US 9,852,817 B2 · Control rod drive mechanism built in nuclear reactor

Abstract

Disclosed is a control rod drive mechanism. More specifically, the control rod drive mechanism includes a guide member 100 disposed in a nuclear reactor to receiving a drive shaft 2; a latch assembly 200 disposed in the guide member 100 to enable the drive shaft 2 to be withdrawn and inserted; a supporting member 300 connected to the guide member 100 to cover the drive shaft 2 and to support the latch assembly 200; and a plurality of coil housings 400 spaced apart and connected to the guide member 100 to cover the latch assembly 200, and each having a coil 410 built therein.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims4

Dependent claims

A control rod drive mechanism comprising:

a shaft elongated along an axis and comprising engagement recesses formed along the axis on a circumference thereof;
a supporting member defining an elongated channel for receiving the shaft, the supporting member comprising a latch opening therethrough;
a latch assembly comprising a latch mechanism and a latch operably connected to the latch mechanism, the latch mechanism disposed outside the shaft in a radial direction from the axis, the latch comprising a latch tip extending into the elongated channel via the latch opening and configured to latch the shaft by engagement with one of the engagement recesses;
a latch housing located outside the supporting member in the radial direction and housing the latch mechanism, wherein the latch housing comprises a latch housing wall disposed outside the latch assembly in the radial direction;
and
a plurality of coil housings disposed outside the latch assembly in the radial direction, each coil housing comprising an inner wall facing the shaft, the inner wall comprising a non-magnetic wall portion and a magnetic wall portion, wherein the plurality of coil housings are arranged along the axis together with the latch housing wall such that the inner walls of the plurality of coil housings and the latch housing wall together provide non-magnetic wall portions and magnetic wall portions that are alternatingly arranged along the axis while facing the shaft.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description3,426 words

Summary943 words

#This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0141608 filed on Nov. 20, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

#1. Field

#The present disclosure relates to a control rod drive mechanism built in a nuclear reactor, which is configured with a coil housing substituting for a latch housing of a latch assembly, to miniaturize the control rod drive mechanism built in the nuclear reactor and thus to secure a sufficient fluid passage of a reactor coolant as well as to enhance space efficiency, and also configured to improve an operating load carrying path of the latch assembly so that the coil housing supports only the weight of a coil, a load of the reactor coolant and a load applied to the coil.

Brief description of the drawings3 figures

#The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

#FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view illustrating a control rod drive mechanism built in a nuclear reactor according to an embodiment of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view illustrating another modified example of the control rod drive mechanism built in the nuclear reactor according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

Detailed description2,373 words

#[Detailed Description of Main Elements] M: magnetic material NM: non-magnetic material 1: internal structure of a 2: drive shaft nuclear reactor 3: extension shaft 4: shaft tooth 10: reactor head 100: guide member 110: upper guide 130: lower guide 150: middle guide 170: connecting part 200: latch assembly 210: latch 220: lifting stator 230: moving latch stator 240: moving latch plunger 250: stationary latch stator 260: stationary latch plunger 270: latch housing 270M: magnetic material of latch housing 270NM: non-magnetic material of latch housing 300: supporting member 310: guide window 400: coil housing 410: coil 430: internal member of coil housing 430M: magnetic material of internal member of coil housing 430NM: non-magnetic material of internal member of coil housing 450: external member of coil housing

#Hereinafter, a control rod drive mechanism built in a nuclear reactor according to embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

#Referring to FIG. 3, generally, in a control rod drive mechanism of a commercial nuclear reactor, a latch assembly housing 20 (receiving a plurality of stators 31, 32 and 34 and plungers 33 and 35), an upper housing 21 and a lower housing 22 are installed at a nozzle 11 of the control rod drive mechanism, which passes through a reactor head 10, to form part of a reactor coolant pressure boundary, a coil assembly 36 including a coil housing 37 having a built-in coil is provided, a magnetic field is generated to operate a latch assembly, and thus vertical movement of a control rod and extension shaft assembly 30 is induced.

Facts

Application

14/518,987Filed 20 Oct 2014

Priority

KR 10-2013-014160820 Nov 2013

Published

US 2015/0139380 A121 May 2015

Granted

26 Dec 2017

Term ends

22 Dec 2036

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 794 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification5 codes

G21C 7/14
Means for moving control elements to desired position: mechanical drive arrangements
G21C 15/08
Arrangements or disposition of passages in which heat is transferred to the coolant; Coolant flow control devices: from moderating material
Y02E 30/30
Energy generation of nuclear origin: nuclear fission reactors
G21C
Nuclear reactors

Timeline

20 Nov 2013Priority claimedKR 10-2013-0141608
20 Oct 2014Application filedUS 14/518,987
20 Oct 2014Assigned to Korea Atomic Energy Research Instituteassignment of assignor's interest
21 May 2015PublishedUS 2015/0139380 A1
26 Dec 2017GrantedUS 9,852,817 B2
12 Oct 2026TodayWithin its term
22 Dec 2036Term endsEstimated, includes 794 days of adjustment

Control rod drive mechanism built in nuclear reactor

Life of this patent

Control rod drive mechanism built in nuclear reactor

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims4

Description3,426 words

Drawings

Classification5 codes

Life of this patent

Description3,426 words