Absorber tube for BWR control rods
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsDennis S. Nelson, Stephen J. Studer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a control rod having a plurality of elongated members for absorbing neutrons within a nuclear reactor to control a nuclear reaction, each elongated member may include a cylindrical inner capsule configured to contain neutron absorbing material therein. The elongated member may also include an absorber tube enclosing the cylindrical inner capsule, the absorber tube having an outer surface configured with a plurality of generally flat, planar sides between adjacent rounded corners.
Claims18
In a control rod having a plurality of elongated members for absorbing neutrons within a nuclear reactor to control a nuclear reaction, each elongated member comprising:
- a cylindrical inner capsule configured to contain neutron absorbing material therein;
- and
- an absorber tube enclosing the cylindrical inner capsule, the absorber tube having an outer surface with two opposing generally flat, planar, mating sides each of which is configured to mate flushly with a planar mating side of an adjacent absorber tube without the existence of a gap between the mated absorber tubes, the opposing flat, planar, mating sides each being located directly in between respective adjacent rounded corners that are convex in relation to the center of the capsule,
- wherein a line bisecting each of the flat, planar, mating sides is substantially collinear with a central axis of the control rod.
A control rod for absorbing neutrons within reactor core, comprising:
- four planar members extending from a central axis to form a cruciform shape, each of the planar members including a plurality of elongated members configured in side-by-side relation, wherein each elongated member further comprises:
- a cylindrical inner capsule configured to contain neutron absorbing material therein;
- and
- an absorber tube enclosing the cylindrical inner capsule, the absorber tube having an outer surface configured with two opposing generally flat, planar, mating sides each of which is configured to mate flushly with a planar mating side of an adjacent absorber tube without the existence of a gap between the mated absorber tubes, the opposing flat, planar, mating sides each being located directly in between respective adjacent rounded corners that are convex in relation to the center of the capsule,
- wherein a line bisecting each of the flat, planar, mating sides is substantially collinear with the central axis of the control rod;
- a cruciform-shaped tie segment provided along the central axis to brace the four planar members with respect to each other;
- a velocity limiter attached to the control rod at a lower end thereof;
- and
- a handle to the control rod at an upper end thereof.
An absorber-tube for a BWR control rod, comprising:
- an elongate member having a generally cylindrical inner surface enclosing an inner capsule that is configured to contain neutron absorbing material therein, the elongate member having an outer surface with two opposing generally flat, planar, mating sides each of which is configured to mate flushly with a planar, mating side of an adjacent elongate member, the opposing flat, planar, mating sides each being located directly in between respective adjacent rounded corners that are convex in relation to the center of the capsule,
- wherein a line bisecting each of the flat, planar, mating sides is substantially collinear with a central axis of the control rod.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.