Thermionic switched self-actuating reactor shutdown system
- San Jose, CA
- Livermore, CA
A self-actuating reactor shutdown system incorporating a thermionic switched electromagnetic latch arrangement which is responsive to reactor neutron flux changes and to reactor coolant temperature changes. The system is self-actuating in that the sensing thermionic device acts directly to release (scram) the control rod (absorber) without reference or signal from the main reactor plant protective and control systems. To be responsive to both temperature and neutron flux effects, two detectors are used, one responsive to reactor coolant temperatures, and the other responsive to reactor neutron flux increase. The detectors are incorporated into a thermionic diode connected electrically with an electromagnetic mechanism which under normal reactor operating conditions holds the the control rod in its ready position (exterior of the reactor core). Upon reaching either a specified temperature or neutron flux, the thermionic diode functions to short-circuit the electromagnetic mechanism causing same to lose its holding power and release the control rod, which drops into the reactor core region under gravitational force.
- Research Organization:
- GENERAL ELECTRIC CO
- DOE Contract Number:
- AT03-76SF71032
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4880596
- OSTI ID:
- 867176
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Thermionic switched self-actuating reactor shutdown system
Self-actuating reactor shutdown system
Related Subjects
absorber
arrangement
causing
changes
conditions
connected
connected electrically
control
control rod
control systems
coolant
coolant temperature
core
core region
detectors
device
diode
diode connected
directly
drops
effects
electrically
electromagnetic
exterior
flux
force
functions
gravitational
gravitational force
holding
holds
incorporated
incorporating
increase
latch
lose
magnetic latch
main
mechanism
neutron
neutron flux
normal
normal reactor
operating
operating condition
operating conditions
plant
position
power
protective
reaching
reactor
reactor coolant
reactor core
reactor operating
reactor plant
reactor shutdown
reference
region
release
responsive
rod
scram
self-actuating
self-actuating reactor
sensing
short-circuit
shutdown
signal
specified
specified temperature
switched
systems
temperature
temperature change
temperature changes
temperatures
thermionic
thermionic device
thermionic switch
thermionic switched