High Temperature Operable, Harsh Environment Tolerant Flow Sensors For Nuclear Reactor Applications

Advancements in sensors and instrumentation are needed to enhance economic competitiveness and improve/optimize the performance of existing and future nuclear power plants and nuclear power systems. A commonly noted sensor need for nuclear power systems is flow sensing in the various heat transfer mediums and to monitor/measure medium velocities and characterize mixing/cooling. The ability to deploy a distribution of flow measurement sensors within the reactor vessel or reactor core would greatly improve the ability to continuously measure the amount of margin available, and operate at higher temperatures which would improve the thermal efficiency. This increase in efficiency will allow more electricity to be generated from the same nuclear fuel investment. Such sensors must be able to tolerate high temperature, pressure, and radiation neutron and gamma) environments while being minimally disruptive of the flow. Sporian proposes to work with NuScale Power and Westinghouse to develop such a small, high reliability, high temperature operable, liquid flow sensor, based on leveraging Sporians past experience with high temperature sensors and packaging, and facilitative ceramic electronics packaging technologies. The Phase I effort will include experimental evaluation of materials, design development, neutron irradiation testing, and proof of feasibility prototype demonstration. The proposed sensor has the potential to improve public safety and reduce negative environmental impacts by assuring reactor cooling system flow. A high- temperature flow sensor could have various additional applications for flow sensing in fossil fuel, transportation, and industrial applications. For example, the sensor also has potential to provide compressor bleed air flow measurement for fossil fuel energy generation turbines.