Spectral shift-producing subassembly for use in a nuclear fuel assembly
AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corp.
InventorHarry M. Ferrari
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spectral shift-producing subassembly is composed of a plurality of sealed empty water displacement rodlets incorporating a spectral shift-producing capability. Each of the rodlets includes an elongated tube sealed at its opposite ends and having an axially-extending annular wall section of reduced thickness compared to the thickness of the wall of the remainder of the rodlet. The respective reduced thicknesses of the axial wall sections of the rodlets can be varied to adapt the rodlets to rupture at different times and permit water to enter the rodlets to produce an increase in the water/fuel ratio and thereby an increase in reactivity. The rodlets can also have different levels of pressurization to initiate rupture at different times.
Claims16
A spectral shift-producing subassembly for use with a nuclear fuel assembly in a nuclear reactor, said subassembly comprising:
- (a) at least one elongated hollow empty tubular rodlet being hermetically sealed at its opposite ends and having an axially-extending annular wall section of reduced thickness compared to the thickness of the remainder of said rodlet thereby adapting said reduced thickness wall section of said rodlet to creep collapse- and rupture after a desired extended period of use in a nuclear reactor permitting moderator liquid in the reactor to enter and fill the empty rodlet and produce a spectral shift;
- and
- (b) means for mounting said rodlet in the nuclear fuel assembly.
A spectral shift-producing subassembly for use with a nuclear fuel assembly in a nuclear reactor, said subassembly comprising:
- (a) a plurality of elongated hollow empty tubular rodlets, each rodlet being hermetically sealed at its opposite ends and having an axially-extending annular wall section of reduced thickness compared to the thickness of the remainder of said rodlet thereby adapting said reduced thickness wall section to creep collapse and rupture after a desired extended period of use in a nuclear reactor permitting moderator to enter and fill the empty rodlet and produce a spectral shift;
- and
- (b) means for mounting said rodlets in the nuclear fuel assembly in spaced side-by-side relationship to one another.
In a nuclear reactor having fuel assemblies and a moderator coolant liquid flowing through said fuel assemblies, each fuel assembly including an organized array of nuclear fuel rods wherein said moderator coolant liquid flows along said fuel rods, a spectral shift-producing subassembly supported on selected ones of said fuel assemblies, said subassembly comprising:
- (a) a plurality of elongated hollow empty tubular rodlets, each rodlet being hermetically sealed at its opposite ends and having an axially-extending annular wall section of reduced thickness compared to the thickness of the remainder of said rodlet thereby adapting said reduced thickness wall section to creep collapse and rupture after a desired extended period of use in the nuclear reactor permitting moderator in the reactor to enter and fill the empty rodlet and produce a spectral shift;
- and
- (b) means for mounting said rodlets in said selected fuel assemblies in spaced side-by-side relationship to one another.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.