Debris Trap
AssigneeGlobal Nuclear Fuel - Americas, LLC
InventorsSteven Bruce Shelton, Gerald Martin Latter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A debris trap catches debris falling through a fuel bundle orifice in a nuclear reactor. The debris trap includes a shaft and a debris capture tray attached to an end of the shaft. The debris capture tray includes a tray cavity sized larger than the fuel bundle orifice.
Claims16
A debris trap for catching debris falling through a fuel bundle orifice in a nuclear reactor, the debris trap comprising:
- a shaft including a pivot actuator at one end thereof;
- and
- a debris capture tray pivotally attached to an opposite end of the shaft,
- wherein the debris capture tray includes a tray cavity sized larger than the fuel bundle orifice, and wherein the pivot actuator is operable to pivot the debris capture tray between an insertion position and a capture position.
A debris trap for catching debris falling through a fuel bundle orifice in a nuclear reactor, the debris trap comprising:
- a shaft;
- and
- a debris capture tray attached to the shaft, wherein the debris capture tray includes a conical tray cavity having a maximum diameter larger than a width of the fuel bundle orifice.
A method of inserting a debris trap in a fuel bundle of a nuclear reactor, the debris trap including a shaft and a debris capture tray attached to the shaft, the method comprising:
- (a) lowering the debris trap to a position adjacent a bottom of the fuel bundle;
- and
- (b) positioning the debris capture tray under the fuel bundle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.