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

Nuclear reactor safety device

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6977469
A safety device is described for use in a nuclear reactor for axially repositioning a control rod with respect to the reactor core in the event of a thermal excursion. It comprises a laminated strip helically configured to form a tube, said tube being in operative relation to said control rod. The laminated strip is formed of at least two materials having different thermal coefficients of expansion, and is helically configured such that the material forming the outer lamina of the tube has a greater thermal coefficient of expansion than the material forming the inner lamina of said tube. In the event of a thermal excursion the laminated strip will tend to curl inwardly so that said tube will increase in length, whereby as said tube increases in length it exerts a force on said control rod to axially reposition said control rod with respect to said core.
DOE Contract Number:
W-31109-ENG-38
Assignee:
Dept. of Energy
Patent Number(s):
None
Application Number:
ON: DE84011043
OSTI ID:
6977469
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English