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Development of an innovative detection system for pebble bed kinematic studies

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Abstract

Pebble bed reactors enable the circulation of pebble fuel elements when the reactors are in operation. This unique design helps to optimize the burnup and power distribution, reduces the excessive reactivity of the reactor, and provides a mean to identify and segregate damaged fuel elements during operation. The movement of the pebbles in the core, or the kinematics of the pebble bed, significantly affect the above features and is not fully understood. We designed and built a detection system that can measure 3-axis acceleration, 3-axis angular velocity, 3-axis rotation angles, and vibration and temperature of multiple pebbles anywhere in the pebble bed. This system uses pebble-shaped detectors that can flow with other pebbles and does not disturb the pebble movement. We used new technologies to enable instant response, precise measurement, and simultaneous collection of data from a large number of detectors. Our tests show that the detection system has a negligible zero drift and the accuracy is better than the designed value. The residence time of the pebbles in a moving pebble bed was also measured using the system.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jiading Campus, Shanghai, 201800, China

    Ying Zhao, Shi-Xiang Qu, Xing-Wang Zhu, Shi-Wei Shao, Zhao-Zhong He & Kun Chen

  2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Ying Zhao

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  1. Ying Zhao
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  2. Shi-Xiang Qu
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  3. Xing-Wang Zhu
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  4. Shi-Wei Shao
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  5. Zhao-Zhong He
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  6. Kun Chen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kun Chen.

Additional information

Supported by the “Strategic Priority Research Program” of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. XDA02050100).

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Zhao, Y., Qu, SX., Zhu, XW. et al. Development of an innovative detection system for pebble bed kinematic studies. NUCL SCI TECH 27, 31 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41365-016-0048-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41365-016-0048-z

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