System for measuring burn-out of fuel elements of a high-temperature reactor
US7349517B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 15, 2004 |
| Grant date | Mar 25, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 15, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E30/30
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The burnout of a fuel element in a reactor is determined by first transferring a fuel element from a reactor to a measuring position and then subjecting the transferred fuel element at the position to a neutron flux. A first detector measures the total γ radiation emitted by the transferred fuel element and thereafter, if the radiation measured by the first detector exceeds a predetermined first limit, the transferred fuel element is returned back to the reactor. If not, a second detector measures a magnitude of high energy γ radiation above 1 MeV emitted by the transferred fuel element and thereafter only if the radiation measured by the second detector exceeds a predetermined second limit, the transferred fuel element is transferred back to the reactor. The element is not returned to the reactor if the radiation measured by the second detector is below the second limit.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.