Patent ID: 6801593
Filing Date: 2004-10-05
Classification: G21C,Y02E

Abstract:
A method of monitoring reactivity changes in a nuclear reaction when the nuclear reaction is subcritical comprising the steps of:Controlling a parameter of the nuclear reaction that affects reactivity of the nuclear reaction to alter the reactivity; monitoring an output of a source range detector; determining periodically an Inverse Count Rate Ratio from the output of the source range detector during a steady-state portion of the output of the source range detector; applying a correction factor, SSF * [1âˆ’&lgr;op)/(1âˆ’&lgr;fx)], to the Inverse Count Rate Ratio; and plotting the periodically determined Inverse Count Rate Ratio as a function of the parameter, wherein the correction factor makes the plot of the periodically determined Inverse Count Rate Ratios as a function of the parameter substantially linear.