Method and apparatus for locating defective fuel rods in a reactor fuel assembly
US3983741A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 6, 1975 |
| Grant date | Oct 5, 1976 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 6, 1995 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E30/30
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A typical embodiment of the invention permits defective fuel rods to be identified with the fuel rods arrayed in a fuel element. A bell jacket is placed over the submerged plenum ends of the fuel rods in the fuel element and gas pressure is admitted to the jacket interior to expel water from the enclosed volume and expose the plenum ends of the fuel rods to the gas stream. The cooling effect of the flowing gas on steam rising within the interior of a defective fuel rod causes the steam to condense within the plenum and increase the temperature of the exposed end of the defective rod relative to the ends of the sound rods. An infra red or other suitable temperature detector identifies the higher temperature end of the defective rod for individual removal from the fuel element and replacement, as appropriate.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.