Application of Scintillation Counters to Reactors

Gamma sensitive scintillators may be applied to low power training reactors and reactor critical experiments where the residual fission fragment gamma activity is kept low. Some results of applying gamma sensitive scintillators with linear and log-n-period circuits to reactor critical experiments are compared to results obtained with conventional neutron sensitive counters and ion chambers. Relative performances and reliability are discussed. One advantage found is a reduction in the time required to sense an unsafe condition. Power reactor problems of monitoring for excessive exhaust stack gas activity and for fission fragment leakage from defective fuel elements are also discussed.