Abstract:
A fast reactor has a reactivity control assembly including a reactor shutdown rod of a backup reactor shutdown system and neutron absorbers to suppress the initial surplus reactivity, a reactor shutdown rod drive mechanism for releasing the reactor shutdown rod and units of neutron absorber drive mechanism capable of moving the respective neutron absorbers up and down. The reactor shutdown rod and the neutron absorbers are arranged in a wrapper tube. The reactor shutdown rod drive mechanism causes an inner extension tube to fall and release the reactor shutdown rod by means of a gripper section at the lowermost end of an outer extension tube by turning off the power supply to a holding magnet at the time of scram. Each of the units of neutron absorber drive mechanism has a dual tube type drive shaft including an outer extension shaft and an inner extension shaft. When grasping the neutron absorbers, the outer extension shaft is pulled up to allow both of the extension shafts to be inserted. After the outer extension tube gets to the handling head section of the neutron absorber, the outer extension shaft is pushed down to grasp the neutron absorber externally by means of the latch fingers of the gripper section thereof so that the neutron absorber can be moved up and down.
Abstract:
A control rod for nuclear reactor having a lower section that contains an annular neutron absorber wrapped in a metal sleeve. The sleeve rests on a lower spacer which is seated on the control rod lower end cap. The upper portion of the sleeve extends above the annular neutron absorber of this lower section and is capped by an upper spacer. The standard neutron absorber is supported above this upper spacer which rests on the upper end of the metal sleeve to define a gap between the upper spacer and the annular neutron absorber to accommodate axial expansion.
Abstract:
An advanced gray rod control assembly (GRCA) is for a nuclear reactor. The reactor has a plurality of fuel assemblies each including numerous elongated fuel rods supported in an organized array by substantially transverse support grids, and a plurality of guide thimbles disposed through the support grids and along the fuel rods. The GRCA includes a spider assembly structured to provide controlled insertion of gray rod assemblies within the thimbles of the fuel assembly, thereby controlling the rate of power produced by the reactor. Each gray rod assembly includes an elongated tubular member, a first end plug, a second end plug, a substantially pure silver neutron-absorber disposed within the tubular member, and a support tube surrounding the neutron-absorber within the tubular member to resist silver-swelling. Delta-power of the reactor is improved by minimizing the exposed surface area of the absorber and distributing it among all of the rods of the GRCA.
Abstract:
A control element for a nuclear reactor includes an absorber or absorber material and at least three absorber enclosures for receiving the absorber. The absorber enclosure is constructed in such a way that the received absorber can be subjected to local relative burn up of more than 90% without the burnt-off absorber material getting into the reactor coolant. The control element is constructed in such a way that there are at least three absorber enclosures and a predetermined spacing between the enclosures, so that each absorber enclosure forms a mechanical resistance for the absorber and is removable from the starting position in the event of expansion of the absorber.
Abstract:
A control element for a nuclear reactor includes an absorber and at least three absorber enclosures for receiving the absorber. The absorber enclosure is constructed in such a way that the received absorber can be subjected to local relative burn up of more than 90% without the burnt-off absorber material getting into the reactor coolant. The control element is constructed in such a way that there are at least three absorber enclosures and a predetermined spacing between the enclosures, so that each absorber enclosure forms a mechanical resistance for the absorber and is removable from the starting position in the event of expansion of the absorber.
Abstract:
A bottom open sled system for exchanging control rod drives in a nuclear reactor is described. The system, in one form, includes a tower forming a control rod drive receiving area, at least one acme screw extends substantially the length of the tower and is mounted within the receiving area. An elevator is coupled to the acme screw and is movable relative to the acme screw. The elevator is configured to engage a portion of the control rod drive and to substantially support the control rod drive. The system further includes a trunnion cart engaged to the tower so that the tower is rotatable relative thereto.
Abstract:
Control rod guide tube adapted to reduce vibration of a plurality of control rods disposed therein. The guide tube comprises an elongate housing surrounding the control rods, the housing having an opening at an end thereof for receiving a flowing fluid therethrough. The fluid has a velocity component acting transversely to the control rods sufficient to induce vibration of the control rods. However, the housing of the present invention has an intermediate portion pierced by a plurality of apertures for exit of the fluid from the housing to reduce the velocity of the fluid acting transversely to the control rods in order to reduce vibration of the control rods. As control rod vibration is reduced, control rod wear is mitigated.
Abstract:
The zirconium cladding of a coolant-displacement rod of a nuclear reactor is precollapsed in the zirconium oxide stack of pellets which supports the cladding. Current is conducted through the cladding in an atmosphere at reduced pressure containing residual oxygen, to heat the cladding to a temperature at which its yield strength is reduced. Then, while the rod remains at this temperature, it is subjected to isostatic pressure which collapses the cladding uniformly. The formation, by reason of exposure to neutron flux, of a long unsupported gap in the cladding which might be collapsed under the pressure of the coolant is precluded. In addition, the rod retains its symmetry. The outer surface of the cladding is oxidized, facilitating the movement of the rod into its thimbles of the core and improving the resistances of the cladding to reaction with the coolant.
Abstract:
A nuclear fuel assembly for a spectral shift reactor has an upper end piece and a lower end piece secured to a structural element belonging to the upper end piece by guide tubes arranged for receiving a cluster of control elements. The upper end piece further comprises a support member arranged for receiving said cluster at the end of the fall thereof, means for guiding said support member. The support member is guided for movement parallel to the axis of the guide tubes. Springs are contained within the end piece and disposed between the structural member and the plate for braking the cluster at the end of the fall thereof.
Abstract:
A cluster of standardized reduced length burnable absorber rods include a plurality of middle rod sections having a multiplicity of different axial lengths and containing burnable absorber material in sealed chambers therein, a plurality of upper end spacer sections having a multiplicity of different axial lengths and each defining an empty space, and a plurality of lower end spacer sections having a multiplicity of different axial lengths and each defining an empty space. Each of the rods is formed of one middle rod section tandemly arranged between and interconnecting one upper end spacer section and one lower end spacer section. The three interconnected sections which form each rod being selected so as to provide the same standard combined axial length for each of the rods in the cluster thereof although the axial lengths of the middle rod sections can vary from rod to rod and thereby the axial location of the burnable absorber material along the rod can also vary from rod to rod.