Optical measurement of water level in nuclear reactor pool, optical fiber for nuclear applications

Published by Nicolas BULABOIS on 17 May 2023

Nucleated fiber optic sensor

SEDI-ATI offers nuclearized fiber-optic sensors that perform optical time-of-flight measurement of the water level of nuclear reactor pools.

Tell us about your project

MajorConstraints

In normal nuclear operation, the solution must be resistant to:

Thermal ageing at high environmental temperature for at least 60 years,
Nuclear (gamma and beta) radiation.

In case of nuclear incident, the solution must be resistant to:

Nuclear radiation up to 1MGy,
High pressure up to 6 bars during 15 minutes,
Hot temperatures > 170°C during 15 days,
100 % hygrometry over 15 days,
Chemical agents splashes such as boric acid,
Oil aggressiveness,
Electrical fault,
Fire propagation.

TheChallenge

Give real-time information on the water level in the nuclear reactor pool, and ensure that the critical threshold is never exceeded for safety reasons.

A hostile environment in normal nuclear operation and in the event of an incident

As a result, during normal nuclear operation, the solution must be resistant to the hostile elements that make up this environment, such as thermal ageing at high ambient temperatures and nuclear radiation. The fiber optic solution must also be able to withstand a nuclear incident so that it can continue to perform its main function: protecting nearby personnel.

The importance of a stable water level

The water level in nuclear reactor pools must remain stable because it absorbs the radiation emitted by the fuel. This water level must be measured during refuelling so that any variations can be detected in real-time. It is also used to protect nearby personnel from radioactive elements.

SEDI-ATISolution

The nucleated optical probes offered by SEDI-ATI Fibres Optiques have been designed based on assemblies of optical fibers and special cords. They form part of an optical sensor solution for measuring water levels in reactor pools.

The high-precision assembly is a passive solution at the end (no piezoelectric material). Thanks to its hermeticity, the sensor is resistant to radiation and immune to electromagnetic effects.

AvantagesDe la solution SEDI-ATI