CHARGING AND DISCHARGING INSTALLATION FOR GAS COOLED NUCLEAR REACTORS

Patent · Mon Sep 11 04:00:00 EDT 1961

OSTI ID:4783225

Gas cooled reactors provided with an installation for charging and discharging fuel elements during full load operation have the disadvantage that as the elements are charged into or discharged from a reactor channel, the impedance to the gas flow in that channel varies considerably. The resulting variation in thrust upon the elements can make charging and discharging difficult. Thus a fuel element charge/discharge system is provided that arranges the fuel elements to remain at all times in the gas flow path and to present a substantially constant impedance to the gas flow. Preferably the charge/ discharge system includes a charging vessel containing a magazine for the storage of fuel elements, a charge tube through which fuel elements can be charged into the reactor from the reactor vessel and vice versa, and a further tube adapted to connect the charging vessel with the pressure vessel of the reactor and to constitute a return path for gaseous coolant. The further tube encloses part of the charge tube between the charging vessel and reactor in order to provide an annular space for the return path. (NPO)

• Research Organization: Originating Research Org. not identified
• NSA Number: NSA-16-034053
• OSTI ID: 4783225
• Report Number(s): FR 1274209
• Country of Publication: France
• Language: English

Related Subjects

FUEL ELEMENTS
GAS COOLANT
GAS FLOW
MACHINE PARTS
OPERATION
PATENT
POWER PLANTS
PRESSURE
REACTOR TECHNOLOGY
REACTORS
REMOTE HANDLING
STORAGE
TRANSPORT
TUBES
VARIATIONS