https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/201817003002
Characterization and localization of partial-discharge-induced pulses in fission chambers designed for sodium-cooled fast reactors
CEA, LIST, Sensors and Electronic Architectures Laboratory, Gif/Yvette, France
CEA, DEN, DER, Instrumentation, Sensors and Dosimetry Laboratory, Cadarache, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France
GeePs Group of electrical engineering - Paris, UMR CNRS 8507, CentraleSupélec, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, 3 & 11 rue Joliot-Curie, Plateau de Moulon, Gif-sur-Yvette CEDEX, 91192 France
PHOTONIS France, Nuclear Instrumentation, Brive-la-Gaillarde, France.
Published online: 10 January 2018
During the operation of the Superphenix and Phenix reactors, an aberrant electrical signal was detected from the fission chambers used for neutron flux monitoring. This signal, thought to be due to partial electrical discharge (PD) is similar to the signal resulting from neutron interactions, and is generated in fission chambers at temperatures above 400 °C. This paper reports work on the characterization and localization of the source of this electrical signal in a High Temperature Fission Chamber (HTFC).
The relation between the shape of the PD signal and various parameters (nature and pressure of the chamber filling gas, electrode gap distance, and fission chamber geometry) are first described. Next, experiments designed to identify the location within the chambers where the PD are being generated are presented. After verification and refinement of the results of these localization studies, it should be possible to propose changes to the fission chamber in order to reduce or eliminate the PD signal.
Key words: Fission chamber / high temperature / neutron detector / partial discharge / sodium-cooled fast reactors / triple point effect
© The Authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2018
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
