bundle region and one in the flowing sodium interspace between the tube bundle wrapper and the steam generator shell. During 113 injections, acoustic noise measurements were made at 7 transducer locations, spatially distributed on the shell of the Evaporator. These transducers were mounted on waveguides, welded to the shell. Data from two argon injections, two steam injections and one hydrogen injection in the tube bundles and from 1 argon, 1 steam and 1 hydrogen injection in the sodium interspace, recorded at 4 transducer locations, were selected for the IAEA 1995 Benchmark exercise. The plant state during these injections was such that the acoustic background noise was lower than at full power operating conditions. It was agreed at the meeting to discuss the 1994 Benchmark results and to agree the 1995 Benchmark data, that it would be preferable not to mix these injection signals with full power background noise, but to include some separate full power background noise data for the Evaporator and for a Superheater. Accordingly, full power data recorded at two transducer locations in each unit have been included with the injection data.

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key words: Fast Neutron Spectrum Systems, Nuclear Technology
Reference:
Acoustic signal processing for the detection of sodium boiling or sodium-water reaction in LMFRs. Final report of a co-ordinated research programme 1990-1995
International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna (Austria)
IAEA-TECDOC--946, pp:79-98