Record Details

Taguchi Based Performance and Reliability Improvement of an Ion Chamber Amplifier for Enhanced Nuclear Reactor Safety

DSpace at IIT Bombay

View Archive Info
 
 
Field Value
 
Title Taguchi Based Performance and Reliability Improvement of an Ion Chamber Amplifier for Enhanced Nuclear Reactor Safety
 
Creator KULKARNI, RD
AGARWAL, V
 
Subject gamma-radiation
circuits
ion chamber amplifier
nuclear power plant
reliability
safety
taguchi method
 
Description An Ion Chamber Amplifier (ICA) is used as a safety device for neutronic power (flux) measurement in regulation an protection systems of nuclear reactors. Therefore, performance reliability of an ICA is an important issue. Appropriate quality, engineering is essential to achieve a robust design and performance of the ICA circuit. It is observed that the low input bias current operational amplifiers used in the input stage of the ICA circuit are the most critical devices for proper functioning of the ICA. They are very sensitive to the gamma radiation present in their close vicinity. Therefore, the response of the ICA deteriorates with exposure to gamma radiation resulting in a decrease in the overall reliability, unless desired performance is ensured under all conditions. This paper presents a performance enhancement scheme for an ICA operated in the nuclear environment. The Taguchi method, which is a proven technique for reliability enhancement, has been used in this work. It is demonstrated that if a statistical, optimal design approach, like the Taguchi method is used, the cost of high quality and reliability, may be brought down drastically. The complete methodology and statistical calculations involved are presented, as are the experimental and simulation results to arrive at a robust design of the ICA.
 
Publisher IEEE-INST ELECTRICAL ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS INC
 
Date 2011-08-01T17:35:08Z
2011-12-26T12:53:26Z
2011-12-27T05:39:07Z
2011-08-01T17:35:08Z
2011-12-26T12:53:26Z
2011-12-27T05:39:07Z
2008
 
Type Article
 
Identifier IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON NUCLEAR SCIENCE, 55(4), 2303-2314
0018-9499
http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/TNS.2008.2001124
http://dspace.library.iitb.ac.in/xmlui/handle/10054/8499
http://hdl.handle.net/10054/8499
 
Language en