Improvements relating to safety devices for nuclear reactors
It is important that shutdown devices in nuclear reactors shall operate automatically in response to emergency conditions and independently of the normal electrical safety circutts, which may be damaged. The system described provides a reactor with safety devices operating automatically in response to a relative displacement between the pressure vessel and the superstructure above it from which the control rods are suspended. Such relative movement might occur in the event of an earthquake or an explosion in the vicinity of the reactor, or a serious structural fault in some part of the reactor. A control rod suspension system is provided in which some or all of the control rods are secured by latches to elongated suspension means and are suspended thereby from the reactor superstructure. Axially movable spring-loaded plungers are provided, biassed towards a position in which the latches are released, but held in a locking position by means of relatively tiltable struts, normally co-axially aligned with the plungers. The tip of each strut abutts an end face of the adjacent tip of the plunger to hold the latter in a locked position, and the strut is coupled to the suspension means so as to allow tilting movement relative to the plunger, whereby on occurrence of a predetermined angular tilting of the suspension means relative to the control rod, the resulting corresponding tilting of the strut relative to the plunger will move the tip of the strut clear of the end face of the plunger and allow the latter to be moved to its release position, thereby automatically releasing the latch to allow the associated control rod to fall. (UK)
- Research Organization:
- Originating Research Org. not identified
- NSA Number:
- NSA-29-023660
- OSTI ID:
- 4313052
- Report Number(s):
- GB 1327196
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 1969 Oct 14; Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 30-JUN-74; Bib. Info. Source: UK (United Kingdom (sent to DOE from))
- Country of Publication:
- United Kingdom
- Language:
- English
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