GAS CHROMATOGRAPHIC SYSTEM FOR FFTF FAILED FUEL DETECTION AND LOCATION - STATE-OF-THE-ART REPORT

A review of the present state-of-the-art in the areas of gas chromatography, radiochemical counting and inert cover gas sampling reveals that : 1, The chromatographic approach to fuel failure detection and locatlon is technically feasible and holds promise of having distinct advantages over existing methods. 2, Considerable knowledge which is directly applicable to the problem exists and therefore the research and development costs required will be modest, 3. Existfng knowledge indicates that there is a high probability that a successful failed fuel locator can be constructed based on gas chromatographic separation of the rare gases followed by radiochemical counting . 4, Sample selection and conditioning will pose a major problem in any failure location system which is based on the measurement of fission gas concentration in individual cover gas channels