Integrated head package for top mounted nuclear instrumentation

Patent · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1993

OSTI ID:868842

Malandra, Louis J ^[1]; Hornak, Leonard P ^[2]; Meuschke, Robert E ^[3]

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1. McKeesport, PA
2. Forest Hills, PA
3. Monroeville, PA

A nuclear reactor such as a pressurized water reactor has an integrated head package providing structural support and increasing shielding leading toward the vessel head. A reactor vessel head engages the reactor vessel, and a control rod guide mechanism over the vessel head raises and lowers control rods in certain of the thimble tubes, traversing penetrations in the reactor vessel head, and being coupled to the control rods. An instrumentation tube structure includes instrumentation tubes with sensors movable into certain thimble tubes disposed in the fuel assemblies. Couplings for the sensors also traverse penetrations in the reactor vessel head. A shroud is attached over the reactor vessel head and encloses the control rod guide mechanism and at least a portion of the instrumentation tubes when retracted. The shroud forms a structural element of sufficient strength to support the vessel head, the control rod guide mechanism and the instrumentation tube structure, and includes radiation shielding material for limiting passage of radiation from retracted instrumentation tubes. The shroud is thicker at the bottom adjacent the vessel head, where the more irradiated lower ends of retracted sensors reside. The vessel head, shroud and contents thus can be removed from the reactor as a unit and rested safely and securely on a support.

• Research Organization: Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-90SF18495
• Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp. (Pittsburgh, PA)
• Patent Number(s): US 5225150
• OSTI ID: 868842
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

integrated
head
package
top
mounted
nuclear
instrumentation
reactor
pressurized
water
providing
structural
support
increasing
shielding
leading
vessel
engages
control
rod
guide
mechanism
raises
lowers
rods
thimble
tubes
traversing
penetrations
coupled
tube
structure
sensors
movable
disposed
fuel
assemblies
couplings
traverse
shroud
attached
encloses
portion
retracted
forms
element
sufficient
strength
radiation
material
limiting
passage
thicker
bottom
adjacent
irradiated
reside
contents
removed
unit
safely
securely
shielding material
head package
nuclear instrumentation
tube structure
vessel head
water reactor
structural support
radiation shielding
pressurized water
radiation shield
fuel assemblies
instrumentation tube
control rod
reactor vessel
nuclear reactor
sufficient strength
control rods
providing structural
rod guide
structural element
mounted nuclear
top mounted
integrated head
instrumentation tubes
nuclear instrument
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