Overview of the CORTEX project

<p>This paper gives an overview of the CORTEX project, which is a Research and Innovation<br> Action funded by the European Union in the Euratom 2016-2017 work program, under the<br> Horizon 2020 framework. CORTEX, which stands for CORe monitoring Techniques and<br> EXperimental validation and demonstration, aims at developing an innovative core monitoring<br> technique that allows detecting anomalies in nuclear reactors, such as excessive vibrations of<br> core internals, flow blockage, coolant inlet perturbations, etc. The technique is based on<br> primarily using the inherent fluctuations in neutron flux recorded by in-core and ex-core<br> instrumentation (often referred to as neutron noise), from which the anomalies will be<br> differentiated depending on their type, location and characteristics. In addition to be nonintrusive<br> and not requiring any external perturbation of the system, the method allows the<br> detection of operational problems at a very early stage. Proper actions could thus be taken by<br> utilities before such problems have any adverse effect on plant safety and reliability. In order<br> to develop a method that can reach a high Technology Readiness Level, the consortium, made<br> of 20 partners, was strategically structured around the required core expertise from all the<br> necessary actors of the nuclear industry, both within Europe and outside. The broad expertise<br> of the consortium members ensures the successful development of new in-situ monitoring<br> techniques.