Magnetic switch for reactor control rod

Patent · Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:865811

Germer, John H ^[1]

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1. San Jose, CA

A magnetic reed switch assembly for activating an electromagnetic grapple utilized to hold a control rod in position above a reactor core. In normal operation the magnetic field of a permanent magnet is short-circuited by a magnetic shunt, diverting the magnetic field away from the reed switch. The magnetic shunt is made of a material having a Curie-point at the desired release temperature. Above that temperature the material loses its ferromagnetic properties, and the magnetic path is diverted to the reed switch which closes and short-circuits the control circuit for the control rod electromagnetic grapple which allows the control rod to drop into the reactor core for controlling the reactivity of the core.

• Research Organization: General Electric Co., Boston, MA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AT03-76SF71032
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4582675
• OSTI ID: 865811
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

magnetic
switch
reactor
control
rod
reed
assembly
activating
electromagnetic
grapple
utilized
hold
position
core
normal
operation
field
permanent
magnet
short-circuited
shunt
diverting
material
curie-point
desired
release
temperature
loses
ferromagnetic
properties
path
diverted
closes
short-circuits
circuit
allows
drop
controlling
reactivity
switch assembly
reactor control
magnetic switch
control circuit
normal operation
control rod
permanent magnet
magnetic field
reactor core
magnetic properties
reed switch
magnetic reed
magnetic path
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