Plant Event Signatures on Neutron Noise Data

Neutron noise monitoring and analysis has been a valuable tool for in-service monitoring of the structural integrity of reactor internals. Several nuclear power plants have experienced structural degradation in their reactor internals. Significant signatures were noticed in the neutron noise data when the degradations occurred. This article briefly summarizes the findings based on these experiences. A significant amount of neutron noise time-history data has been obtained based on the continuous neutron noise data monitoring and analysis for pressurized water reactors (PWRs). Over the past decade, power plants have made many major component repairs and replacements. This article correlates the plant operating history with its corresponding signatures on the neutron noise data. This information is an extremely valuable reference for diagnosing the condition of the reactor internals through neutron noise data monitoring and analyses.