Research on MEMS Based Real-Time Measurement System for the Nuclear Fuel Transport Cask

Abstract

A new type of measurement and recording device for the nuclear fuel transport cask was presented on this paper. With the view to the characteristics of specific application object, the system has been designed with the integration of the MEMS sensors. Several kinds of MEMS sensors include MEMS gyroscopes, MEMS accelerometers, MEMS magnetometers and MEMS pressure sensors are integrated together with embedded CPU, micro GPS receiver, and communication unit. With the conception of the modularization, the multi-subsystem (including: stainless steel sleeve structure, shock absorbers, sealed loader, MEMS sensor components, FLASH memory, power supply components, wireless communication components, etc.) was combined to a new transport cask of nuclear fuel. The low power, low cost, high integrate MEMS sensor system can achieve date of the whole process of nuclear fuel conveying condition, and alarm at the licensing of circumstances beyond. The new nuclear fuel transport cask system include: stainless steel sleeve structure, shock absorbers, sealed loader, MEMS sensor components, FLASH memory, power supply components, wireless communication components. The self-programmed software provides a means to analyze all the data during the whole transport process. The sensors’ output, attitude variety, temperature, acceleration, GPS trace can be analyzed simultaneity or independently. Using the data recorded, System Identification is performed to find the final health status of nuclear fuel.