Hydroball string sensing system

Patent · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:868062

Hurwitz, Michael J ^[1]; Ekeroth, Douglas E ^[2]; Squarer, David ^[1]

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1. Pittsburgh, PA
2. Delmont, PA

A hydroball string sensing system for a nuclear reactor that includes stainless tubes positioned to guide hydroball strings into and out of the nuclear reactor core. A sensor such as an ultrasonic transducer transmitter and receiver is positioned outside of the nuclear reactor core and adjacent to the tube. The presence of an object such a bullet member positioned at an end a hydroball string, or any one of the hydroballs interrupts the transmission of ultrasound from the transmitter to the receiver. Alternatively, if the bullet member and hydroballs include a ferritic material, either a Hall effect sensor or other magnetic field sensors such as a magnetic field rate of change sensor can be used to detect the location and position of a hydroball string. Placing two sensors along the tube with a known distance between the sensors enables the velocity of a hydroball string to be determined. This determined velocity can be used to control the flow rate of a fluid within the tube so as to control the velocity of the hydroball string.

• Research Organization: Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-86SF16038
• Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp. (Pittsburgh, PA)
• Patent Number(s): US 5064603
• OSTI ID: 868062
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

hydroball
string
sensing
nuclear
reactor
stainless
tubes
positioned
guide
strings
core
sensor
ultrasonic
transducer
transmitter
receiver
outside
adjacent
tube
presence
bullet
hydroballs
interrupts
transmission
ultrasound
alternatively
ferritic
material
effect
magnetic
field
sensors
rate
change
detect
location
position
placing
distance
enables
velocity
determined
control
flow
fluid
hydroball string
ultrasonic transducer
magnetic field
nuclear reactor
flow rate
reactor core
positioned outside
tubes positioned
string sensing
ferritic material
field sensor
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