Spectral shift apparatus and method for a nuclear reactor fuel assembly

Patent · Tue Jul 28 04:00:00 EDT 1987

OSTI ID:6245064

Lott, R G; Baloh, F J

This patent is for use in a fuel assembly for a nuclear reactor including an organized array of nuclear fuel rods and moderator/coolant liquid flowing along the fuel rods, a spectral shift apparatus for controlling nuclear reactivity in the assembly, the apparatus comprising: (a) at least one elongated hollow tubular body having opposite ends and containing a quantity of water equivalent to a predetermined small fraction of the volume of the tubular body, the body being adapted to displace a predetermined volume of the moderator/coolant liquid; (b) first means attached to and sealing one of the opposite ends of the tubular body; and (c) second means communicating with and sealing the other of the opposite ends of the tubular body, the second means including: (i) a member in the form of a replaceable disk being rupturable at a given pressure differential across the member, (ii) a baffle screen being disposed adjacent to the rupture disk so as to restrict the disk to rupturing in one predetermined direction, and (iii) an annular cap removably attached to the other opposite end of the tubular body for coupling the disk and screen thereto to seal the other end.

• Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA
• Patent Number(s): US 4683103
• OSTI ID: 6245064
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220300* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Fuel Elements
BAFFLES
CONFIGURATION CONTROL
CONTROL
CONTROL EQUIPMENT
COOLANTS
EQUIPMENT
FEEDWATER
FLOW REGULATORS
FLUID FLOW
FUEL ASSEMBLIES
FUEL ELEMENTS
FUEL RODS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LIQUID FLOW
MODERATORS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POWER REACTORS
PRESSURE DEPENDENCE
REACTIVITY
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTORS
SEALS
SPECTRAL SHIFT CONTROL
WATER