Defective fuel bundle location system
AssigneeBWXT Nuclear Energy Canada Inc.
InventorThomas G. Onderwater
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims11
A defective fuel bundle location system for use with a heavy water moderated nuclear fission reactor having a fueling machine, comprising:
- 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.
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;
- and
- withdrawing the test container from the fuel channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.