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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO METHODS OF OPERATING GAS COOLED NUCLEAR REACTORS

Patent ·
OSTI ID:4730499
In a method of operating a gas-cooled nuclear reactor associated with fuel element leak detector apparatus for detecting short-lived fission products, the pressure in the coolant circuit while the reactor is operating at power is reduced whereby fission products are forced through any existing leaks in the fuel elemert sheaths into the coolant stream for detection by detector apparatus. If the coolant pressure is reduced relatively quickly, this will change the pressure drop across the sheath and probably also lead to some slight relative movement between the sheath and the fuel member. Both of these effects will tend to squeeze gas containing fission products from inside the sheath into the main coolant stream where they can be detected. (IIB)
Research Organization:
Originating Research Org. not identified
NSA Number:
NSA-17-009962
OSTI ID:
4730499
Report Number(s):
FR 1266812
Country of Publication:
France
Language:
English