Advances in in-Core and Ex-Core Nuclear Instrumentation in the French PWRs

摘要

Significant advances on both ex-core and in-core instrumentation and protection system have been achieved in France within the last eight years. The most significant achievement is the design, qualification and implementation of the multisection ex-core detectors which are part of the new Integrated Digital Protection System (SPIN) installed on all the 1300 MWe plants in France. Before this, theoretical works and on-reactor tests have been done, starting in 1978 on the BUGEY-2 reactor with a prototype detector, continued in 1981-82 with a protection system mock-up on TRICASTIN-3. These results made it possible to design the new protection system of the 1300 MWe plant program, the first units on operation being PALUEL 1 and 2, which came on line in 1984. During the last years, other tests were made, using fixed in-core instrumentation based on core outlet thermocouples, self-powered detectors and gamma thermometers. The use of this kind of instrumentation is presently being contemplated, probably as a complement of the present instrumentation. (ERA citation 13:008840)