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AssigneeBrown Boveri Reaktor GmbH
InventorRainer Scharpenberg
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A method for testing vertically disposed fuel rods combined in fuel rod clusters or fuel assemblies in rack positions of a fuel assembly rack of a water-cooled nuclear reactor includes inserting a holding device into first and second unoccupied rack positions while maintaining an unoccupied third rack position therebetween, inserting a fuel assembly to be tested into the third rack position with a lifting device, locking the fuel assembly to the holding device while the fuel assembly is in the third rack position, moving the fuel assembly vertically upward with the holding device, interrupting the upward motion of the fuel assembly, subsequently inserting a probe with a test device into spaces between the fuel rods in a testing operation, moving the fuel assembly vertically downward with the holding device after completing the testing operation until the fuel assembly is deposited in the third rack position, removing the fuel assembly with the lifting device, and depositing another fuel assembly to be tested into the third rack position.
Method for testing vertically disposed fuel rods combined in fuel rod clusters or fuel assemblies in rack positions of a fuel assembly rack of a water-cooled nuclear reactor, which comprises inserting a holding device into first and second unoccupied rack positions while maintaining an unoccupied third rack position therebetween, inserting a fuel assembly to be tested into the third rack position with a lifting device, locking the fuel assembly to the holding device while the fuel assembly is in the third rack position, moving the fuel assembly vertically upward with the holding device, interrupting the upward motion of the fuel assembly, subsequently inserting a probe with a test device into spaces between the fuel rod in a testing operation, moving the fuel assembly vertically downward with the holding device after completing the testing operation until the fuel assembly is deposited in the third rack position, removing the fuel assembly with the lifting device, and depositing another fuel assembly to be tested into the third rack position.
Apparatus for testing vertically disposed fuel rods combined in fuel rod clusters or fuel assemblies in rack positions of a fuel assembly rack of a water-cooled nuclear reactor, the apparatus comprising a holding device formed of two lifting columns having bodies to be inserted into first and second respective unoccupied rack positions maintaining an unoccupied third rack position therebetween, said bodies having outer contours adapted to the cross section of a rack position, lower ends to be supported by the bottom of a rack position and upper ends, a cross piece interconnecting said upper ends of said bodies, said cross piece having a passage opening formed therein in alignment with the third rack position through which a fuel assembly is inserted into the third rack position, means for locking the fuel assembly to said cross piece, said lifting columns including means for moving said cross piece and the fuel assembly vertically upward and downward, a probe with a test device, and means for inserting said test device into spaces between the fuel rods above the rack.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.