Fuel subassembly leak test chamber for a nuclear reactor

Patent · Tue Apr 04 00:00:00 EST 1978

OSTI ID:863046

Divona, Charles J ^[1]

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1. Santa Ana, CA

A container with a valve at one end is inserted into a nuclear reactor coolant pool. Once in the pool, the valve is opened by a mechanical linkage. An individual fuel subassembly is lifted into the container by a gripper; the valve is then closed providing an isolated chamber for the subassembly. A vacuum is drawn on the chamber to encourage gaseous fission product leakage through any defects in the cladding of the fuel rods comprising the subassembly; this leakage may be detected by instrumentation, and the need for replacement of the assembly ascertained.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4082607
• OSTI ID: 863046
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

fuel
subassembly
leak
chamber
nuclear
reactor
container
valve
inserted
coolant
pool
mechanical
linkage
individual
lifted
gripper
closed
providing
isolated
vacuum
drawn
encourage
gaseous
fission
product
leakage
defects
cladding
rods
comprising
detected
instrumentation
replacement
assembly
ascertained
individual fuel
fuel subassembly
fission product
fuel rods
reactor coolant
nuclear reactor
fuel rod
mechanical linkage
dual fuel
closed providing
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