Refuelling of a nuclear reactor
AssigneeRolls-Royce Smr Limited
InventorDaniel ROBERTSON
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A robotic arm for handling fuel in a nuclear reactor is provided, the robotic arm comprising a movement mechanism for moving the robotic arm along an x-axis. The movement mechanism can be coupled to an arm portion whose centre line is parallel with the x-axis, a grab head portion which is pivotally mounted to the arm portion. The grab head can be rotated vertically to be parallel to a z-axis, and have a telescopic portion that allows the grab head to extend along the z-axis and a grip mechanism at its distal end for gripping fuel assemblies of the nuclear reactor.
Claims13
A robotic arm for handling fuel in a nuclear reactor, the robotic arm comprising a movement mechanism for moving the robotic arm along an x-axis, the movement mechanism being coupled to an arm portion whose centre line is parallel with the x-axis, a grab head portion which is pivotally mounted to the arm portion such that the grab head can be rotated vertically to be parallel to a z-axis, wherein the grab head further comprises a telescopic portion that allows the grab head to extend along the z-axis and a grip mechanism at its distal end for gripping fuel assemblies of the nuclear reactor.
A method of removing fuel assemblies from a nuclear reactor using a robotic arm, wherein the method comprises:
- 1. extending the robotic arm along the x-axis into a containment structure of a nuclear reactor using a movement mechanism,
- 2. rotating a grab head of the robotic arm, such that the grab head is rotated to the z-axis which is vertically offset to the x-axis.
- 3. extending the grab head towards a fuel assembly in a nuclear reactor core,
- 4. using a grip mechanism mounted at the distal end of grab head to grip the fuel assembly,
- 5. retracting the grab head to lift the fuel assembly out of the reactor core,
- 6. withdrawing the robotic arm to a fuel storage location,
- 7. extending the grab head to lower the fuel assembly into the fuel storage location and releasing the grip mechanism to release the fuel assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.