Abstract:
The invention relates to a strainer device for separating contaminants from water in an emergency cooling system for a nuclear power plant. The nuclear power plant has a wet-well (3) for water in the emergency cooling system and the strainer device comprises at least one strainer device (9), which is arranged in the wet-well. According to the invention the strainer (9) is suspended in a desired position in the wet-well (3) by means of at least a group of at least three tie rods (10) arranged at angles to each other, each tie rod being fixed at one end to the strainer (9) and at its other end to the container (3) or to an anchor ring joined thereto.
Abstract:
The invention relates to an absorption structure (1) for absorbing neutrons with a neutron-absorbent material (2). Said material (2) is fitted between a first (3a) and a second plate (3b) and the plates (3a, 3b) are bonded together, forming between them a plurality of spaces (4) to accept the neutron-absorbent material (2). At least one of the plates has webs (5a) or corrugations (5b) by means of which the plurality of spaces (4) is formed while ensuring a firm bond to the second plate (3b). Through the insertion of the neutron-absorbent material (2) at virtually any concentration into the spaces (4), the absorption structure (1) makes it possible to adjust the absorbent capacity of the structure (1) within wide limits.
Abstract:
An overpack (40) for a drum (D) containing radioactive material, e.g. uranium trioxide, comprises a lightweight, porous, insulating packing material having a shape adapted to be fitted all around the drum (D) to be packed thereby, the packing material being contained in an outer container (40) which has folds or swages (49) to provide enhanced radial stiffness or strength. One or more plugs (53) may be fitted in the container at one or more of the folds to permit venting to the outside atmosphere of gases inside the container at a predetermined temperature or pressure. The packing material may comprise a hollow body (42) of packing material and a lid (43) of packing material. The body and the lid may have chamfered mating surfaces (58) to minimise loss of heat insulation.
Abstract:
A process is disclosed for generating an inert gas for feeding a container, in particular the containment shell (3) of a nuclear reactor. An inert gas (1) is kept in a liquefied or solidified state in a first reservoir (4); in a second reservoir (5), sufficient heat to evaporate the liquefied or solidified inert gas (1) is made available in a heat transfer medium (2); and the heat transfer medium and liquefied or solidified inert gas (1) are brought into thermal contact with each other. Also disclosed is a device for generating an inert gas. This process and device are particularly suitable for generating a large amount of inert gas, so that the containment shell (3) of a nuclear reactor may be quickly made inert.
Abstract:
A liquid level instrumentation measurement system (1) for measuring the level of liquid (20) under high pressure in a pressure vessel (10) containing liquid and vapor (30) with non-condensable gases. The system includes a reference leg (16) outside the pressure vessel, a condensing chamber (50, 100, 150) at the upper end (84) of the reference leg defining a vapor space (48, 98, 148) in which vapor condenses to keep the reference leg filled with liquid, a variable leg (44) connected (42) near the bottom of the pressure vessel, and a differential pressure detector (18) connected to both the variable leg and the reference leg for generating a signal proportional to the level of liquid in the pressure vessel. A vent outlet (80, 180) is disposed in the condensing chamber to which a vent leg (60, 160) is connected. The vent leg may be disposed between the vent outlet in the condensing chamber and the variable leg or between the vent outlet and the head vent line (110) which connects the pressure vessel to a main vapor line. In either case, the vent leg removes the non-condensable gases from the vapor space of the condensing chamber.
Abstract:
Device for securing the base of a shielded container for the transport and/or storage of highly radioactive materials comprising a sleeve (1) and a non-removable thick metal base (6). The sleeve (1) and base (6) respectively include a mutually engaging inner wall and side wall forming a straight cylinder having a circular cross section, the base (6) being held by shrink-fitting the side wall (12) of the base into the inner wall portion (13) of the opposing sleeve (1). According to the invention, the base is at least partially located within the sleeve (11), said inner wall portion (13) of the sleeve including a counter-shoulder cooperating with a matching shoulder in the side wall (12) of the base. The base (6) is linked to said sleeve by a continuous welding bead on its outer surface and by another welding bead on its inner surface.
Abstract:
A fuel assembly (1) for a nuclear reactor, comprising a number of parallel fuel rods (2) which are retained by means of spacer grids (3), arranged along the fuel rods (2), as well as guide thimbles (4), wherein the guide thimbles (4) are fixed to the spacer grids (3). The guide thimbles with associated fuel rods are further fixed between a top nozzle (5) and a bottom nozzle (6). In the top nozzle (5), through-holes (11) are arranged for connection to a top sleeve (8) joined to the upper end of the respective guide thimble (4). In the top sleeve (8), a first locking element (10) is arranged for cooperation with a second locking element (14) arranged for cooperation with a second locking element (14) arranged on a guide sleeve (12), which guide sleeve (12) is insertable through that hole (11) in the top nozzle (5) which corresponds to the respective top sleeve (8). The locking elements (10, 14) are interlocked in connected position by means of a locking sleeve (15) insertable into the guide sleeve (12). The locking sleeve (15) comprises a third locking element in the form of a through-opening (18) arranged in the wall, a corbelled-out portion (19) being arranged in the edge of the opening. The opening (18) imparts to the corbelled-out portion (19) resilient properties. The corbelled-out portion (9) is adapted, when the locking sleeve (15) is inserted into the guide sleeve (12), to cooperate with a fourth locking element in the form of an annular slot (21) arranged in the inner wall of the guide sleeve (12).
Abstract:
The proposal is for an inherently safe, temperature-dependently opening closing device on a connecting line (5) for coolant to initiate the cooling of a core melt (3) in a nuclear reactor plant. The connecting line (5) projects on the outlet side into a collecting chamber (1) for the core melt (3) and is connected on the inlet side to a cooling water tank (9). At the outlet end of the connecting line (5) there is a closing member (7) which normally closes the outlet end (5. 1) and opens under the effect of heat with the release of at least a part of the outlet cross-section of the connecting line (5) so that the coolant (6) is taken from the cooling water tank (9) to the collecting chamber (1) via the connecting line (5). There are means (A1) to keep the cold flow of the cooling water column away from a temperature-dependent opening device of the closing device (7), said opening device being largely corrosion resistant. The preferred application of the invention is to "core catchers" operating on the expansion principle.
Abstract:
A device for filtering water to an emergency cooling system in a nuclear power plant comprising a reactor arranged in a containment whose bottom part forms a condensation pool, is disclosed. The condensation pool includes a number of back-flushable strainers (3) for filtering water taken from the condensation pool and supplied to nozzles in the emergency cooling system. Each strainer is connected to a suction pump outside the containment by means of a first conduit (4). A number of secondary strainers (24), each consisting of an elongate, apertured tube which is substantially vertically mounted and has a diameter in the range of 200-400 mm and a length at least five times, suitably at least ten times, larger than the diameter, are directly or indirectly connected to the first conduit (4) by a third conduit (23).
Abstract:
A vial (10) for holding a radioactive sample for radiometric analysis which has an outer surface (14) on which a coating comprising a transparent antistatic agent (18) is deposited to prevent the accumulation of electrostatic charges on the vial. The vial (10) is treated to make the vial free of electrostatic charges by immersing the vial (10) and cap (12) with a solution containing the antistatic agent, spraying the vial (10) and cap (12) with a solution containing the antistatic agent or by contacting the vial (10) and cap (12) in a heated air stream with a flexible substrate carrying the antistatic agent.