Pressure vessel surveillance at commercial light water reactors using solid state track recorder neutron dosimetry

The accumulation of neutron dose by the pressure vessel of a light water reactor results in radiation damage in the form of steel embrittlement. In order to ascertain the safe operating lifetime of the reactor pressure vessel, the neutron dose must be monitored. Solid state track recorder neutron dosimeters have been developed for pressure vessel surveillance dosimetry at commercial power reactors. To date a total of more than 200 neutron dosimeters from seven different power reactor dosimetry exposures have been analyzed, and more than 150 additional dosimeters are currently deployed. The techniques for carrying out these measurements and their results will be discussed. (author)