Apparatus for inspecting fuel elements
Abstract
This disclosure describes an alpha monitor usable in an automated nuclear fuel pin loading and processing unit. Fuel pins or other elongated pins are fed laterally into the alpha monitor in a singular fashion and are translated by a first roller assembly into a weld flare machining and decontamination substation not forming a part of the invention. Pins return and are lifted upwardly and transferred across to a combined pin lifting and electrode operating means which lifts the pins upwardly into a clamshell electrode assembly which is spread open by a combined pin lifting and electrode operating means. Once inserted the clamshell type electrode arrangement closes around the fuel pins so that inspection can occur. Fuel pins are inspected by charging electrodes to a negative potential and measuring the change in charge occurring when positively charged alpha particles strike the negatively charged electrodes. After inspection, the fuel pins are lowered by the pin lifting and electrode operating means into a second roller assembly which longitudinally conveys approved pins from the airtight enclosure in which the alpha monitor is mounted. If the fuel pins are rejected then they are moved laterally by a second transfer means and onto another system formore »
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Hanford Engineering Development Lab., Richland, WA (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 6462350
- Application Number:
- ON: DE87007261
- Assignee:
- Dept. of Energy
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76FF02170
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS; 42 ENGINEERING; FUEL PINS; INSPECTION; REMOTE HANDLING; ALPHA DETECTION; AUTOMATION; COVERINGS; PLUTONIUM OXIDES; URANIUM OXIDES; ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS; CHALCOGENIDES; CHARGED PARTICLE DETECTION; DETECTION; FUEL ELEMENTS; OXIDES; OXYGEN COMPOUNDS; PLUTONIUM COMPOUNDS; RADIATION DETECTION; REACTOR COMPONENTS; TRANSURANIUM COMPOUNDS; URANIUM COMPOUNDS; 220300* - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Fuel Elements; 420203 - Engineering- Handling Equipment & Procedures
Citation Formats
Kaiser, B J, Oakley, D J, and Groves, O J. Apparatus for inspecting fuel elements. United States: N. p., 1984.
Web.
Kaiser, B J, Oakley, D J, & Groves, O J. Apparatus for inspecting fuel elements. United States.
Kaiser, B J, Oakley, D J, and Groves, O J. Fri .
"Apparatus for inspecting fuel elements". United States.
@article{osti_6462350,
title = {Apparatus for inspecting fuel elements},
author = {Kaiser, B J and Oakley, D J and Groves, O J},
abstractNote = {This disclosure describes an alpha monitor usable in an automated nuclear fuel pin loading and processing unit. Fuel pins or other elongated pins are fed laterally into the alpha monitor in a singular fashion and are translated by a first roller assembly into a weld flare machining and decontamination substation not forming a part of the invention. Pins return and are lifted upwardly and transferred across to a combined pin lifting and electrode operating means which lifts the pins upwardly into a clamshell electrode assembly which is spread open by a combined pin lifting and electrode operating means. Once inserted the clamshell type electrode arrangement closes around the fuel pins so that inspection can occur. Fuel pins are inspected by charging electrodes to a negative potential and measuring the change in charge occurring when positively charged alpha particles strike the negatively charged electrodes. After inspection, the fuel pins are lowered by the pin lifting and electrode operating means into a second roller assembly which longitudinally conveys approved pins from the airtight enclosure in which the alpha monitor is mounted. If the fuel pins are rejected then they are moved laterally by a second transfer means and onto another system for further processing.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Dec 21 00:00:00 EST 1984},
month = {Fri Dec 21 00:00:00 EST 1984}
}