NEUTRONIC REACTOR

Patent · 01 September 1958

OSTI ID:4303004

Ohlinger, L A; Wigner, E P; Weinberg, A M; Young, G J

This patent relates to neutronic reactors of the heterogeneous water cooled type, and in particular to a fuel element charging and discharging means therefor. In the embodiment illustrated the reactor contains horizontal, parallel coolant tubes in which the fuel elements are disposed. A loading cart containing a magnzine for holding a plurality of fuel elements operates along the face of the reactor at the inlet ends of the coolant tubes. The loading cart is equipped with a ram device for feeding fuel elements from the magazine through the inlot ends of the coolant tubes. Operating along the face adjacent the discharge ends of the tubes there is provided another cart means adapted to receive irradiated fuel elements as they are forced out of the discharge ends of the coolant tubes by the incoming new fuel elements. This cart is equipped with a tank coataining a coolant, such as water, into which the fuel elements fall, and a hydraulically operated plunger to hold the end of the fuel element being discharged. This inveation provides an apparatus whereby the fuel elements may be loaded into the reactor, irradiated therein, and unloaded from the reactor without stopping the fiow of the coolant and without danger to the operating personnel.

• Research Organization: Originating Research Org. not identified
• NSA Number: NSA-13-004325
• Assignee: U.S. Atomic Energy Commission
• Patent Number(s): US 2850447
• OSTI ID: 4303004
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

CONFIGURATION
COOLANT LOOPS
FUEL ELEMENTS
HYDRAULICS
IRRADIATION
OPERATION
PATENTS
PERSONNEL
PIPES
REACTOR FUELING
REACTORS
SAFETY
TUBES
VESSELS
WATER COOLANT