Spectral shift reactor control method

Patent · Tue Aug 18 04:00:00 EDT 1987

OSTI ID:5992077

Impink, Jr, A J

The method is described of closely controlling the reactor water coolant temperature of an operating spectral-shift nuclear reactor, the reactor comprising a core formed of fuel assemblies through which the reactor water coolant flows; different types of elongated elements operable to be controllably moved into and out of the core; one type of the elongated elements comprising control rods formed of neutron absorbing material and operable to decrease reactivity through neutron absorption when inserted into the core; another of the types of elongated elements comprising displacer rods formed of material which has a low absorption for neutrons and which have overall neutron-absorbing and moderating characteristics essentially not exceeding those of hollow tubular Zircaloy members with a filling zirconium oxide or aluminum oxide, the displacer rods operating to displace an equivalent volume of water coolant fluid from the core when inserted therein to decrease reactivity and to increase reactivity when moved from the core.

• Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA
• Patent Number(s): US 4687620
• OSTI ID: 5992077
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220400* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Control Systems
ALLOYS
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CONFIGURATION CONTROL
CONTROL
COOLANTS
COOLING SYSTEMS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
FEEDWATER
FUEL ASSEMBLIES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
NEUTRON ABSORBERS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POWER REACTORS
REACTIVITY
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR COOLING SYSTEMS
REACTOR CORES
REACTORS
SPECTRAL SHIFT CONTROL
TEMPERATURE CONTROL
TIN ALLOYS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
WATER
ZIRCALOY
ZIRCONIUM ALLOYS
ZIRCONIUM BASE ALLOYS
ZIRCONIUM COMPOUNDS
ZIRCONIUM OXIDES