Manual of Instruments and Controls for the Brookhaven Nuclear Reactor. Book 3. Volume 1.

The instruments and controls for the Brookhaven Nuclear Reactor have evolved from a development program whose objective was, among others, to create a research facility. Throughout this program it has been clear that the ultimate arrangement of instruments and controls can not be fixed in advance of actual operation. The ultimate arrangement will depend in large measure on the research activity to take place in the future. It has been necessary, therefore, to provide a wide range of instrument capabilities and a large number of control functions. Underlying this primary objective of creating a versatile research facility is the associated requirement that the reactor be safe. The requirements for safety are in some ways as varied and complex as those of research. In some instances they are dominant. Exemplifying the flexibility and versatility of the reactor instrumentation are electronic instruments of advanced design for measuring power at extremely low levels, indicating and recording the rate of rise of power level over a wide range of power, and regulating power at preset levels. Exemplifying the variety of safety devices are instruments for monitoring power level detected by ionization chambers, by neutron thermopiles, and by graphite and metal-cartridge thermocouples. Devices which monitor the operability of equipment also contribute to the safety of the reactor. KAR p.7