Patent · US Expired

Control blade sequence patterns for optimization of BWR power control

US6259756A · kind A · utility

8Cited by
4References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 22, 2000
Grant dateJul 10, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 22, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E30/30
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

In a nuclear reactor core, control blades form discrete control blade groups forming a core pattern including first and second main groups, respectively, symmetrically and asymmetrically arranged about the core. Each main group has first and second sub-groups, each sub-group at each control blade location within the core being located alternately in orthogonally-related X and Y directions in plan view of the core. The first sub-group of the first main group includes an operational sub-group. The blades of the first and second main groups are used simultaneously. The blades of the second main group are used only as shallow blades. The blades of the first main group are movable into deep or shallow positions from withdrawn positions. Each fuel bundle operates without an adjacent control blade for a time period twice as long as any previous period of operation with an adjacent control blade inserted into the core. Any one control blade is fully withdrawn for two consecutive periods after insertion. The pattern repeats after three or more periods.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.