System for assembling or disassembling a segmented rod
AssigneeGE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC
InventorsBradley D. Bloomquist, David Grey Smith, David P. Ketcham, William Earl Russell, II
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Abstract
An embodiment of the present invention takes the form of a system that allows for simultaneously assembling or disassembling multiple segmented nuclear fuel rods (hereinafter “segmented rods”). An embodiment of the present invention, may receive, secure, and move the segmented rods into a position that allows for performing the tasks of either assembly or disassembly, allowing for an operator to use a tool to complete the aforementioned tasks.
Claims30
A system for positioning at least one segmented rod, the system comprises:
- a channel assembly for receiving a plurality of segmented rods, wherein the channel assembly encloses the plurality of segmented rods and comprises a channel and a lifting mechanism,
- wherein the lifting mechanism positions the plurality of segmented rods to allow for the assembly or disassembly of each of the plurality of segmented rods.
A system for positioning segmented rods of a nuclear reactor, the system comprises:
- a nuclear processing facility comprising:
- a spent fuel pool,
- a reactor pressure vessel (RPV);
- wherein the RPV comprises a fuel bundle comprising segmented rods;
- and
- a segmented rod positioning chamber comprising, wherein the segmented rod positioning chamber comprises:
- a channel assembly for receiving the segmented rods, wherein the channel assembly encloses segmented rods and comprises a channel and a lifting mechanism, wherein the lifting mechanism moves the segmented rods within the channel;
- and wherein the lifting mechanism allows for the assembly or disassembly of the plurality of segmented rods.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.