LAUSR

The world’s first nuclear powered, wireless power and temperature sensor was demonstrated in Penn State’s Breazeale Nuclear Reactor during the last week of September 2015. The sensor consisted of a thermoacoustic heat engine powered by nuclear fission designed to acoustically telemeter temperature and neutron flux information. The acoustic frequency of operation and the amplitude of the acoustic signal were proportional to the temperature and the reactor power respectively. The proof-of-concept tests were conducted in the research reactor twice daily over five days. Sensor performance was as expected with the exception that the amplitude of the acoustic signal diminished after each test. In this paper we will present our “wet sock” theory that a seal weld isolating the thermal insulation from the reactor coolant at the hot end of the thermoacoustic sensor failed early in the testing. This allowed water to be drawn in each time the thermoacoustic sensor cooled down reducing the efficiency of the insulation...