Nuclear reactor control column

Patent · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:864300

Bachovchin, Dennis M ^[1]

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1. Plum Borough, PA

The nuclear reactor control column comprises a column disposed within the nuclear reactor core having a variable cross-section hollow channel and containing balls whose vertical location is determined by the flow of the reactor coolant through the column. The control column is divided into three basic sections wherein each of the sections has a different cross-sectional area. The uppermost section of the control column has the greatest cross-sectional area, the intermediate section of the control column has the smallest cross-sectional area, and the lowermost section of the control column has the intermediate cross-sectional area. In this manner, the area of the uppermost section can be established such that when the reactor coolant is flowing under normal conditions therethrough, the absorber balls will be lifted and suspended in a fluidized bed manner in the upper section. However, when the reactor coolant flow falls below a predetermined value, the absorber balls will fall through the intermediate section and into the lowermost section, thereby reducing the reactivity of the reactor core and shutting down the reactor.

• Research Organization: Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-02-3045
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4343764
• OSTI ID: 864300
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

nuclear
reactor
control
column
comprises
disposed
core
variable
cross-section
hollow
channel
containing
balls
vertical
location
determined
flow
coolant
divided
basic
sections
cross-sectional
uppermost
section
intermediate
lowermost
manner
established
flowing
normal
conditions
therethrough
absorber
lifted
suspended
fluidized
bed
upper
falls
below
predetermined
value
fall
reducing
reactivity
shutting
reactor control
reactor coolant
fluidized bed
nuclear reactor
reactor core
coolant flow
predetermined value
intermediate section
control column
upper section
column disposed
normal conditions
normal condition
column comprises
falls below
vertical location
hollow channel
/376/976/