摘要:
A means for installing material, through a fuel assembly instrument thimble insert, into the existing instrument thimbles in nuclear fuel assemblies for the purpose of allowing the material to be converted to commercially valuable quantities of desired radioisotopes during reactor power operations during a remainder of a fuel cycle and removing the radioisotopes from the core through the reactor flange opening once the fuel assemblies have been removed for refueling. The invention also describes methods that can be used to harvest the irradiated material so it can be packaged for transportation from the reactor to a location where the desired radioisotope(s) can be extracted from the fuel assembly instrument thimble insert.
摘要:
An irradiation target processing system for insertion and retrieving irradiation targets into and from an instrumentation tube in a nuclear reactor core comprises, a target retrieving system, target insertion system and transport gas supply system, mounted on a movable support, wherein: the target retrieving system comprises a target exit port coupled to a target storage container and exhaust system; the target insertion system comprises a target filling device, target retention tubing with target supply junction connectable to the instrumentation tube, and a target diverter coupled to the target filling device, target retention tubing and target retrieving system; and the transport gas supply system comprises a first gas supply tubing coupled to the exit port of the target retrieving system, a second gas supply tubing coupled to a junction for supplying gas to the instrumentation tube, and a transport gas supply junction coupled to the first and second gas supply tubing.
摘要:
A valve block for a piggable and/or solid-state conducting line system of a process technical plant can include one or more rotary control valves. The rotary control valve(s) can include one or more line inputs, one or more line outputs, and a rotatable control member with one or more through-channels. In an open position, a line input of the one or more line inputs is connected to a line output of the one or more line outputs through a through-channel of the one or more through-channels. In a closed position, the first control member separates the one or more line inputs from the one or more line outputs. The rotary control valves are rotatable about a same rotation axis and the control members are non-rotatably connected to each other. The one or more through-channels of respective rotary control valves are offset plane-parallel relative to each other in an axial direction of the rotation axis.
摘要:
Irradiation target holders are configured to fit in open locations inside of an operating commercial nuclear core. Holders can be placed with ends at vertical bottom and top of the core or any position therebetween to directly expose holders to nuclear fuel reactions. Holders have ends and overall shape that can join with existing reactor structures, while fitting closely with fuel and moderator and being easily removable from the same. Holders are fabricated of any reactor-compatible material that will retain irradiation targets and daughter products. Holders securely retain irradiation targets and daughter products of any shape or phase throughout reactor operation. Holders can be installed during reactor outages and irradiated during operation without risk of movement or interference with operation. After a desired period of operation and irradiation, holders can be harvested from the core independent of other core structures and fuel.
摘要:
A retainer is placed on a conduit to control movement of objects within the conduit in access-restricted areas. Retainers can prevent or allow movement in the conduit in a discriminatory fashion. A fork with variable-spacing between prongs can be a retainer and be extended or collapsed with respect to the conduit to change the size of the conduit. Different objects of different sizes may thus react to the fork differently, some passing and some being blocked. Retainers can be installed in inaccessible areas and allow selective movement in remote portions of conduit where users cannot directly interface, including below nuclear reactors. Position detectors can monitor the movement of objects through the conduit remotely as well, permitting engagement of a desired level of restriction and object movement. Retainers are useable in a variety of nuclear power plants and with irradiation target delivery, harvesting, driving, and other remote handling or robotic systems.
摘要:
Example embodiments are directed to methods and apparatuses for generating desired isotopes within water rods of nuclear fuel assemblies. Example methods may include selecting a desired irradiation target based on the target's properties, loading the target into a target rod based on irradiation target and fuel assembly properties, exposing the target rod to neutron flux, and/or harvesting isotopes produced from the irradiation target from the target rod. Example embodiment target rods may house one or more irradiation targets of varying types and phases. Example embodiment securing devices include a ledge collar and/or bushing that support target rods within a water rod and permit moderator/coolant flow through the water rod. Other example embodiment securing devices include one or more washers with one or more apertures drilled therein to hold one or more example embodiment target rods in a water rod while permitting coolant/moderator to flow through the water rod.
摘要:
A method of early sensing of water leakage, through chemical concentration monitoring, in a nuclear reactor system using a liquid metal and molten salt, the method including: measuring an electrical conductivity and a mass spectrum of a first channel and a second channel of a heat-related device included in the nuclear reactor system using the liquid metal and the molten salt; calculating a first identification value associated with the water leakage in the heat-related device using the measured electrical conductivity; calculating a second identification value associated with the water leakage in the heat-related device using the measured mass spectrum; and sensing the water leakage by comparing a predetermined reference value and a summed identification value, the summed identification value being the sum of the first identification value and the second identification value.
摘要:
An alignment system that employs jacking block assemblies and alignment posts around the periphery of the top plate of a nuclear reactor lower internals core shroud to align an upper core plate with the lower internals and the core shroud with the core barrel. The distal ends of the alignment posts are chamfered and are closely received within notches machined in the upper core plate at spaced locations around the outer circumference of the upper core plate. The jacking block assemblies are used to center the core shroud in the core barrel and the alignment posts assure the proper orientation of the upper core plate. The alignment posts may alternately be formed in the upper core plate and the notches may be formed in top plate.
摘要:
An irradiator which can be incorporated within a packing house and a method of irradiating food in the packing house are disclosed. Food products are placed on spaced baskets and conveyed into an enclosure, through a irradiation chamber, and then outwardly from the enclosure. The food products are conveyed through tortuously arranged ductwork which serves to absorb radiation streaming upwardly. The radiation source is maintained underwater both during operation and shutdown, and no lifting of the radiation source is thus required. A portion of the conveyor is positioned within one or more casings and can be withdrawn, if necessary, to facilitate maintenance and repair.
摘要:
A closure device for closing a tubular opening and releasably securing articles therein is disclosed. The device includes axially movable latching and actuator members which, respectively, engage the tubular opening and actuate or deactivate the latching means. Locking means are provided for releasably locking these members to prevent axial movements.