A FPGA based data acquisition system for research reactor operational monitoring

In this paper, the analysis of digitizing the Campbell channel in wide range neutron monitoring (WRNM) system is introduced first and a digital neutron monitoring system of Campbell channel in Tsing Hua Open-Pool Reactor (THOR) is presented. A field programmable gate array (FPGA) based system for data acquisition and digital signal processing on amplified neutron power signal at THOR will be described. The designed system provides real time data collection and instantaneous signal processing to reduce fluctuation for reactor power, period and reactivity calculation. By further digital signal processing techniques and calibration, the online measuring system is established for experiments at THOR. Finally, for real-time monitoring in THOR, the prototype of digital monitoring system is carried out by shortening the execution time of the current data acquisition system. Compared with the existing analog system, the digital system has a wider dynamic range, less noise in low power range, and a comparable system response time.