Simulated nuclear reactor fuel assembly

Patent · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1993

OSTI ID:868727

Berta, Victor T ^[1]

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1. Idaho Falls, ID

An apparatus for electrically simulating a nuclear reactor fuel assembly. It includes a heater assembly having a top end and a bottom end and a plurality of concentric heater tubes having electrical circuitry connected to a power source, and radially spaced from each other. An outer target tube and an inner target tube is concentric with the heater tubes and with each other, and the outer target tube surrounds and is radially spaced from the heater tubes. The inner target tube is surrounded by and radially spaced from the heater tubes and outer target tube. The top of the assembly is generally open to allow for the electrical power connection to the heater tubes, and the bottom of the assembly includes means for completing the electrical circuitry in the heater tubes to provide electrical resistance heating to simulate the power profile in a nuclear reactor. The embedded conductor elements in each heater tube is split into two halves for a substantial portion of its length and provided with electrical isolation such that each half of the conductor is joined at one end and is not joined at the other end.

• Research Organization: EG & G IDAHO INC
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-76ID01570
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 5200144
• OSTI ID: 868727
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

simulated
nuclear
reactor
fuel
assembly
apparatus
electrically
simulating
heater
top
bottom
plurality
concentric
tubes
electrical
circuitry
connected
power
source
radially
spaced
outer
target
tube
inner
surrounds
surrounded
allow
connection
means
completing
provide
resistance
heating
simulate
profile
embedded
conductor
elements
split
halves
substantial
portion
length
provided
isolation
half
joined
provide electrical
radially spaced
heater assembly
electrical circuitry
substantial portion
resistance heating
power source
electrical power
nuclear reactor
electrical resistance
reactor fuel
fuel assembly
electrical circuit
heater tubes
electrical isolation
power connection
conductor elements
resistance heat
provide electric
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