Investigation of the Sensitivity Depletion Laws for Rhodium Self-Powered Neutrorn Detectors (SPNDs)

Abstract

An investigation of the sensitivity depletion laws for rhodium SPNDs was performed to reduce the uncertainty of the sensitivity depletion laws used in Combustion Engineering (CE) reactors and to develop calculational tools that provide the sensitivity depletion laws to interpret the signal of the newly designed rhodium SPND into the local neutron flux. The calculational tools developed in this work are computer programs for a time-dependent neutron flux distribution in the rhodium emitter during depletion and for a time-dependent beta escape probability that a beta particle generated in the emitter escapes into the collector. These programs provide the sensitivity depletion laws and show the reduction of the uncertainty by about 1 % compared to that of the method employed by CE in interpreting the signal into the local neutron flux. A reduction in the uncertainty by 1 % in interpreting the signal into the local neutron flux reduces the uncertainty tv about 1 % in interpreting the signal into the local power and lengthens the lifetime of the rhodium SPND by about 10% or more.