Ultrasonic Multipoint Temperature Sensor for Nuclear Reactor Applications

Statement of the Problem: Nuclear system plays an important part in today’s technology development. For the nuclear systems and applications there is a demand of sensor which can help them to run reliably and prevent future catastrophe. Department of Energy (DOE) has shown interest and grown support in the improvements and advancement of advanced sensors and instrumentations which can directly support existing power reactors, material test reactors and other similar systems. Proposed Solution: X-wave Innovations, Inc. (XII), along with Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and TechOpp Consulting Inc. (TOC), proposes to develop an Ultrasonic Multipoint Temperature Sensor (UMTS) for multiple temperature measurements in nuclear reactors and in other harsh conditions. The UMTS will offer multiple temperatures with single sensor unit. Our approach combines the concepts of material engineering and acoustic propagation in materials, delivering an ultrasonic temperature sensor which is resilient to radiation and can operate reliably with extend long operation life. Phase I work: In Phase I, XII will involve the development of prototype followed by performance testing and validation. The primary consideration will be given to the development of waveguide and adapter to achieve high signal to noise ratio. Improvement in the UMTS design will be made based on the performance tests and comparison studies. Commercial Applications: The outcome of the proposed work is an ultrasonic temperature sensor which will be capable to passively measure temperature at different points along the waveguide length in the harsh environments. The potential application of the proposed technology is in nuclear industry, such as, nuclear reactors (both domestic and military), nuclear waste management, and research. The proposed technology can also find application in non-nuclear field as