The testing was carried out at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Courtesy US DOE. The US Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Tennessee-based nuclear engineering services company Analysis and Measurement Services Corporation have completed testing of sensors for small light-water reactor systems.

The US Department of Energy said performance data will be shared with US nuclear companies to improve sensor instrumentation for advanced light-water small modular reactors.

The data could also be used to support other advanced reactor types cooled by gas, liquid metal or molten salt. ORNL tested the nuclear-grade resistance temperature detectors using a thermosyphon test loop and a specialised steam loop constructed specifically for the project.

Validation of the instruments’ ability to perform is subject to strict regulatory scrutiny because the signals involved are used to initiate a safe shutdown of the reactor during an incident.