THE DETECTION OF BOILING IN A WATER-COOLED NUCLEAR REACTOR

Measurements made at ORNL to study the feasibility of boiling detection in a water-cooled nuclear reactor are described. The methods selected for the detection of boiling include measurement of the acoustical noise produced by the generation of bubbles and measurement of changes in the reactor-power spectral density produced by bubbles. Preliminary results indicating that both methods could detect boiling are shown. (auth)