Training courses on the use of neutron detection systems carried out on the ISIS research reactor

Training courses on the use of the neutron detection systems for the control of the nuclear reactors are carried out by the National Institute for Nuclear Science using the ISIS research reactor. The study and the comprehension of the operation of these systems are facilitated by the use a research reactor in order to observe the electronic signals in real conditions. Thus, ISIS reactor offers a wide range of neutron fluxes and the level of power can be easily set to any value from zero to nominal power (700 kW). Different kinds of detectors (counters, ionization chambers), which operate in the different modes of detection (pulse, current and campbelling) can be placed in the periphery of the core for the courses. The electronic signal can be analyzed at each step of the detection process. One goal of the courses is to understand the role of each component of the detection system: detector, cable and each electronic module. A comparison with the nuclear instrumentation used by the instrumentation and control of ISIS reactor is also made. This comparison is very useful to understand the role of the neutron instrumentation in terms of safety, availability, reliability and maintainability.