Magnetic switch for reactor control rod

Germer, John H

Title: Magnetic switch for reactor control rod

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Abstract

A magnetic reed switch assembly for activating an electromagnetic grapple utilized to hold a control rod in position above a reactor core. In normal operation the magnetic field of a permanent magnet is short-circuited by a magnetic shunt, diverting the magnetic field away from the reed switch. The magnetic shunt is made of a material having a Curie-point at the desired release temperature. Above that temperature the material loses its ferromagnetic properties, and the magnetic path is diverted to the reed switch which closes and short-circuits the control circuit for the control rod electromagnetic grapple which allows the control rod to drop into the reactor core for controlling the reactivity of the core.

Inventors:

Germer, John H ^[1]

San Jose, CA

Issue Date:: 1986-01-01

Research Org.:: General Electric Co., Boston, MA (United States)

OSTI Identifier:: 865811

Patent Number(s):: 4582675

Assignee:: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):: 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

G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21C - NUCLEAR REACTORS

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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
Y02E30/30 - Nuclear fission reactors

G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21C - NUCLEAR REACTORS
G21C9/02 - Means for effecting very rapid reduction of the reactivity factor under fault conditions, e.g. reactor fuse

H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01H - ELECTRIC SWITCHES
H01H37/585 - {the switch being of the reed switch type}

G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21C - NUCLEAR REACTORS
G21C7/12 - Means for moving control elements to desired position

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DOE Contract Number:: AT03-76SF71032

Resource Type:: Patent

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: magnetic; switch; reactor; control; rod; reed; assembly; activating; electromagnetic; grapple; utilized; hold; position; core; normal; operation; field; permanent; magnet; short-circuited; shunt; diverting; material; curie-point; desired; release; temperature; loses; ferromagnetic; properties; path; diverted; closes; short-circuits; circuit; allows; drop; controlling; reactivity; switch assembly; reactor control; magnetic switch; control circuit; normal operation; control rod; permanent magnet; magnetic field; reactor core; magnetic properties; reed switch; magnetic reed; magnetic path; /376/335/976/

Citation Formats


                    Germer, John H. Magnetic switch for reactor control rod.  United States: N. p., 1986. 
        Web.

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                    Germer, John H. Magnetic switch for reactor control rod.  United States.

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                    Germer, John H. Wed .  
        "Magnetic switch for reactor control rod".  United States.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/865811.

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@article{osti_865811,

  title        = {Magnetic switch for reactor control rod},

  author       = {Germer, John H},

  abstractNote = {A magnetic reed switch assembly for activating an electromagnetic grapple utilized to hold a control rod in position above a reactor core. In normal operation the magnetic field of a permanent magnet is short-circuited by a magnetic shunt, diverting the magnetic field away from the reed switch. The magnetic shunt is made of a material having a Curie-point at the desired release temperature. Above that temperature the material loses its ferromagnetic properties, and the magnetic path is diverted to the reed switch which closes and short-circuits the control circuit for the control rod electromagnetic grapple which allows the control rod to drop into the reactor core for controlling the reactivity of the core.},

  doi          = {},

  journal      = {},
number       = ,

  volume       = ,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {1986},

  month        = {1}

}

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