Nuclear fuel pin scanner

Patent · Tue Mar 03 00:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:866160

Bramblett, Richard L ^[1]; Preskitt, Charles A ^[2]

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1. Friendswood, TX
2. La Jolla, CA

Systems and methods for inspection of nuclear fuel pins to determine fiss loading and uniformity. The system includes infeed mechanisms which stockpile, identify and install nuclear fuel pins into an irradiator. The irradiator provides extended activation times using an approximately cylindrical arrangement of numerous fuel pins. The fuel pins can be arranged in a magazine which is rotated about a longitudinal axis of rotation. A source of activating radiation is positioned equidistant from the fuel pins along the longitudinal axis of rotation. The source of activating radiation is preferably oscillated along the axis to uniformly activate the fuel pins. A detector is provided downstream of the irradiator. The detector uses a plurality of detector elements arranged in an axial array. Each detector element inspects a segment of the fuel pin. The activated fuel pin being inspected in the detector is oscillated repeatedly over a distance equal to the spacing between adjacent detector elements, thereby multiplying the effective time available for detecting radiation emissions from the activated fuel pin.

• Research Organization: IRT Corporation
• DOE Contract Number: Y6E-S44-36837
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by Department of Energy (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4647420
• Application Number: 06/713,165
• OSTI ID: 866160
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

nuclear
fuel
scanner
systems
methods
inspection
pins
determine
fiss
loading
uniformity
infeed
mechanisms
stockpile
identify
install
irradiator
provides
extended
activation
times
approximately
cylindrical
arrangement
numerous
arranged
magazine
rotated
longitudinal
axis
rotation
source
activating
radiation
positioned
equidistant
preferably
oscillated
uniformly
activate
detector
provided
downstream
plurality
elements
axial
array
element
inspects
segment
activated
inspected
repeatedly
distance
equal
spacing
adjacent
multiplying
effective
time
available
detecting
emissions
detecting radiation
nuclear fuel
longitudinal axis
fuel pins
distance equal
detector element
elements arranged
detector elements
feed mechanism
axial array
/376/976/