Hybrid nuclear reactor grey rod to obtain required reactivity worth
Abstract
Hybrid nuclear reactor grey rods are described, wherein geometric combinations of relatively weak neutron absorber materials such as stainless steel, zirconium or INCONEL, and relatively strong neutron absorber materials, such as hafnium, silver-indium cadmium and boron carbide, are used to obtain the reactivity worths required to reach zero boron change load follow. One embodiment includes a grey rod which has combinations of weak and strong neutron absorber pellets in a stainless steel cladding. The respective pellets can be of differing heights. A second embodiment includes a grey rod with a relatively thick stainless steel cladding receiving relatively strong neutron absorber pellets only. A third embodiment includes annular relatively weak netron absorber pellets with a smaller diameter pellet of relatively strong absorber material contained within the aperture of each relatively weak absorber pellet. The fourth embodiment includes pellets made of a homogeneous alloy of hafnium and a relatively weak absorber material, with the percentage of hafnium chosen to obtain the desired reactivity worth.
- Inventors:
-
- Munhall, PA
- Scott Township, Allegheny County, PA
- Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County, PA
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 868063
- Patent Number(s):
- 5064607
- 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:
- hybrid; nuclear; reactor; grey; rod; obtain; required; reactivity; worth; rods; described; geometric; combinations; relatively; weak; neutron; absorber; materials; stainless; steel; zirconium; inconel; strong; hafnium; silver-indium; cadmium; boron; carbide; worths; reach; zero; change; load; follow; embodiment; pellets; cladding; respective; differing; heights; thick; receiving; third; annular; netron; diameter; pellet; material; contained; aperture; fourth; homogeneous; alloy; percentage; chosen; desired; relatively strong; third embodiment; neutron absorber; relatively thick; boron carbide; nuclear reactor; stainless steel; absorber material; relatively weak; material contained; absorber materials; sorber material; reactor grey; obtain required; grey rod; hybrid nuclear; /376/976/
Citation Formats
Miller, John V, Carlson, William R, and Yarbrough, Michael B. Hybrid nuclear reactor grey rod to obtain required reactivity worth. United States: N. p., 1991.
Web.
Miller, John V, Carlson, William R, & Yarbrough, Michael B. Hybrid nuclear reactor grey rod to obtain required reactivity worth. United States.
Miller, John V, Carlson, William R, and Yarbrough, Michael B. Tue .
"Hybrid nuclear reactor grey rod to obtain required reactivity worth". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/868063.
@article{osti_868063,
title = {Hybrid nuclear reactor grey rod to obtain required reactivity worth},
author = {Miller, John V and Carlson, William R and Yarbrough, Michael B},
abstractNote = {Hybrid nuclear reactor grey rods are described, wherein geometric combinations of relatively weak neutron absorber materials such as stainless steel, zirconium or INCONEL, and relatively strong neutron absorber materials, such as hafnium, silver-indium cadmium and boron carbide, are used to obtain the reactivity worths required to reach zero boron change load follow. One embodiment includes a grey rod which has combinations of weak and strong neutron absorber pellets in a stainless steel cladding. The respective pellets can be of differing heights. A second embodiment includes a grey rod with a relatively thick stainless steel cladding receiving relatively strong neutron absorber pellets only. A third embodiment includes annular relatively weak netron absorber pellets with a smaller diameter pellet of relatively strong absorber material contained within the aperture of each relatively weak absorber pellet. The fourth embodiment includes pellets made of a homogeneous alloy of hafnium and a relatively weak absorber material, with the percentage of hafnium chosen to obtain the desired reactivity worth.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1991},
month = {1}
}