Neutron Noise Methods for Monitoring VVER Cores

Many research staffs and groups have paid considerable attention to the issues of noise analysis and control of parameters of nuclear power plant operation. This is reflected in the scientific environment in the form of numerous publications, monographs, papers, and reviews devoted to the study of noise components of various variation signals of reactor plants. However, despite the advanced theoretical studies on this topic, applied research, i.e., direct reactor experiments, remains aside from the interests of both local and foreign scientists. The need for practical research is due to the complexity of interpretation of a variety of anomalies detected by noise methods, as well as the need to fine-tune various models. In addition, the spectral images of equipment can differ significantly not only between different designs of reactor plants but also within the same-type units at one NPP. These problems cannot be solved by theoretical or computational methods alone, or by using simulation modeling. The situation is complicated by the fact that noise studies are a complex problem in terms of both selecting noise data sources and interpreting the information obtained. Probably, these reasons explain the significant decrease in interest in experimental studies on the subject of noise at various reactor plants both in world practice and in Russia. In the paper, some possibilities of methods of neutron noise control of cores aimed at improving the reliability and safety of NPPs are briefly discussed. In addition, in the paper, ways to reduce the labor intensity of their use for the earliest possible detection of abnormal condition of various equipment are considered.