Nuclear reactor shutdown system
- Niskayuna, NY
- Monroeville, PA
- Murrysville, PA
- Penn Hills, PA
An inherent shutdown system for a nuclear reactor having neutron absorbing rods affixed to an armature which is held in an upper position by a magnetic flux flowing through a Curie temperature material. The Curie temperature material is fixedly positioned about the exterior of an inner duct in an annular region through which reactor coolant flows. Elongated fuel rods extending from within the core upwardly toward the Curie temperature material are preferably disposed within the annular region. Upon abnormal conditions which result in high neutron flux and coolant temperature, the Curie material loses its magnetic permeability, breaking the magnetic flux path and allowing the armature and absorber rods to drop into the core, thus shutting down the fissioning reaction. The armature and absorber rods are retrieved by lowering the housing for the electromagnet forming coils which create a magnetic flux path which includes the inner duct wall. The coil housing then is raised, resetting the armature.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76
- Assignee:
- Westinghouse Electric Corp. (Pittsburgh, PA)
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4304632
- OSTI ID:
- 864066
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Self-actuated nuclear reactor shutdown system using induction pump to facilitate sensing of core coolant temperature
Self-actuated nuclear reactor shutdown system using induction pump to facilitate sensing of core coolant temperature
Related Subjects
reactor
shutdown
inherent
neutron
absorbing
rods
affixed
armature
held
upper
position
magnetic
flux
flowing
curie
temperature
material
fixedly
positioned
exterior
inner
duct
annular
region
coolant
flows
elongated
fuel
extending
core
upwardly
preferably
disposed
abnormal
conditions
result
loses
permeability
breaking
path
allowing
absorber
drop
shutting
fissioning
reaction
retrieved
lowering
housing
electromagnet
forming
coils
create
wall
coil
raised
resetting
rods extending
temperature material
coolant temperature
magnetic permeability
coolant flows
absorber rods
curie temperature
fuel rods
reactor coolant
magnetic flux
nuclear reactor
neutron flux
coolant flow
fuel rod
reactor shutdown
annular region
neutron absorbing
preferably disposed
abnormal condition
normal conditions
flux path
elongated fuel
inner duct
inherent shutdown
normal condition
flux flow
fixedly positioned
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