One-way implodable tag capsule with hemispherical beaded end cap for LWR fuel manufacturing
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Department of Energy
InventorsKenny Gross, John Lambert
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A capsule containing a tag gas in a zircaloy body portion having a hemispical top curved toward the bottom of the body portion. The hemispherical top has a rupturable portion upon exposure to elevated gas pressure and the capsule is positioned within a fuel element in a nuclear reactor.
Claims6
A method of identifying a failed fuel element in a nuclear reactor core, comprising providing each of a plurality of reactor core fuel elements with a capsule containing a unique mixture of enriched noble gas isotopes, evacuating each fuel element while maintaining the integrity of the capsule, backfilling each fuel element with an inert gas to a pressure sufficient to rupture the capsule releasing the unique mixture of enriched noble gas isotopes in each fuel element, and sealing each fuel element, so as to provide a method of identifying a fuel element after failure thereof resulting in leakage of the unique mixtures of enriched noble gas isotopes into the reactor core.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.