Effect of neutron irradiation on electromotive force of oxygen sensor using zirconia solid electrolyte

Hiura, Nobuo*; Yamaura, Takayuki ; Motohashi, Yoshinobu*; Kobiyama, Mamoru*

The purpose of this study is to develop oxygen sensor which can measure the oxygen potential of the fuel in a nuclear reactor. The oxygen sensor with CaO stabilized zirconia solid electrolyte has been specially designed in order to prolong its life time. Electromotive force (EMF) of solid galvanic cell Ni/NiO|ZrO-CaO|Fe/FeO was measured in both the out-pile tests and the in-situ tests using Japan Material Testing Reactor (JMTR), and the characteristics of EMF was discussed. In the out-pile test, it was found that the EMF was almost equal to the theoretical values at temperatures ranging from 700 to 1,000, and the life span of the sensor was very long up to 980h at 800. In the in-situ test, it was found that the EMF showed almost the reliable values up to 300 h (neutron fluence (E 1 MeV) 1.510 m), at temperatures from 700 to 900. The imprecision of the EMF was found to be within 6% of the theoretical values up to 1,650 h irradiation time (neutron fluence (E 1 MeV) 8.010 m) at 800. The oxygen sensors were found to be applicable for the oxygen potential measurement of the fuels in a reactor.