Hydro-ball in-core instrumentation system and method of operation
Abstract
A hydro-ball in-core instrumentation system employs detector strings each comprising a wire having radiation sensitive balls affixed diametrically at spaced positions therealong and opposite tip ends of which are transportable by fluid drag through interior passageways. In the passageways primary coolant is caused to flow selectively in first and second opposite directions for transporting the detector strings from stored positions in an exterior chamber to inserted positions within the instrumentation thimbles of the fuel rod assemblies of a pressure vessel, and for return. The coolant pressure within the detector passageways is the same as that within the vessel; face contact, disconnectable joints between sections of the interior passageways within the vessel facilitate assembly and disassembly of the vessel for refueling and routine maintenance operations. The detector strings may pass through a very short bend radius thereby minimizing space requirements for the connections of the instrumentation system to the vessel and concomitantly the vessel containment structure. Improved radiation mapping and a significant reduction in potential exposure of personnel to radiation are provided. Both top head and bottom head penetration embodiments are disclosed.
- Inventors:
-
- Washington Township, Westmoreland County, PA
- O'Hara Township, Allegheny County, PA
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 867577
- Patent Number(s):
- 4966747
- Assignee:
- Westinghouse Electric Corp. (Pittsburgh, PA)
- 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:
- AC03-86SF16038
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- hydro-ball; in-core; instrumentation; method; operation; employs; detector; strings; comprising; wire; radiation; sensitive; balls; affixed; diametrically; spaced; positions; therealong; opposite; tip; transportable; fluid; drag; interior; passageways; primary; coolant; caused; flow; selectively; directions; transporting; stored; exterior; chamber; inserted; thimbles; fuel; rod; assemblies; pressure; vessel; return; contact; disconnectable; joints; sections; facilitate; assembly; disassembly; refueling; routine; maintenance; operations; pass; bend; radius; minimizing; space; requirements; connections; concomitantly; containment; structure; improved; mapping; significant; reduction; potential; exposure; personnel; provided; top; head; bottom; penetration; embodiments; disclosed; opposite direction; significant reduction; bottom head; opposite directions; containment structure; pressure vessel; fuel rod; primary coolant; rod assemblies; radiation sensitive; spaced positions; improved radiation; facilitate assembly; in-core instrumentation; hydro-ball in-core; positions therealong; /376/
Citation Formats
Tower, Stephen N, Veronesi, Luciano, and Braun, Howard E. Hydro-ball in-core instrumentation system and method of operation. United States: N. p., 1990.
Web.
Tower, Stephen N, Veronesi, Luciano, & Braun, Howard E. Hydro-ball in-core instrumentation system and method of operation. United States.
Tower, Stephen N, Veronesi, Luciano, and Braun, Howard E. Mon .
"Hydro-ball in-core instrumentation system and method of operation". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/867577.
@article{osti_867577,
title = {Hydro-ball in-core instrumentation system and method of operation},
author = {Tower, Stephen N and Veronesi, Luciano and Braun, Howard E},
abstractNote = {A hydro-ball in-core instrumentation system employs detector strings each comprising a wire having radiation sensitive balls affixed diametrically at spaced positions therealong and opposite tip ends of which are transportable by fluid drag through interior passageways. In the passageways primary coolant is caused to flow selectively in first and second opposite directions for transporting the detector strings from stored positions in an exterior chamber to inserted positions within the instrumentation thimbles of the fuel rod assemblies of a pressure vessel, and for return. The coolant pressure within the detector passageways is the same as that within the vessel; face contact, disconnectable joints between sections of the interior passageways within the vessel facilitate assembly and disassembly of the vessel for refueling and routine maintenance operations. The detector strings may pass through a very short bend radius thereby minimizing space requirements for the connections of the instrumentation system to the vessel and concomitantly the vessel containment structure. Improved radiation mapping and a significant reduction in potential exposure of personnel to radiation are provided. Both top head and bottom head penetration embodiments are disclosed.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1990},
month = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1990}
}