SRM Flashcards
What is the purpose of SRMs?
Provide indication of core neutron flux levels during shutdown, refueling and startup until IRMs are on scale
Provides high flux SCRAM during refuel outages
Under what modes are SRM’s normally used?
Shutdown, Refueling and startup
What is required for SRM to provide a high flux SCRAM?
Shorting links removed
How many SRMs are there and how many are required to be Operable?
4 total: 3 total are required to be operable (depending on mode)
How does an SRM function?
Current pulse is generated from the output of the detector and conditioned through: pulse preamplifier, pulse height discriminator log integrator log count rate amplifier
Displayed and sent to trip units
What is the SRM detector?
detects neutron flux in the core using a proportional range fission chamber:
Operating voltage of 350vdc;
Fill Gas - Argon
Proportional Range
What does the SRM detector send signals to?
Pulse Pre-amplifier
What is the Pulse pre-amplifier?
Located outside DW
Used to amplify detector pulses by sending 350vdc to detector, then:
receives detector signal, isolates high voltage, and passes the signal to the pulse height discriminator
What is the Pulse Height Discriminator?
It eliminates pulses from gamma and only passes pulses from neutron/fission events.
How does the Pulse Discriminator eliminate Gamma pulses?
Gamma pulses provide a much smaller signal which allws the discriminator to isolate the neutron pulses.
PHD only sends pulses with signal greater than specified amplitude
What is the Logarithmic Integrator?
Produces a current signal output equal to the log of input pulse rate
What signal conversion does the Logarithmic integrator perform?
It converts the signal from the pulse height discriminator using a logarithmic (base 10) conversion.
If Input 1000pulses - output proportional to 3
What is the Log Count Rate amplifier and when is it functioning?
when SRM switch is in “OPERATE” this receives the current signal from the log integrator and converts to voltage signal.
Voltage signal used for period amp, meters, trip units and recorder
What is the SRM Period Amplifier?
produces a signal that provides indication of reactor period. Done by looking at rate of change of counts and displaying period.
What is reactor period?
Measure of how long it will take for count rate to grow by factor of e.
Period = 1.44 x DT
When are SRM’s not needed?
When IRM’s are “firmly” on scale
In what region of the gas amplification curve do SRM’s operate?
Proportional Range
How does the SRM produce a count rate?
Proportional Range Fission Chamber coated in Uranium Oxide
What is the operating voltage of the SRM?
350vdc