Nuclear reactor control column
Abstract
The nuclear reactor control column comprises a column disposed within the nuclear reactor core having a variable cross-section hollow channel and containing balls whose vertical location is determined by the flow of the reactor coolant through the column. The control column is divided into three basic sections wherein each of the sections has a different cross-sectional area. The uppermost section of the control column has the greatest cross-sectional area, the intermediate section of the control column has the smallest cross-sectional area, and the lowermost section of the control column has the intermediate cross-sectional area. In this manner, the area of the uppermost section can be established such that when the reactor coolant is flowing under normal conditions therethrough, the absorber balls will be lifted and suspended in a fluidized bed manner in the upper section. However, when the reactor coolant flow falls below a predetermined value, the absorber balls will fall through the intermediate section and into the lowermost section, thereby reducing the reactivity of the reactor core and shutting down the reactor.
- Inventors:
-
- Plum Borough, PA
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 864300
- Patent Number(s):
- 4343764
- 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:
- EY-76-C-02-3045
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- nuclear; reactor; control; column; comprises; disposed; core; variable; cross-section; hollow; channel; containing; balls; vertical; location; determined; flow; coolant; divided; basic; sections; cross-sectional; uppermost; section; intermediate; lowermost; manner; established; flowing; normal; conditions; therethrough; absorber; lifted; suspended; fluidized; bed; upper; falls; below; predetermined; value; fall; reducing; reactivity; shutting; reactor control; reactor coolant; fluidized bed; nuclear reactor; reactor core; coolant flow; predetermined value; intermediate section; control column; upper section; column disposed; normal conditions; normal condition; column comprises; falls below; vertical location; hollow channel; /376/976/
Citation Formats
Bachovchin, Dennis M. Nuclear reactor control column. United States: N. p., 1982.
Web.
Bachovchin, Dennis M. Nuclear reactor control column. United States.
Bachovchin, Dennis M. Fri .
"Nuclear reactor control column". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/864300.
@article{osti_864300,
title = {Nuclear reactor control column},
author = {Bachovchin, Dennis M},
abstractNote = {The nuclear reactor control column comprises a column disposed within the nuclear reactor core having a variable cross-section hollow channel and containing balls whose vertical location is determined by the flow of the reactor coolant through the column. The control column is divided into three basic sections wherein each of the sections has a different cross-sectional area. The uppermost section of the control column has the greatest cross-sectional area, the intermediate section of the control column has the smallest cross-sectional area, and the lowermost section of the control column has the intermediate cross-sectional area. In this manner, the area of the uppermost section can be established such that when the reactor coolant is flowing under normal conditions therethrough, the absorber balls will be lifted and suspended in a fluidized bed manner in the upper section. However, when the reactor coolant flow falls below a predetermined value, the absorber balls will fall through the intermediate section and into the lowermost section, thereby reducing the reactivity of the reactor core and shutting down the reactor.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1982},
month = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1982}
}