Detection/Classification of Argon and Water Injections into Sodium into an SG of a Fast Neutron Reactor

Abstract : In the context of the research meant to develop a fourth‐generation nuclear power plant, the use of liquid sodium as coolant is investigated. This solution would necessitate the development of specific monitoring tools. The reaction between (pressurized) water and sodium, a potential identified risk in steam generators (SGs), is a major issue in such a case. This chapter first focuses on monitoring acoustic signals. Second, the problem of detecting and isolating injections of water and argon is introduced and the results of the accompanying feasibility study are presented. The third section introduces the characterization of the injection signals and the results of the obtained classifications. The chapter summarizes the results of this study into detecting the reaction between sodium and water as well as the main differences between injections of water and argon observed with this data set. The chapter examines the issue of online or sequential detection‐isolation.