G21C5/06

Device and method for underwater repair of hole of a nuclear reactor part
11037689 · 2021-06-15 · ·

A repair device for underwater repair of a hole in a nuclear reactor part includes a holder (32), a cutting tool (22) held by the holder (32) and having at least one cutting tooth (70) for remachining an inner surface of the hole. The cutting tool (22) has a suction channel (44) extending into the cutting tool (22) between at least one inlet opening (46) and at least one outlet opening (48), a drive shaft (34) for rotating the cutting tool (22), the drive shaft (34) being held by the holder (32), and a suction tube (36) connected to the holder (32) and fluidly connected to the outlet opening (48) of the suction channel (44).

NUCLEAR POWER GENERATOR, FUEL CARTRIDGES FOR NUCLEAR POWER GENERATOR, AND RELATED METHODS
20210174976 · 2021-06-10 ·

The fuel cartridge may include a plurality of fuel channels, a first header disposed on a first side of a fuel matrix, a second header disposed on a second side of the fuel matrix opposite to the first side, and a plurality of cooling tubes through which a working fluid flows. Each of the plurality of cooling tubes may pass through each corresponding cooling channel of the plurality of cooling channels, where each of the plurality of cooling tubes has a first end connected to the first header and a second end connected to the second header. The fuel cartridge may include an interior space for sealingly containing the fuel matrix may include a pressure boundary independent from an interior of the plurality of cooling tubes, such that the interior space is not in fluid communication with the plurality of cooling tubes.

FISSION REACTOR WITH SEGMENTED CLADDING BODIES HAVING CLADDING ARMS WITH INVOLUTE CURVE SHAPE

Plurality of layers form a nuclear fission reactor structure, each layer having an inner segment body, an intermediate segment body, and an outer segment body (each segment body separated by an interface). The layers include a plurality of cladding arms having involute curve shapes that spirally radiate outward from a radially inner end to a radially outer end. Chambers in the involute curve shaped cladding arm contain fuel compositions (and/or other materials such as moderators and poisons). The design of the involute curve shaped cladding arms and the composition of the materials conform to neutronic and thermal management requirements for the nuclear fission reactor and are of sufficiently common design and/or have sufficiently few variations as to reduce manufacturing complexity and manufacturing variability.

Reactor design with controlled thermal neutron flux for enhanced neutron activation potential

Reactor core and thermal neutron fission reactor has fuel rods with a composite fuel composition (each having the same uniform cross-section along their axial length), end plates at first and second ends, and intermediate support plates located along a longitudinal length of the reactor core. In a radial cross-section, the fuel rods are arranged at nodes of a hexagonal pitch arrangement, in which the nodes are in a spaced-apart arrangement and interconnected by ligaments. Openings between the nodes form part of a coolant flow path through the thermal neutron reactor core. At least two of the nodes of the hexagonal pitch arrangement are sized to allow insertion, translation, removal, or a combination thereof of auxiliary equipment, such as a target delivery system (TDS) for isotopes. Thermal neutron flux (neutrons ≤0.06 eV) is maximized for maximum neutron activation potential, which is applied to produce both commercial and research isotopes.

Reactor design with controlled thermal neutron flux for enhanced neutron activation potential

Reactor core and thermal neutron fission reactor has fuel rods with a composite fuel composition (each having the same uniform cross-section along their axial length), end plates at first and second ends, and intermediate support plates located along a longitudinal length of the reactor core. In a radial cross-section, the fuel rods are arranged at nodes of a hexagonal pitch arrangement, in which the nodes are in a spaced-apart arrangement and interconnected by ligaments. Openings between the nodes form part of a coolant flow path through the thermal neutron reactor core. At least two of the nodes of the hexagonal pitch arrangement are sized to allow insertion, translation, removal, or a combination thereof of auxiliary equipment, such as a target delivery system (TDS) for isotopes. Thermal neutron flux (neutrons ≤0.06 eV) is maximized for maximum neutron activation potential, which is applied to produce both commercial and research isotopes.

Moving an entire nuclear reactor core as a unitary structure

An entire nuclear fuel core comprising a plurality of fuel assemblies is preassembled in a nuclear fuel cartridge having a self-supporting unitary support structure. During a refueling operation, the unitary support structure is moved into a nuclear reactor vessel. The unitary support structure may be formed by top and bottom core plates coupled together by vertically-oriented connecting rods which compress the fuel assemblies therebetween. A plurality of reflector wall segments circumscribe the core and are the coupled together between the core plates by the connecting rods which are coupled to the core plates. The connecting rods may extend through the wall segments.

Moving an entire nuclear reactor core as a unitary structure

An entire nuclear fuel core comprising a plurality of fuel assemblies is preassembled in a nuclear fuel cartridge having a self-supporting unitary support structure. During a refueling operation, the unitary support structure is moved into a nuclear reactor vessel. The unitary support structure may be formed by top and bottom core plates coupled together by vertically-oriented connecting rods which compress the fuel assemblies therebetween. A plurality of reflector wall segments circumscribe the core and are the coupled together between the core plates by the connecting rods which are coupled to the core plates. The connecting rods may extend through the wall segments.

NUCLEAR FUEL CORE AND METHODS OF FUELING AND/OR DEFUELING A NUCLEAR REACTOR, CONTROL ROD DRIVE SYSTEM FOR NUCLEAR REACTOR, SHUTDOWN SYSTEM FOR NUCLEAR STEAM SUPPLY SYSTEM, NUCLEAR REACTOR SHROUD, AND/OR LOSS-OF-COOLANT ACCIDENT REACTOR COOLING SYSTEM

Portable nuclear fuel cartridge comprising a unitary support structure and plurality of nuclear fuel assemblies that collectively form a nuclear fuel core. Control rod drive system for a nuclear reactor. A nuclear steam supply system having a shutdown system for removing residual decay heat generated by a nuclear fuel core. A nuclear reactor including a cylindrical body having an internal cavity, nuclear fuel core, and a shroud disposed in the cavity. A nuclear reactor cooling system with passive cooling capabilities operable during a loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA) without available electric power.

NUCLEAR FUEL CORE AND METHODS OF FUELING AND/OR DEFUELING A NUCLEAR REACTOR, CONTROL ROD DRIVE SYSTEM FOR NUCLEAR REACTOR, SHUTDOWN SYSTEM FOR NUCLEAR STEAM SUPPLY SYSTEM, NUCLEAR REACTOR SHROUD, AND/OR LOSS-OF-COOLANT ACCIDENT REACTOR COOLING SYSTEM

Portable nuclear fuel cartridge comprising a unitary support structure and plurality of nuclear fuel assemblies that collectively form a nuclear fuel core. Control rod drive system for a nuclear reactor. A nuclear steam supply system having a shutdown system for removing residual decay heat generated by a nuclear fuel core. A nuclear reactor including a cylindrical body having an internal cavity, nuclear fuel core, and a shroud disposed in the cavity. A nuclear reactor cooling system with passive cooling capabilities operable during a loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA) without available electric power.

Dispersion strengthened austenitic stainless steel article, method for manufacturing same and product made of same
11053562 · 2021-07-06 · ·

An objective of the invention is to provide an austenitic stainless steel article having superior irradiation resistance and stress corrosion cracking resistance than before while maintaining mechanical properties equivalent to those of conventional ones. There is provided a dispersion strengthened austenitic stainless steel article, including: 16-26 mass % of Cr; 8-22 mass % of Ni; 0.005-0.08 mass % of C; 0.002-0.1 mass % of N; 0.02-0.4 mass % of O; at least one of 0.2-2.8 mass % of Zr, 0.4-5 mass % of Ta, and 0.2-2.6 mass % of Ti; and a balance consisting of Fe and inevitable impurities. The Zr, Ta and Ti components form inclusion particles in the stainless steel article by combining with the C, N and O components. The stainless steel article has an average grain size of 1 m or less and a maximum grain size of 5 m or less.