Magnetic switch for reactor control rod

Patent · Tue Apr 15 04:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:5831228

Germer, J H

This patent describes a control rod system for a nuclear reactor utilizing an electromagnetic grapple mechanism for holding and releasing a control rod, the improvement comprising a magnetic reed switch assembly having a Curie-point magnetic shunt and responsive to reactor coolant temperature for short circuiting the electromagnetic grapple mechanism causing release of the control rod when the coolant temperature reaches the Curie-point of the magnetic shunt. The magnetic reed switch assembly includes a: a permanent magnet, a pair of magnetic pole pieces located at and in contact with opposite ends of the permanent magnet, the Curie-point magnetic shunt being positioned adjacent the permanent magnet and in contact with the pair of magnetic pole pieces, and a reed switch positioned intermediate the pole pieces and provided with a pair of ferromagnetic reeds, a nonmagnetic enclosure around the reeds, a first of the reeds being secured at one end to a first of the pair of pole pieces, a second of the reeds having one end extending into and secured to a hollow member positioned in and extending through a second of the pair of pole pieces, the one end of the second of the reeds secured to a condector adapted to be connected to the electromagnetic grapple mechanism.

• Assignee: Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC
• Patent Number(s): US 4582675
• OSTI ID: 5831228
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220400* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Control Systems
CONTROL ELEMENTS
COOLANTS
CURIE POINT
ELECTRIC CONDUCTORS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRICAL FAULTS
ELECTROMAGNETISM
EQUIPMENT
FERROMAGNETISM
GRABS
MAGNET POLE PIECES
MAGNETISM
MAGNETS
MATERIALS HANDLING EQUIPMENT
PERMANENT MAGNETS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POSITIONING
REACTOR COMPONENTS
SWITCHES
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
TRANSITION TEMPERATURE