Defective fuel bundle location system
AssigneeBWXT Nuclear Energy Canada Inc.
InventorThomas G. Onderwater
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A defective fuel bundle location system for use with a heavy water moderated nuclear fission reactor having a fueling machine, including a test tool defining an internal volume, the test tool being configured to be received within both the fueling machine and a corresponding fuel channel of the reactor, and a test container defining an internal volume, wherein the test container is configured to be received within the internal volume of the test tool and the internal volume of the test container is configured to receive primary fluid from the reactor when the test tool is disposed within the corresponding fuel channel of the reactor.
Claims12
A method of detecting fuel leaks in a heavy water moderated nuclear fission reactor including a plurality of fuel channels and a fueling machine, comprising the steps of:
- providing a test tool defining an internal volume;
- providing a test container defining an internal volume;
- disposing the test container within the internal volume of the test tool;
- after the test container is disposed in the internal volume of the test tool, disposing the test container within the fueling machine;
- engaging the fueling machine with a corresponding one of the fuel channels;
- inserting the test container within the corresponding fuel channel;
- drawing primary fluid from the corresponding fuel channel into the internal volume of the test container;
- and
- withdrawing the test container from the fuel channel.
A method of detecting fuel leaks in a heavy water moderated nuclear fission reactor including a plurality of fuel channels and a fueling machine, comprising the steps of:
- providing a test container defining an internal volume;
- disposing the test container within the fueling machine;
- engaging the fueling machine with a corresponding one of the fuel channels;
- inserting the test container within the corresponding fuel channel;
- drawing primary fluid from the corresponding fuel channel into the internal volume of the test container;
- withdrawing the test container from the fuel channel;
- and
- further comprising the step of operating the nuclear fission reactor at normal operating conditions for the production of power when inserting the test container within the corresponding fuel channel.
A method of detecting fuel leaks in a heavy water moderated nuclear fission reactor including a plurality of fuel channels and a fueling machine, comprising the steps of:
- providing a test container defining an internal volume;
- disposing the test container within the fueling machine;
- engaging the fueling machine with a corresponding one of the fuel channels;
- inserting the test container within the corresponding fuel channel;
- drawing primary fluid from the corresponding fuel channel into the internal volume of the test container;
- withdrawing the test container from the fuel channel;
- and
- wherein the step of drawing primary fluid into the internal volume of the test container further comprises retraction of one of a bellows and a piston disposed within the test container.
A method of detecting fuel leaks in a heavy water moderated nuclear fission reactor including a plurality of fuel channels and a fueling machine, comprising the steps of:
- providing a test tool into which fluid to be tested can be received, the test tool having a configuration similar to a fuel bundle for insertion into one of the fuel channels;
- disposing the test tool within the fueling machine;
- engaging the fueling machine with a corresponding one of the fuel channels;
- operating the fueling machine so as to insert the test tool into the corresponding fuel channel;
- activating the test tool so as to draw fluid from the corresponding fuel channel into the test tool;
- and
- withdrawing the test tool from the fuel channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.