Apparatus and method for classifying fuel pellets for nuclear reactor
- Plum Borough, PA
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Penn Township, Allegheny County, PA
- Churchill Borough, PA
- Monroeville, PA
Control for the operation of a mechanical handling and gauging system for nuclear fuel pellets. The pellets are inspected for diameters, lengths, surface flaws and weights in successive stations. The control includes, a computer for commanding the operation of the system and its electronics and for storing and processing the complex data derived at the required high rate. In measuring the diameter, the computer enables the measurement of a calibration pellet, stores that calibration data and computes and stores diameter-correction factors and their addresses along a pellet. To each diameter measurement a correction factor is applied at the appropriate address. The computer commands verification that all critical parts of the system and control are set for inspection and that each pellet is positioned for inspection. During each cycle of inspection, the measurement operation proceeds normally irrespective of whether or not a pellet is present in each station. If a pellet is not positioned in a station, a measurement is recorded, but the recorded measurement indicates maloperation. In measuring diameter and length a light pattern including successive shadows of slices transverse for diameter or longitudinal for length are projected on a photodiode array. The light pattern is scanned electronically by a train of pulses. The pulses are counted during the scan of the lighted diodes. For evaluation of diameter the maximum diameter count and the number of slices for which the diameter exceeds a predetermined minimum is determined. For acceptance, the maximum must be less than a maximum level and the minimum must exceed a set number. For evaluation of length, the maximum length is determined. For acceptance, the length must be within maximum and minimum limits.
- Research Organization:
- Hanford Engineering Development Lab., Richland, WA (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- EY-76-C-14-2170
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4448680
- OSTI ID:
- 865006
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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method
classifying
fuel
pellets
nuclear
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control
operation
mechanical
handling
gauging
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diameters
lengths
surface
flaws
weights
successive
stations
computer
commanding
electronics
storing
processing
complex
data
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required
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measuring
diameter
enables
measurement
calibration
pellet
stores
computes
diameter-correction
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appropriate
address
commands
verification
critical
set
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indicates
maloperation
length
light
pattern
including
shadows
slices
transverse
longitudinal
projected
photodiode
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electronically
train
pulses
counted
scan
lighted
diodes
evaluation
maximum
count
exceeds
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photodiode array
light pattern
correction factor
fuel pellet
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fuel pellets
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surface flaws
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predetermined minimum
/209/250/348/356/376/702/976/