Abstract
This chapter deals with neutron fluctuations in nuclear systems. Such neutron fluctuations, or neutron noise, fall into two categories: neutron noise in zero power systems and neutron noise in power reactors. The concepts, the theory, and the methodology of these fluctuations as well as their various applications for extracting information in a nonintrusive way about the system in question are described. A number of specific applications are described, where detection and analysis of zero power and power reactor noise make it possible to extract diagnostic information about the system by determining some parameters of the system during normal operation, or by detecting, identifying, and quantifying developing anomalies at an early stage and determining their severity. This chapter ends with an outline of future developments and actual issues in the field.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Adorján F, Czibók T, Kiss S, Krinizs K, Vgh J (2000) Core asymmetry evolution using static measurements and neutron noise analysis. Ann Nucl Energy 27(7):649–658
Baeten P (2004) Heuristic derivation of the Rossi-alpha formula for a pulsed neutron source. Ann Nucl Energy 31:43–53
Baeten P, Lafuente A, Janssens J, Kochetkov A, Pázsit I, Van Grieken G and Van den Eynde G (2010) Subcriticality determination using the 252Cf source-detector method. Ann Nucl Energy 37(5):672-680
Ballester D, Munoz-Cobo JL (2005) Feynman-Y function for a subcritical assembly with intrinsic spontaneous fissions driven by external pulsed sources. Ann Nucl Energy 32(5):493–519
Behringer K, Kosály G, Pázsit I (1979) Linear response of the neutron field to a propagating perturbation of moderator density (two-group theory of BWR noise). Nucl Sci Eng 72:304
Bell GI (1965) On the stochastic theory of neutron transport. Nucl Sci Eng 21:390–401
Bell GI, Glasstone S (1970) Nuclear reactor theory. Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, New York
Bennett EF (1981) An experimental method for reactor-noise measurements of effective beta. ANL-81-72
Blakeman ED (2009) Summary description of the 252Cf-source-driven noise analysis method for measurement of subcriticality. Oak Ridge National Laboratory internal report ORNL/TM-2008/187
Böhnel K (1985) The effect of multiplication on the quantitative determination of spontaneous fissioning isotopes by neutron correlation analysis. Nucl Sci Eng 90:75
Cacuci DG (1993) On chaotic dynamics in nuclear engineering systems. Nucl Technol 103: 303–309
Cacuci DG, March-Leuba J, Perez RB (1986) Limit cycles and bifurcations in nuclear systems. Trans Am Nucl Soc 53:239
Cifarelli D, Hage W (1986) Models for a three-parameter analysis of neutron signal correlation measurements for fissile material assay. Nucl Instrum Methods 251 (3):550–563
Croft S, Bourva LC-A (2000) The measurement of passive neutron multiplicity counter gate utilisation factors and comparisons with theory. Nucl Instrum Methods 453 (3):553–568
Czibók T, Kiss G, Kiss S, Krinizs K, Végh J (2003) Regular neutron noise diagnostics measurements at the Hungarian Paks NPP. Prog Nucl Energy 43:67–74
D’Auria F et al (1997) State of the art report on boiling water reactor stability – appendix B: methods for evaluating decay ratio. NEA report NEA/CSNI/R(96) 21, pp 333–341
Degweker SB (1998) Simple formulae for interpretation of the dead time alpha (first moment) method of reactor noise. Ann Nucl Energy 26(15):1267–1273
Degweker SB (1999) An exact solution for a non-extending dead time problem in passive neutron assay. Ann Nucl Energy 25(15):387–401
Degweker SB (2000) Some variants of the Feynman alpha method in critical and accelerator driven sub critical systems. Ann Nucl Energy 27(14):1245–1257
Degweker SB (2003) Reactor noise in accelerator driven systems. Ann Nucl Energy 30:223
Degweker SB, Rana YS (2007) Reactor noise in accelerator driven system – II. Ann Nucl Energy 34:463–482
Demazière C (2004) Development of a 2-D 2-group neutron noise simulator. Ann Nucl Energy 19:647–680
Demazière C (2006) Analysis methods for the determination of possible unseated fuel assemblies in BWRs. Int J Nucl Energy Sci Technol 2(3):167–188
Demazière C, Pázsit I (2002) Online determination of the MTC (moderator temperature coefficient) by neutron noise and gamma-thermometer signals. In: Ruan D, Fantoni PF (eds) Power plant surveillance and diagnostics – modern approaches and advanced applications, Physica Verlag/Springer, Heidelberg, pp 135–157, ISBN 3–540–43247–7
Demazière C, Pázsit I (2004) Development of a method for measuring the MTC by noise analysis and its experimental verification in Ringhals-2. Nucl Sci Eng 148 (1):1–29
Demazière C, Pázsit I (2005) On the possibility of the space-dependence of the stability indicator (decay ratio) of a BWR. Ann Nucl Energy 32(12):1305–1322
Demazière C, Pázsit I (2008) Numerical tools applied to power reactor noise analysis. Prog Nucl Energy 51:67–81
Demazière C, Sunde C, Arzhanov V, Pázsit I (2003) Final report on the research project Ringhals diagnostics and monitoring, Stage 8. Chalmers report CTH-RF-177/RR-10, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg
Enqvist A, Pázsit I, Pozzi SA (2006) The number distribution of neutrons and gamma photons generated in a multiplying sample. Nucl Instrum Methods 566:598–608
Enqvist A, Pázsit I, Avdic S (2010) Sample characterization using both neutron and gamma multiplicities. Nucl Instrum Methods A 615:62–69
Ensslin N, Harker WC, Krick MS, Langner DG, Pickrell MM, Stewart JE (1998) Application guide to neutron multiplicity counting. Los Alamos report LA-13422-M
Fry DN (1971) Experience in reactor malfunction diagnosis using on-line noise analysis. Nucl Technol 10(3):273–282
Fry DN, Kryter RC, Robinson JC (1974) Analysis of neutron-density oscillations resulting from core barrel motion in the Palisades nuclear power plant. Oak Ridge National Laboratory internal report ORNL-TM-4570
Ginestar D, Miró R, Verdú G, Hennig D (2002) A transient modal analysis of a BWR instability event. J Nucl Sci Technol 39(5):554–563
Ginestar D, Verdú G, Miro R (2006) Singular system analysis of the local power range monitor (LPRM) readings of a boiling water reactor (BWR) in an unstable event. Int J Nucl Energ Sci Technol 2(3):253–265.
Graves HW Jr (1979) Nuclear fuel management. Wiley, New York
Hage W, Cifarelli D (1985) On the factorial moments of the neutron multiplicity distribution of fission cascades. Nucl Instrum Methods 236(1):165–177
Harris DR (1964) Naval reactor physics handbook, vol I. United States Atomic Energy Commission, Washington, pp 1010–1142
Hennig D (1999) A study on boiling water reactor stability behaviour. Nucl Technol 126(1):10–31
Henry AF (1958) The application of reactor kinetics to the analysis of experiments. Nucl Sci Eng 3:52–70
Henry AF (1975) Nuclear-reactor analysis. The MIT Press, Cambridge
Hotta A, Suzawa Y, Takeuchi H (1997) Development of BWR regional instability model and verification based on Ringhals 1 test. Ann Nucl Energy 24(17):1403–1427
Karlsson JK-H, Pázsit I, Gill RD (1997) Spectral and correlation analysis of soft X-ray signals from the Joint European Torus tokamak. Fusion Eng Des 34–35:175–178
Karlsson JK-H, Pzsit I (1998) Analysis of core barrel vibration in Ringhals2, 3 and 4 for several fuel cycles. Chalmers internal report CTH-RF-135/RR-5
Karlsson JK-H, Pzsit I (1999) Localisation of a channel instability in the Forskmark-1 boiling water reactor. Ann Nucl Energi 26(13):1183–1204
Kitamura Y, Pázsit I, Wright J, Yamamoto A, Yamane Y (2005) Derivation of pulsed Feynman- and Rossi-alpha formulae including delayed neutrons. Ann Nucl Energy 32:671–692
Kitamura Y, Taguchi K, Misawa T, Pázsit I, Yamamoto A, Yamane Y, Ichihara C, Nakamura H, Oigawa H (2006) Calculation of the stochastic pulsed Rossi-alpha formula and its experimental verification. Prog Nucl Energy 48:37–50
Kleiss E, van Dam H (1978) Analysis of neutron detector response to bubbles in a water moderated reactor. Ann Nucl Energy 6(7–8):385–398
Konno H, Kanemoto S, Takeuchi Y (1999) Parametric stochastic stability and decay ratio for a stochastic non-linear BWR model below the Hopf bifurcation. Ann Nucl Energy 26:1465
Kosály G (1975) Investigation of the local component of power-reactor noise via diffusion theory. KFKI report, KFKI-75–27
Kosály G (1980) Noise investigations in boiling-water and pressurized-water reactors. Prog Nucl Energy 5:145–199
Kosály G, Meskó L (1972a) Remarks on the transfer function relating inlet temperature fluctuations to neutron noise. Atomkernenergie 20:33–36
Kosály G, Meskó L (1972b) Investigation of the cross correlation of coolant temperature fluctuations via the axial dependent two point model of heat transfer. Atomkernenergie 20:91–94
Kuang ZF, Pázsit I (1999) The general backward theory of neutron fluctuations in subcritical systems with multiple emission sources. Il Nuovo Cimento 112 A:1067–1092
Kuang ZF, Pázsit I (2002) The generalised theory of neutron noise in a random medium. Proc R Soc A 458:232–252
Lamarsh JR (2002) Introduction to nuclear reactor theory. American Nuclear Society, LaGrange Park
Larsson V, Demazière C (2009) Comparative study of 2-group P1 and diffusion theories for the calculation of the neutron noise in 1D 2-region system. Ann Nucl Energy 36(10):1574–1587
Lathouwers D, Agung A, van der Hagen THJJ, van Dam H, Pain CC, De Oliveira CRE, Goddard AJH (2003) Dynamics modeling and stability analysis of a fluidized bed nuclear reactor. Prog Nucl Energy 43(1–4):437–443
Makai M, Kalya Z, Nemes I, Pos I, Pór G (2007) Evaluating new methods for direct measurement of the moderator temperature coefficient in nuclear power plants during normal operation. In: Proceedings of the 17th symposium of AER on VVER reactor physics and reactor safety, Yalta, September 24–29, 2007
March-Leuba J, Cacuci DG, Perez RB (1983) Nonlinear dynamics of boiling water reactors. Trans Am Nucl Soc 45:725
March-Leuba J, Cacuci DG, Perez RB (1984) Universality and aperiodic behavior of nuclear reactors. Nucl Sci Eng 86:401–404
March-Leuba J, Cacuci DG, Perez RB (1986a) Nonlinear dynamics and stability of boiling water reactors, I: qualitative analysis. Nucl Sci Eng 93:111–123
March-Leuba J, Cacuci DG, Perez RB (1986b) Nonlinear dynamics and stability of Boiling Water Reactors, II: quantitative Analysis. Nucl Sci Eng 93:124–136
Mellier F (Co-ordinator) (2005) The MUSE experiments for sub critical neutronics validation. Final report of the EU-supported project MUSE, Contract No: FIKW-CT-2000-00063
Mihalczo JT et al (1990) Dynamic subcriticality measurements using the 252Cf-source-driven neutron noise method. Nucl Sci Eng 104:314–338
Miro R, Ginestar D, Hennig D, Verdu G (2000) On the regional oscillation phenomenon in BWRs. Prog Nucl Energy 36(2):189–229
Mogilner AI, Zolotukhin VG (1961) Atomnaya Energiya 10:377
Munoz-Cobo JL, Perez RB, Verdú G (1987) Stochastic neutron transport theory: neutron counting statistics in nuclear assemblies. Nucl Sci Eng 95(2):83–105
Munoz-Cobo JL, Chiva S, Sekhri A (2004) A reduced order model of BWR dynamics with subcooled boiling and modal kinetics: application to out of phase oscillations. Ann Nucl Energy 31(10):1135–1162
Munoz-Cobo JL, Pena J, Gonzalez E (2008) Rossi-alpha and Feynmann Y functions for non-Poissonian pulsed sources of neutrons in the stochastic pulsing method: application to subcriticality monitoring in ADS and comparison with the results of Poissonian pulsed neutron sources. Ann Nucl Energy 35(12): 2375–2386
OECD (2002) Reactor surveillance and diagnostics. In: Proceedings of the SMORN conferences. http://www.nea.fr/html/science/rsd/
Oguma R (1997) Application of noise analysis for the study of core local instability at Forsmark 1. SKI report 97:42, Statens Kärnkraftinspektion (Swedish Nuclear Power Inspectorate), Stockholm
Ott KO, Neuhold RJ (1985) Introductory nuclear reactor dynamics. American Nuclear Society, La Grange Park
Pacilio N (1970) Reactor-noise analysis in the time domain. United States Atomic Energy Commission, Washington
Pál L (1958) On the theory of stochastic processes in nuclear reactors. Nuovo Cimento, Supplemento 7:25–42
Pál L, Pázsit I (2006) Neutron fluctuations in a multiplying medium randomly varying in time. Phys Scripta 74(1):62–70
Pál L, Pázsit I (2007) Theory of neutron noise in a temporally fluctuating multiplying medium. Nucl Sci Eng 155(3):425–440
Pázsit I (1992) Dynamic transfer function calculations for core diagnostics. Ann Nucl Energy 19:303–312
Pázsit I (1995) Determination of reactor stability in case of dual oscillations. Ann Nucl Energy 22:377–387
Pázsit I (2002) Neutron noise theory in the P1 approximation. Prog Nucl Energy 40:217–236
Pázsit I (2003) Hugo van Dam and the dynamic adjoint function. Ann Nucl Energy 30:1757–1775
Pázsit I, Glckler O (1988) On the neutron noise diagnostics of PWR control vibrations, III: application at a power plant. Nucl Sci Eng 99(4):313–328
Pázsit I, Garis NS, Glöckler O (1994) BWR instrument tube vibrations: interpretation of measurements and simulations. Ann Nucl Energy 21(12): 759–786
Pázsit I, Glöckler O (1996) On the neutron noise diagnostics of PWR control vibrations, IV: application of neural networks. Nucl Sci Eng 124(1):167–177
Pázsit I, Kitamura M (1996) The role of neural networks in reactor diagnostics and control. Adv Nucl Sci Technol 24:95–130
Pázsit I, Pál L (2008) Neutron fluctuations – a treatise on the physics of branching processes. Elsevier Ltd., London/New York/Tokyo
Pázsit I, Pozzi SA (2005) Calculation of gamma multiplicities in a multiplying sample for the assay of nuclear materials. Nucl Instrum Methods A 555: 340–346
Pázsit I, Karlsson JK-H, Garis NS (1998) Some developments in core-barrel vibration diagnostics. Ann Nucl Energy 25(13):1079–1093
Pázsit I, Kuang ZF, Prinja AK (2002) A unified theory of zero power and power reactor noise via backward master equations. Ann Nucl Energy 29(2):169–192
Pázsit I, Demaziére C, Sunde C, Bernitt C, Hernándes-Solz A (2008) Final report on the research project ringhals diagnostics and monitoring stage 12. Chalmers internal report CTH-NT-220/RR-14
Pokol G, Pór G, Zoletnik S, The W7-AS Team (2007) Application of a bandpower correlation method to the statistical analysis of MHD bursts in quiescent Wendelstein-7 AS stellarator plasmas. Plasma Phys Control Fusion 49: 1391–1408
Pór G (1981) Investigations on the phase at low frequencies of the CPSD between detectors in the Borssele PWR power plant. ECN -81–131 report
Pór G, Izsák E, Valkó J (1985) Some results of noise measurements in a PWR NPP. Prog Nucl Energy 15:387–393
Pór G, Berta M, Csuvar M (2003) Measurement of the coolant flow rate using correlation of temperature fluctuations. Prog Nucl Energy 43:281–288
Saito K (1979) Source papers in reactor noise. Prog Nucl Energy 3(3):157–218
Sanchez R (1989) Linear kinetic theory in stochastic media. J Math Phys 30:2498–2511
Sanchez R, Pomraning GC (1991) A statistical analysis of the double heterogeneity problem. Ann Nucl Energy 18(7):371–395
Shiralkar B (2005) BWR stability analysis – phenomena and requirements. Talk given at the workshop on status and perspectives of coupled code analysis for BWRs, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, June 27–28, 2005
Sjöstrand NG (1956) Measurements on a subcritical reactor using a pulsed neutron source. Arkiv för Fysik 11:233–246
Stacey WM Jr (1969) Space-time nuclear reactor kinetics. Academic, New York
Takeuchi Y, Takigawa Y, Uematsu H (1994) A study on boiling water reactor regional stability from the viewpoint of higher harmonics. Nucl Technol 106 (3):300–314
Thie JA (1959) Dynamic behavior of boiling reactors. ANL-5849, Argonne National Laboratory
Thie JA (1963) Reactor noise. Rowman & Littlefield, New York
Thie JA (1977) Neutron noise sources in PWRs. Prog Nucl Energy 1(2–4):283–292
Thie JA (1981) Power reactor noise. American Nuclear Society, La Grange Park
Uhrig RE (ed) (1966) Proceedings of the symposium on neutron noise, waves and pulse propagation, Gainesville
Uhrig RE (1970) Random noise in nuclear reactor systems. Ronald Press, New York
van Dam H (1975) A perturbation method for analysis of detector response to parametric fluctuations in reactors. Atomkernenergie 25:70
van Dam H (1976) Neutron noise in boiling water reactors. Atomkernenergie 27:8
van Dam H (2000) Self-stabilizing criticality waves. Ann Nucl Energy 27(16):1505–1521
van der Hagen THJJ, Hoogenboom JE, van Dam H (1992) A multi dimensional multigroup diffusion model for the determination of the frequency-dependent field of view of a neutron detector. Nucl Sci Eng 110:237–253
van der Hagen THJJ, Pázsit I, Thomson O, Melkerson B (1994) Methods for the determination of the in-phase and out-of-phase stability characteristics of a boiling water reactor. Nucl Technol 107(2):193–214
Verdú G, Ginestar D, Vidal V, Miró R (1998) Modal decomposition method for BWR stability analysis. J Nucl Sci Technol 35(8):538–546
Wach D, Kosály G (1974) Investigation of the joint effect of local and global driving sources in in-core neutron noise measurements, Atomkernenergie 23(4):244–250
Watson HW, Galton F (1873) Educational Times 19:103
Weinberg AM, Schweinler HC (1948) Theory of oscillating absorber in a chain reactor. Phys Rev 74:851–863
Williams MMR (1974) Random processes in nuclear reactors. Pergamon Press, Oxford
Yadigaroglu G, Bergles AE (1972) Fundamental and higher-mode density wave oscillations in two-phase flow. Trans ASME J Heat Transfer 94(2):189–195
Yamane Y, Pázsit I (1998) Heuristic derivation of Rossi-alpha formula with delayed neutrons and correlated source. Ann Nucl Energy 25:1373–1382
Yamane Y, Takemoto Y, Imai T (1999) Effective delayed neutron fraction measurements in FCA-XIX cores by using modified Bennett method. Prog Nucl Energy 35(2):183–194
Yamane Y, Kitamura Y, Kataoka H, Ishitani K, Shiroya S (2002) Application of variance-to-mean method to accelerator-driven subcritical system. In: PHYSOR-2002 international conference on the new frontiers of nuclear technology: reactor physics, safety and high-performance computing, Seoul, October 7–10, 2002
Zinzani F, Demazière C, Sunde C (2008) Calculation of the eigenfunctions of the two-group neutron diffusion equation and application to modal decomposition of BWR instabilities. Ann Nucl Energy 35(11):2109–2125
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2010 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
About this entry
Cite this entry
Pázsit, I., Demazière, C. (2010). Noise Techniques in Nuclear Systems. In: Cacuci, D.G. (eds) Handbook of Nuclear Engineering. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-98149-9_14
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-98149-9_14
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-0-387-98130-7
Online ISBN: 978-0-387-98149-9
eBook Packages: EngineeringReference Module Computer Science and Engineering