Systems and methods for retaining and removing irradiation targets in a nuclear reactor
Abstract
A retainer is placed on a conduit to control movement of objects within the conduit in access-restricted areas. Retainers can prevent or allow movement in the conduit in a discriminatory fashion. A fork with variable-spacing between prongs can be a retainer and be extended or collapsed with respect to the conduit to change the size of the conduit. Different objects of different sizes may thus react to the fork differently, some passing and some being blocked. Retainers can be installed in inaccessible areas and allow selective movement in remote portions of conduit where users cannot directly interface, including below nuclear reactors. Position detectors can monitor the movement of objects through the conduit remotely as well, permitting engagement of a desired level of restriction and object movement. Retainers are useable in a variety of nuclear power plants and with irradiation target delivery, harvesting, driving, and other remote handling or robotic systems.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas, LLC, Wilmington, NC (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1230018
- Patent Number(s):
- 9,208,909
- Application Number:
- 13/710,090
- Assignee:
- GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas, LLC
- DOE Contract Number:
- FC52-09NA29626
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 2012 Dec 10
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
Citation Formats
Runkle, Gary A., Matsumoto, Jack T., Dayal, Yogeshwar, and Heinold, Mark R. Systems and methods for retaining and removing irradiation targets in a nuclear reactor. United States: N. p., 2015.
Web.
Runkle, Gary A., Matsumoto, Jack T., Dayal, Yogeshwar, & Heinold, Mark R. Systems and methods for retaining and removing irradiation targets in a nuclear reactor. United States.
Runkle, Gary A., Matsumoto, Jack T., Dayal, Yogeshwar, and Heinold, Mark R. Tue .
"Systems and methods for retaining and removing irradiation targets in a nuclear reactor". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1230018.
@article{osti_1230018,
title = {Systems and methods for retaining and removing irradiation targets in a nuclear reactor},
author = {Runkle, Gary A. and Matsumoto, Jack T. and Dayal, Yogeshwar and Heinold, Mark R.},
abstractNote = {A retainer is placed on a conduit to control movement of objects within the conduit in access-restricted areas. Retainers can prevent or allow movement in the conduit in a discriminatory fashion. A fork with variable-spacing between prongs can be a retainer and be extended or collapsed with respect to the conduit to change the size of the conduit. Different objects of different sizes may thus react to the fork differently, some passing and some being blocked. Retainers can be installed in inaccessible areas and allow selective movement in remote portions of conduit where users cannot directly interface, including below nuclear reactors. Position detectors can monitor the movement of objects through the conduit remotely as well, permitting engagement of a desired level of restriction and object movement. Retainers are useable in a variety of nuclear power plants and with irradiation target delivery, harvesting, driving, and other remote handling or robotic systems.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2015},
month = {12}
}