Patent Number: 052290654
Section: abstract

Coolant fluid is sampled from a substantially horizontal part of the hot leg (16) of the primary circuit at at least three points (19, 20, 21) distributed at the periphery of a straight section of the hot leg (16), in such a way that at least one of the sampling points, or lower sampling point, is situated beneath the axis (17) of the hot leg (16). The temperature of the coolant water sampled at each of the sampling points (19, 20, 21) is measured at its outlet from the hot leg (16) and the coolant fluid is reintroduced into the hot leg (16) at a point situated in a position substantially diametrically opposite, with respect to one of the lower sampling points (20, 21), on the straight section of the hot leg (16). The sampling devices (19, 20, 21) connected by pipes (24, 25, 26) to a reintroduction element (22) are arranged at the periphery of the hot leg (16). The sampling devices (19, 20, 21) preferably consist of a glove finger penetrating into the hot leg (16) and comprising holes for the passage of the coolant water into the inner bore of the glove fingers which communicates with the bore of a projection (34) arranged on the outside of the hot leg (16) and to which the connecting pipe (24, 25, 26) is joined.