Aluminum Shell Neutron Spectrometer with Dynamic Water Moderation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional multi-sphere neutron spectrometers are heavy due to thick polyethylene shells, making them inconvenient for transportation and use, despite the need for multiple layers to ensure accurate neutron energy detection.
Innovation Solution
A water pumping and injecting multi-layered concentric sphere neutron spectrometer using aluminum shells with varying thicknesses and a water pumping system to reduce weight, allowing for lighter and more portable neutron spectrum detection while maintaining measurement accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If polyethylene spherical shells of sufficient thickness are used to ensure accurate neutron detection, then measurement precision is improved, but the weight of the spectrometer increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from polyethylene to aluminum for the spherical shells. Aluminum has lower density than polyethylene, allowing the shells to maintain sufficient thickness for neutron detection while significantly reducing the overall weight of the spectrometer system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a water pumping and injecting device that dynamically adjusts the water level within the spherical shells. This dynamic system allows optimization of the moderating material distribution to achieve accurate neutron detection with reduced shell thickness and weight compared to conventional fixed polyethylene shells.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple layers of polyethylene spherical shells are superposed to ensure testing needs, then measurement capability is improved, but transportation convenience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the shell material to aluminum with lower density, the patent reduces the weight of each layer while maintaining the multi-layer structure for comprehensive neutron detection capability. This makes the spectrometer more portable and easier to transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic water pumping system allows the spectrometer to be configured with different water levels in each shell layer, enabling versatile testing capabilities for different neutron energy ranges while keeping the overall structure compact and transportable.
3Reliability
If the thickness of polyethylene shells is increased to ensure normal use, then reliability is improved, but the weight exceeds acceptable limits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from polyethylene to aluminum, which has approximately one-third the density of polyethylene. This allows the shells to maintain sufficient thickness for reliable neutron detection while keeping the weight within acceptable limits for practical application.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic water adjustment system provides flexibility to optimize the moderating material distribution, ensuring reliable neutron detection performance while minimizing the required shell thickness and overall weight of the spectrometer.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The use of aluminum shells and a water pumping system significantly reduces the weight of the spectrometer, enhancing portability and usability while increasing measurement data combinations and maintaining accurate neutron energy detection.
Implementation Method 1
gaps are formed between adjacent shells for containing liquid... so as to input water into the gaps or output the water from the gaps
Data Source
AI summary
A water pumping and injecting multi-layered concentric sphere neutron spectrometer includes a neutron detector, a plurality of shells concentrically provided, and a water pumping and injecting device; wherein an innermost shell surrounds a surface of the neutron detector; gaps are formed between adjacent shells for containing liquid; the shells are made of an aluminum material; a valve is arranged on each of the shells except the innermost shell; the water pumping and injecting device is connected to the valve of each of the shells except the innermost shell, so as to input water into the gaps or output the water from the gaps. Compared with conventional neutron spectrometer, weight of the water pumping and injecting multi-layered concentric sphere device and the neutron spectrum detection system of the present invention is greatly reduced, which is conducive to transportation and utilization. Meanwhile, combination of neutron spectrum data measurement and measurement data are increased.