Control rod for nuclear reactor
AssigneeWestinghouse Atom AB
InventorSture Helmersson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to a control rod for a boiling water reactor. The control rod comprises a top piece and a bottom piece between which an absorber part is arranged. The absorber part comprises a central part (4) and four absorber blades (3) extending from the central part (4). The absorber part comprises a channel (10) which comprises the central part and which extends along the length of the whole absorber part. The channel is surrounded by walls of a neutron-absorbing material with a long service life, for example hafnium. The channel is at least partially filled with a moderator, for example light water. During the manufacture the absorber part has undergone a heat treatment such that the hafnium alloy has been completely or partially transformed from α-phase to β-phase and thereafter been rapidly cooled to α-phase.
Claims8
A control rod for a boiling water reactor which control rod is submerged under water during operation, said control rod comprising:
- a top piece;
- a bottom piece;
- and
- an absorber part fixed between said top piece and said bottom piece, said absorber part including neutron absorbing metal sheets arranged opposite each other forming a cruciform cross-section comprising a central part and four wing parts;
- a plurality of indentations being distributed intermittently in the longitudinal direction on each said metal sheet, a connection being formed between corresponding indentations on opposite metal sheets in order to space said metal sheets apart;
- and
- said central part and said wing parts being hollow and containing no other support structure or neutron absorbing material except for said connections, said central part and said wing parts extending between said top piece and said bottom piece and being open at least at their top and bottom so as to fill the interior of said absorber part with water when submerged whereby a water volume is surrounded by said metal sheets.
A control rod for a boiling water reactor which control rod is submerged under water during operation, said control rod comprising:
- a top piece;
- a bottom piece;
- and
- an absorber part fixed between said top piece and said bottom piece, said absorber part including neutron absorbing metal sheets arranged opposite each other forming a cruciform cross-section comprising a central part and four wing parts;
- said central part and said wing parts being hollow and containing no other support structure or neutron absorbing material, said central part and said wing parts extending between said top piece and said bottom piece and being open at least at their top and bottom so as to fill the interior of said absorber part with water when submerged whereby a water volume is surrounded by said metal sheets.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.