Testing device for neutron flux monitoring equipment.

This report describes a testing device capable of emulating neutron fission chamber signals over their whole operating range. The device assists in the design and testing of neutron flux monitoring equipment including reactimeters, spectrometers, period meters and protection channels. Because of its hardware architecture, testing of neutron flux monitoring equipment can be done both in a laboratory environment and in-situ. Main characteristics of the device allow one to test the equipment over a wide range of count rates. A flexible mathematical algorithm, that is used to calculate the signal model of fission chambers, gives the opportunity for user to set the pulse shape and the charge spectrum such as those in a real fission chamber. It is also possible to set dynamic signals, for example, such as an exponentially varying count rate or a neutron point reactor kinetics signal with a configurable number of delayed neutron groups and constants. The device was verified by testing of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) neutron flux divertor monitor data acquisition system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]