Apparatus and method for classifying fuel pellets for nuclear reactor

Patent · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:865006

Wilks, Robert S ^[1]; Sternheim, Eliezer ^[2]; Breakey, Gerald A ^[3]; Taleff, Alexander ^[4]; Castner, Raymond P ^[5]

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1. Plum Borough, PA
2. Pittsburgh, PA
3. Penn Township, Allegheny County, PA
4. Churchill Borough, PA
5. Monroeville, PA

Control for the operation of a mechanical handling and gauging system for nuclear fuel pellets. The pellets are inspected for diameters, lengths, surface flaws and weights in successive stations. The control includes, a computer for commanding the operation of the system and its electronics and for storing and processing the complex data derived at the required high rate. In measuring the diameter, the computer enables the measurement of a calibration pellet, stores that calibration data and computes and stores diameter-correction factors and their addresses along a pellet. To each diameter measurement a correction factor is applied at the appropriate address. The computer commands verification that all critical parts of the system and control are set for inspection and that each pellet is positioned for inspection. During each cycle of inspection, the measurement operation proceeds normally irrespective of whether or not a pellet is present in each station. If a pellet is not positioned in a station, a measurement is recorded, but the recorded measurement indicates maloperation. In measuring diameter and length a light pattern including successive shadows of slices transverse for diameter or longitudinal for length are projected on a photodiode array. The light pattern is scanned electronically by a train of pulses. The pulses are counted during the scan of the lighted diodes. For evaluation of diameter the maximum diameter count and the number of slices for which the diameter exceeds a predetermined minimum is determined. For acceptance, the maximum must be less than a maximum level and the minimum must exceed a set number. For evaluation of length, the maximum length is determined. For acceptance, the length must be within maximum and minimum limits.

• Research Organization: Hanford Engineering Development Lab., Richland, WA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-14-2170
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4448680
• OSTI ID: 865006
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

apparatus
method
classifying
fuel
pellets
nuclear
reactor
control
operation
mechanical
handling
gauging
inspected
diameters
lengths
surface
flaws
weights
successive
stations
computer
commanding
electronics
storing
processing
complex
data
derived
required
rate
measuring
diameter
enables
measurement
calibration
pellet
stores
computes
diameter-correction
factors
addresses
correction
factor
applied
appropriate
address
commands
verification
critical
set
inspection
positioned
cycle
proceeds
normally
irrespective
station
recorded
indicates
maloperation
length
light
pattern
including
shadows
slices
transverse
longitudinal
projected
photodiode
array
scanned
electronically
train
pulses
counted
scan
lighted
diodes
evaluation
maximum
count
exceeds
predetermined
minimum
determined
acceptance
level
exceed
limits
photodiode array
light pattern
correction factor
fuel pellet
reactor control
fuel pellets
nuclear fuel
nuclear reactor
diode array
surface flaws
data derived
predetermined minimum
/209/250/348/356/376/702/976/