Temperature actuated shutdown assembly for a nuclear reactor
- Lisle, IL
Three identical bimetallic disks, each shaped as a spherical cap with its convex side composed of a layer of metal such as molybdenum and its concave side composed of a metal of a relatively higher coefficient of thermal expansion such as stainless steel, are retained within flanges attached to three sides of an inner hexagonal tube containing a neutron absorber to be inserted into a nuclear reactor core. Each disk holds a metal ball against its normally convex side so that the ball projects partially through a hole in the tube located concentrically with the center of each disk; at a predetermined temperature an imbalance of thermally induced stresses in at least one of the disks will cause its convex side to become concave and its concave side to become convex, thus pulling the ball from the hole in which it is located. The absorber has a conical bottom supported by the three balls and is small enough in relation to the internal dimensions of the tube to allow it to slip toward the removed ball or balls, thus clearing the unremoved balls or ball so that it will fall into the reactor core.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31109-ENG-38
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States Energy (Washington, DC)
- Patent Number(s):
- US 3976543
- OSTI ID:
- 862619
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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NUCLEAR REACTOR SHUTDOWN APPARATUS
Related Subjects
actuated
shutdown
assembly
nuclear
reactor
identical
bimetallic
disks
shaped
spherical
cap
convex
composed
layer
metal
molybdenum
concave
relatively
coefficient
thermal
expansion
stainless
steel
retained
flanges
attached
inner
hexagonal
tube
containing
neutron
absorber
inserted
core
disk
holds
ball
normally
projects
partially
located
concentrically
center
predetermined
imbalance
thermally
induced
stresses
pulling
conical
bottom
supported
balls
relation
internal
dimensions
allow
slip
removed
clearing
unremoved
fall
tube containing
thermally induced
neutron absorber
thermal expansion
nuclear reactor
stainless steel
reactor core
predetermined temperature
shutdown assembly
temperature actuated
metallic disk
actuated shutdown
bottom supported
located concentrically
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