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Moen, Stephan Craig

Publications and source records attributed to Moen, Stephan Craig.

Feedwater temperature control methods and systems

A system for controlling the power level of a natural circulation boiling water nuclear reactor (NCBWR) may include a heating subsystem for heating feedwater flowing into an annulus of the NCBWR to increase the temperature of recirculation water flowing through the core above a predetermined recirculation water operating temperature. Additionally the system may include a temperature sensor operable to sense the temperature of the feedwater flowing into the annulus. The temperature sensor is communicatively connected to a temperature controller operable to command the heating subsystem to increase the temperature of the feedwater flowing into the annulus to a requested temperature above a predetermined operating temperature of the feedwater flowing into the annulus. By increasing the temperature of the feedwater flowing into the annulus, the temperature of the recirculation water is increased above the predetermined recirculation water operating temperature causing a reduction in the power level generated by the NCBWR core.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Feedwater temperature control methods and systems

A system for controlling the power level of a natural circulation boiling water nuclear reactor (NCBWR) is disclosed. The system, in accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, may include a controller configured to control a power output level of the NCBWR by controlling a heating subsystem to adjust a temperature of feedwater flowing into an annulus of the NCBWR. The heating subsystem may include a steam diversion line configured to receive steam generated by a core of the NCBWR and a steam bypass valve configured to receive commands from the controller to control a flow of the steam in the steam diversion line, wherein the steam received by the steam diversion line has not passed through a turbine. Additional embodiments of the invention may include a feedwater bypass valve for controlling an amount of flow of the feedwater through a heater bypass line to the annulus.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

Neutron monitoring systems including gamma thermometers and methods of calibrating nuclear instruments using gamma thermometers

A method of calibrating a nuclear instrument using a gamma thermometer may include: measuring, in the instrument, local neutron flux; generating, from the instrument, a first signal proportional to the neutron flux; measuring, in the gamma thermometer, local gamma flux; generating, from the gamma thermometer, a second signal proportional to the gamma flux; compensating the second signal; and calibrating a gain of the instrument based on the compensated second signal. Compensating the second signal may include: calculating selected yield fractions for specific groups of delayed gamma sources; calculating time constants for the specific groups; calculating a third signal that corresponds to delayed local gamma flux based on the selected yield fractions and time constants; and calculating the compensated second signal by subtracting the third signal from the second signal. The specific groups may have decay time constants greater than 5.times.10.sup.-1 seconds and less than 5.times.10.sup.5 seconds.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗