Anti-radiation Temperature-Pressure Sensor Using Nanoparticle Shielding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current temperature sensors used in nuclear reactors are highly vulnerable to radiation exposure, posing a risk in the event of accidents and necessitating the development of sensors with anti-radiation properties for safe monitoring of temperature and pressure.
Innovation Solution
A temperature-pressure complex sensor with an anti-radiation property is developed, utilizing a porous conductive film with a two-dimensional crystal structure and nanoparticles between crystal layers, along with a protective layer, to enhance sensitivity and radiation shielding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional temperature sensors (thermocouple or thermistor) are used in nuclear reactors, then temperature monitoring can be performed, but the sensors are highly vulnerable to radiation exposure and fail in high-radiation environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite material structure consisting of a porous conductive film base layer with two-dimensional crystal structures (such as graphene or MoS2) and dispersed nanoparticles (such as TiO2, SiO2, or Al2O3). This composite structure combines the high electrical conductivity and temperature sensitivity of the two-dimensional crystal with the radiation shielding properties of the nanoparticles, creating a sensor that maintains functionality in high-radiation environments while preserving temperature sensing capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes a porous conductive film as the base structure of the sensor. The porous structure provides high surface area for nanoparticle dispersion and maintains mechanical flexibility while allowing radiation to pass through to some extent. The porosity enables the sensor to maintain its structural integrity under radiation exposure while preserving the electrical pathways necessary for temperature detection
2Reliability
If nanoparticles are dispersed on the conductive film to provide radiation shielding, then anti-radiation property is improved, but the sensing sensitivity may be reduced due to disrupted conductive pathways
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by dispersing nanoparticles selectively on the surface and within the porous structure of the conductive film rather than creating a uniform thick coating. This localized approach provides radiation shielding where needed while preserving the conductive pathways in the bulk material. The two-dimensional crystal structure maintains continuous conductive networks despite the presence of dispersed nanoparticles, ensuring both radiation resistance and sensing sensitivity are maintained
3Reliability
If a protective layer is added to shield radiation, then radiation resistance is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the protective radiation-shielding function with the sensing element itself by incorporating radiation-shielding nanoparticles directly into the conductive film structure. Rather than adding a separate protective layer, the shielding functionality is integrated into the base sensing material, eliminating the need for additional layers and simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining both radiation resistance and temperature sensing capability
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 sensor effectively detects temperature and pressure changes while maintaining functionality in high-radiation environments, ensuring safety and reliability in nuclear reactor monitoring.
Implementation Method 1
A thermistor is a semiconductor resistor which is sensitive to heat, and which is an electronic component using the characteristics in which the resistance of a substance varies with temperature
Implementation Method 2
A piezoresistive sensor is a pressure sensor using a piezoresistive effect in which when force is applied to the outside, the length gets longer to cause a cross-sectional area to be reduced thereby resulting in an increase in resistance
Implementation Method 3
The conductive structure and the nanoparticles may include an anti-radiation material
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a temperature-pressure complex sensor with an anti-radiation property including a first sensing material which is a porous conductive film, and second sensing materials which are dispersedly disposed on a surface of the first sensing material. The second sensing materials may include a conductive structure having a two-dimensional crystal structure, and nanoparticles having a radiation shielding property which are disposed between crystal layers of the conductive structure.