Nuclear reactor safety device
Abstract
A safety device is disclosed for use in a nuclear reactor for axially repositioning a control rod with respect to the reactor core in the event of an upward thermal excursion. Such safety device comprises a laminated helical ribbon configured as a tube-like helical coil having contiguous helical turns with slidably abutting edges. The helical coil is disclosed as a portion of a drive member connected axially to the control rod. The laminated ribbon is formed of outer and inner laminae. The material of the outer lamina has a greater thermal coefficient of expansion than the material of the inner lamina. In the event of an upward thermal excursion, the laminated helical coil curls inwardly to a smaller diameter. Such inward curling causes the total length of the helical coil to increase by a substantial increment, so that the control rod is axially repositioned by a corresponding amount to reduce the power output of the reactor.
- Inventors:
-
- Wilmette, IL
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 865840
- Patent Number(s):
- 4587085
- 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:
- nuclear; reactor; safety; device; disclosed; axially; repositioning; control; rod; respect; core; event; upward; thermal; excursion; comprises; laminated; helical; ribbon; configured; tube-like; coil; contiguous; slidably; abutting; edges; portion; drive; connected; formed; outer; inner; laminae; material; lamina; coefficient; expansion; curls; inwardly; diameter; inward; curling; causes; total; length; increase; substantial; increment; repositioned; corresponding; amount; reduce; power; output; reactor safety; safety device; power output; device comprises; control rod; nuclear reactor; reactor core; helical coil; thermal coefficient; helical ribbon; corresponding amount; /376/976/
Citation Formats
Hutter, Ernest. Nuclear reactor safety device. United States: N. p., 1986.
Web.
Hutter, Ernest. Nuclear reactor safety device. United States.
Hutter, Ernest. Wed .
"Nuclear reactor safety device". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/865840.
@article{osti_865840,
title = {Nuclear reactor safety device},
author = {Hutter, Ernest},
abstractNote = {A safety device is disclosed for use in a nuclear reactor for axially repositioning a control rod with respect to the reactor core in the event of an upward thermal excursion. Such safety device comprises a laminated helical ribbon configured as a tube-like helical coil having contiguous helical turns with slidably abutting edges. The helical coil is disclosed as a portion of a drive member connected axially to the control rod. The laminated ribbon is formed of outer and inner laminae. The material of the outer lamina has a greater thermal coefficient of expansion than the material of the inner lamina. In the event of an upward thermal excursion, the laminated helical coil curls inwardly to a smaller diameter. Such inward curling causes the total length of the helical coil to increase by a substantial increment, so that the control rod is axially repositioned by a corresponding amount to reduce the power output of the reactor.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1986},
month = {Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1986}
}