Nuclear reactor removable radial shielding assembly having a self-bowing feature
Abstract
A removable radial shielding assembly for use in the periphery of the core of a liquid-metal-cooled fast-breeder reactor, for closing interassembly gaps in the reactor core assembly load plane prior to reactor criticality and power operation to prevent positive reactivity insertion. The assembly has a lower nozzle portion for inserting into the core support and a flexible heat-sensitive bimetallic central spine surrounded by blocks of shielding material. At refueling temperature and below the spine is relaxed and in a vertical position so that the tolerances permitted by the interassembly gaps allow removal and replacement of the various reactor core assemblies. During an increase in reactor temperature from refueling to hot standby, the bimetallic spine expands, bowing the assembly toward the core center line, exerting a radially inward gap-closing-force on the above core load plane of the reactor core assembly, closing load plane interassembly gaps throughout the core prior to startup and preventing positive reactivity insertion.
- Inventors:
-
- Greensburg, PA
- Smithton, PA
- New Stanton, PA
- Monroeville, PA
- Issue Date:
- OSTI Identifier:
- 862998
- Patent Number(s):
- 4070241
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21C - NUCLEAR REACTORS
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- DOE Contract Number:
- E(11-1)-2395
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- nuclear; reactor; removable; radial; shielding; assembly; self-bowing; feature; periphery; core; liquid-metal-cooled; fast-breeder; closing; interassembly; gaps; load; plane; prior; criticality; power; operation; prevent; positive; reactivity; insertion; nozzle; portion; inserting; support; flexible; heat-sensitive; bimetallic; central; spine; surrounded; blocks; material; refueling; temperature; below; relaxed; vertical; position; tolerances; permitted; allow; removal; replacement; various; assemblies; increase; hot; standby; expands; bowing; center; line; exerting; radially; inward; gap-closing-force; throughout; startup; preventing; shielding material; allow removal; liquid-metal-cooled fast-breeder; radially inward; center line; breeder reactor; nuclear reactor; reactor core; power operation; core support; core assembly; vertical position; core assemblies; fast-breeder reactor; shielding assembly; removable radial; radial shielding; metallic spin; cooled fast; metal-cooled fast; refueling temperature; liquid-metal-cooled fast; /376/976/
Citation Formats
Pennell, William E, Kalinowski, Joseph E, Waldby, Robert N, Rylatt, John A, and Swenson, Daniel V. Nuclear reactor removable radial shielding assembly having a self-bowing feature. United States: N. p., 1978.
Web.
Pennell, William E, Kalinowski, Joseph E, Waldby, Robert N, Rylatt, John A, & Swenson, Daniel V. Nuclear reactor removable radial shielding assembly having a self-bowing feature. United States.
Pennell, William E, Kalinowski, Joseph E, Waldby, Robert N, Rylatt, John A, and Swenson, Daniel V. Sun .
"Nuclear reactor removable radial shielding assembly having a self-bowing feature". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/862998.
@article{osti_862998,
title = {Nuclear reactor removable radial shielding assembly having a self-bowing feature},
author = {Pennell, William E and Kalinowski, Joseph E and Waldby, Robert N and Rylatt, John A and Swenson, Daniel V},
abstractNote = {A removable radial shielding assembly for use in the periphery of the core of a liquid-metal-cooled fast-breeder reactor, for closing interassembly gaps in the reactor core assembly load plane prior to reactor criticality and power operation to prevent positive reactivity insertion. The assembly has a lower nozzle portion for inserting into the core support and a flexible heat-sensitive bimetallic central spine surrounded by blocks of shielding material. At refueling temperature and below the spine is relaxed and in a vertical position so that the tolerances permitted by the interassembly gaps allow removal and replacement of the various reactor core assemblies. During an increase in reactor temperature from refueling to hot standby, the bimetallic spine expands, bowing the assembly toward the core center line, exerting a radially inward gap-closing-force on the above core load plane of the reactor core assembly, closing load plane interassembly gaps throughout the core prior to startup and preventing positive reactivity insertion.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1978},
month = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1978}
}