Sensors & Transducers Journal

    (ISSN 1726- 5479)

Vol. 77, Issue 3, March 2007, pp. 1025-1031

High Temperature Humidity Sensor for Detection of Leak Through Slits and Cracks

in Pressurized Nuclear Power Reactor Pipes

Debdulal Saha, Kamalendu Sengupta*

Pandey N. K., Tripathi Anupam

Sensors and Materials Research Laboratory, Department of Physics,

University of Lucknow, U.P., Pin-226007, India

^*E-mail: kamalendusengupta@yahoo.co.in, Debdulal76@yahoo.co.in

Received: 10 February 2007 / Accepted: 15 March / Published: 26 March 2007

Abstract: The leak before break (LBB) concept is well known to nuclear power reactor. The problem is common to water power reactor. This is based on the premise that a detectable leak will develop before catastrophic break occurs. The main purpose of the present study is to develop tape cast MgCr₂O₄+35mole% TiO₂ and gel cast g-Al₂O₃ humidity sensor for use in LBB applications at 300⁰C. The material capacitance varies with transient injection of water vapour adsorption. In actual plant, the sensors are placed on a steam pipe surrounded by heat insulation. The pipe unites the nuclear reactor and power generator. The analysis of humidity distribution in the annulus is calculated assuring leak rate 0.1gpm in a 30 m long tube. In this paper, analysis is done on the basis of the two types of sensor using AC frequency. Performance characteristics are observed for the LLB application.

Keywords: High temperature moisture sensor, Tape cast, Nuclear power reactor

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