Inherently safe passive gas monitoring system

• US 9,437,331 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2014
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: US Department of Energy (Government of the United States of America), Savannah River Nuclear Solutions LLS
• Original Assignee: Savannah River Nuclear Solutions LLS
• Inventors: Cordaro, Joseph V., Bellamy, John Stephen, Shuler, James M., Shull, Davis J., Leduc, Daniel R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Caputo, Lisa
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROY, PUNAM P
• Application Number:
  US14/182,608
• Publication Number:
  US 20150233882A1
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0036 Specially adapted to detect a particular component all the other sub-groups of G01N33/0004 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G21C 17/06 Devices or arrangements for monitoring or testing fuel or fuel elements outside the reactor core, e.g. for burn-up, for contamination G21C17/08, G21C17/10 take precedence; detecting leaking fuel elements during reactor operation G21C17/04
• CPC Class Codes: G21F 5/005 Containers for solid radioactive wastes, e.g. for ultimate disposal
• CPC Class Codes: G21F 5/06 Details of, or accessories to, the containers
• CPC Class Codes: G21F 5/12 Closures for containers; Sealing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G21F 9/36 by packaging; by baling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/24 Inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 30/30 Nuclear fission reactors

Abstract

Generally, the present disclosure is directed to gas monitoring systems that use inductive power transfer to safely power an electrically passive device included within a nuclear material storage container. In particular, the electrically passive device can include an inductive power receiver for receiving inductive power transfer through a wall of the nuclear material storage container. The power received by the inductive power receiver can be used to power one or more sensors included in the device. Thus, the device is not required to include active power generation components such as, for example, a battery, that increase the risk of a spark igniting flammable gases within the container.

Claims

1. A passive gas monitoring system, the system comprising:

an inductive power receiver positioned within a nuclear material storage container, wherein the inductive power receiver is configured to receive power from an inductive power transmitter positioned outside the nuclear material storage container using inductive power transfer;

one or more sensors positioned within the nuclear material storage container, wherein the one or more sensors are configured to respectively provide one or more outputs respectively describing one or more conditions within the nuclear material storage container, wherein the one or more sensors receive power from the inductive power receiver, and wherein the one or more sensors comprise;

a first sensor for measuring hydrogen concentration; and

a second sensor for measuring oxygen concentration; and

at least one data transmitter positioned within the nuclear material storage container, wherein the at least one data transmitter is configured to transmit the one or more outputs respectively provided by the one or more sensors to a data receiver positioned outside the nuclear material storage container.

2. The passive gas monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the power received by the inductive power receiver comprises the sole source of power used to power the one or more sensors and the at least one data transmitter such that all system components positioned within the nuclear material storage container are passive in nature.

3. The passive gas monitoring system of claim 1, wherein:

the inductive power receiver comprises a receiver coil and a capacitor; and

current flow through the receiver coil charges the capacitor.

4. The passive gas monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising the inductive power transmitter.

5. The passive gas monitoring system of claim 4, wherein the inductive power transmitter comprises a transmitter coil.

6. The passive gas monitoring system of claim 4, wherein the inductive power transmitter further comprises a current source providing alternating current.

7. The passive gas monitoring system of claim 6, wherein the alternating current comprises alternating current having a frequency at about 131 kilohertz.

8. The passive gas monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors are positioned within a containment vessel included in the nuclear material storage container.

9. The passive gas monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are positioned so as to be in gaseous communication with a material stored by the nuclear material storage container.

10. The passive gas monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors further comprise:

a third sensor for measuring temperature; and

a fourth sensor for measuring pressure.

11. A device for measuring gas characteristics within a radioactive material container, the device comprising:

an inductive power receiver for receiving inductive power transfer through a wall of the radioactive material container;

a rectifier coupled to the inductive power receiver, wherein an output of the rectifier comprises a direct current voltage bus of the device;

at least one of an oxygen concentration sensor or a hydrogen concentration sensor coupled to the output of the rectifier; and

at least one data transmission component for receiving data from the at least one of the oxygen concentration sensor and the hydrogen concentration sensor and transmitting the data to a data receiver that is external to the radioactive material container;

wherein the device does not contain any power generation components such that the device is wholly passive in nature.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein:

a radioactive material is stored within a containment vessel included in the radioactive material container; and

the device is positioned within the containment vessel.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the inductive power transfer occurs using a magnetic field that oscillates at about 131 kilohertz.

14. A passive gas monitoring system, the system comprising:

an inductive power receiver positioned within a nuclear material storage container, wherein the inductive power receiver is configured to receive power from an inductive power transmitter positioned outside the nuclear material storage container using inductive power transfer;

one or more sensors positioned within the nuclear material storage container, wherein the one or more sensors are configured to respectively provide one or more outputs respectively describing one or more conditions within the nuclear material storage container, and wherein the one or more sensors receive power from the inductive power receiver; and

at least one data transmitter positioned within the nuclear material storage containe wherein the at least one data transmitter is configured to transmit the one or more outputs respectively provided b r the one or more sensors to a data receiver positioned outside the nuclear material storage container;

wherein the one or more sensors comprise a plurality of sensors; and

wherein the at least one data transmitter comprises a plurality of data transmitters respectively associated with the plurality of sensors.

15. The passive gas monitoring system of claim 14, wherein the power received by the inductive power receiver comprises the sole source of power used to power the plurality of sensors and the plurality of data transmitters such that all system components positioned within the nuclear material storage container are passive in nature.

16. The passive gas monitoring system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of sensors comprise:

a first sensor for measuring hydrogen concentration; and

a second sensor for measuring oxygen concentration.

17. The passive gas monitoring system of claim 14, wherein the one or more sensors comprise:

a first sensor for measuring hydrogen concentration; and

a second sensor for measuring oxygen concentration.

18. A passive gas monitoring system, the system comprising:

an inductive power receiver positioned within a nuclear material storage container, wherein the inductive power receiver is configured to receive power from an inductive power transmitter positioned outside the nuclear material storage container using inductive power transfer;

one or more sensors positioned within the nuclear material storage container, wherein the one or more sensors are configured to respectively provide one or more outputs respectively describing one or more conditions within the nuclear material storage container, and wherein the one or more sensors receive power from the inductive power receiver; and

at least one data transmitter positioned within the nuclear material storage container, wherein the at least one data transmitter is configured to transmit the one or more outputs respectively provided by the one or more sensors to a data receiver positioned outside the nuclear material storage container;

wherein one or more electrical connections associated with the one or more sensors are sealed in an epoxy so as to decrease a risk of a spark event.

19. The passive gas monitoring system of claim 18, wherein the power received by the inductive power receiver comprises the sole source of power used to power the one or more sensors and the at least one data transmitter such that all system components positioned within the nuclear material storage container are passive in nature.