A NEW IN-MAST FUEL MONITORING SYSTEM FOR NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
Resumo
The SMCI's core objective is to monitor the integrity of nuclear fuel elements during their transition to the spent fuel pool. Initiated in 1997, the SMCI was developed [1] by the Instrumentation Laboratory of the Instituto de Engenharia Nuclear (IEN) at ELETRONUCLEAR's behest for the Angra I Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). Since its inception, the system has been operational during refueling cycles at the plant, demonstrating exceptional performance in identifying failed or leaking fuel assemblies. The effectiveness of the SMCI in detecting these assemblies has met the standards of satisfaction; however, technological advancements are necessary to address the challenges of maintenance and the difficulty in sourcing replacement parts due to the current system's obsolescence. This report outlines the architecture of the proposed new SMCI designed to supersede the existing system. The development of the updated SMCI is underway and is anticipated to be finalized in the following year.