Nuclear radiation actuated valve

Patent · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:865311

Christiansen, David W ^[1]; Schively, Dixon P ^[2]

---

1. Kennewick, WA
2. Richland, WA

A nuclear radiation actuated valve for a nuclear reactor. The valve has a valve first part (such as a valve rod with piston) and a valve second part (such as a valve tube surrounding the valve rod, with the valve tube having side slots surrounding the piston). Both valve parts have known nuclear radiation swelling characteristics. The valve's first part is positioned to receive nuclear radiation from the nuclear reactor's fuel region. The valve's second part is positioned so that its nuclear radiation induced swelling is different from that of the valve's first part. The valve's second part also is positioned so that the valve's first and second parts create a valve orifice which changes in size due to the different nuclear radiation caused swelling of the valve's first part compared to the valve's second part. The valve may be used in a nuclear reactor's core coolant system.

• Research Organization: Hanford Engineering Development Lab., Richland, WA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: EY-77-C-14-2170
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4493812
• OSTI ID: 865311
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

nuclear
radiation
actuated
valve
reactor
rod
piston
tube
surrounding
slots
swelling
characteristics
positioned
receive
fuel
region
induced
create
orifice
changes
size
due
caused
compared
core
coolant
radiation induced
tube surrounding
nuclear radiation
nuclear reactor
actuated valve
induced swelling
core coolant
radiation actuated
radiation swelling
fuel region
valve rod
valve tube
/376/976/