DOE Patents title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Shutdown system for a nuclear reactor

Abstract

An ultimate shutdown system is provided for termination of neutronic activity in a nuclear reactor. The shutdown system includes bead chains comprising spherical containers suspended on a flexible cable. The containers are comprised of mating hemispherical shells which provide a ruggedized enclosure for reactor poison material. The bead chains, normally suspended above the reactor core on storage spools, are released for downward travel upon command from an external reactor monitor. The chains are capable of horizontal movement, so as to flow around obstructions in the reactor during their downward motion.

Inventors:
 [1];  [2];  [1];  [3]
  1. Naperville, IL
  2. Western Springs, IL
  3. Oak Lawn, IL
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
865030
Patent Number(s):
4452754
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:  
W-31109-ENG-38
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
shutdown; nuclear; reactor; ultimate; provided; termination; neutronic; activity; bead; chains; comprising; spherical; containers; suspended; flexible; cable; comprised; mating; hemispherical; shells; provide; ruggedized; enclosure; poison; material; normally; core; storage; spools; released; downward; travel; command; external; monitor; capable; horizontal; movement; flow; obstructions; motion; spherical shell; spherical shells; nuclear reactor; reactor core; flexible cable; reactor monitor; storage spool; mating hemispherical; /376/976/

Citation Formats

Groh, Edward F, Olson, Arne P, Wade, David C, and Robinson, Bryan W. Shutdown system for a nuclear reactor. United States: N. p., 1984. Web.
Groh, Edward F, Olson, Arne P, Wade, David C, & Robinson, Bryan W. Shutdown system for a nuclear reactor. United States.
Groh, Edward F, Olson, Arne P, Wade, David C, and Robinson, Bryan W. Sun . "Shutdown system for a nuclear reactor". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/865030.
@article{osti_865030,
title = {Shutdown system for a nuclear reactor},
author = {Groh, Edward F and Olson, Arne P and Wade, David C and Robinson, Bryan W},
abstractNote = {An ultimate shutdown system is provided for termination of neutronic activity in a nuclear reactor. The shutdown system includes bead chains comprising spherical containers suspended on a flexible cable. The containers are comprised of mating hemispherical shells which provide a ruggedized enclosure for reactor poison material. The bead chains, normally suspended above the reactor core on storage spools, are released for downward travel upon command from an external reactor monitor. The chains are capable of horizontal movement, so as to flow around obstructions in the reactor during their downward motion.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1984},
month = {1}
}