A method of removing floating foreign substances that may interfere with a normal operation of an electromechanical mechanism of a control rod drive mechanism and a device for executing the same are provided. The method of removing the foreign substances from the control rod drive mechanism comprising a driving shaft including a plurality of teeth and disposed in a vertical direction in the control rod drive mechanism, a first part configured to hold or release a lower end portion of the driving shaft depending on whether a stationary gripper coil is activated, a second part configured to hold or release an intermediate portion of the driving shaft depending on whether a movable gripper coil is activated, and a third part configured to move the second part in the vertical direction depending on whether a lift coil is activated may include: activating at least one of the stationary gripper coil, the movable gripper coil, and the lift coil to drive the first part, the second part, or the third part in a state in which the driving shaft is not able to move; and removing the foreign substances from the first part, the second part, or the third part.

A method of removing floating foreign substances that may interfere with a normal operation of an electromechanical mechanism of a control rod drive mechanism and a device for executing the same are provided. The method of removing the foreign substances from the control rod drive mechanism comprising a driving shaft including a plurality of teeth and disposed in a vertical direction in the control rod drive mechanism, a first part configured to hold or release a lower end portion of the driving shaft depending on whether a stationary gripper coil is activated, a second part configured to hold or release an intermediate portion of the driving shaft depending on whether a movable gripper coil is activated, and a third part configured to move the second part in the vertical direction depending on whether a lift coil is activated may include: activating at least one of the stationary gripper coil, the movable gripper coil, and the lift coil to drive the first part, the second part, or the third part in a state in which the driving shaft is not able to move; and removing the foreign substances from the first part, the second part, or the third part.

Fission reactor has a shell encompassing a reactor space within which are a central longitudinal channel, a plurality of axially extending rings with adjacent rings defining an annular cylindrical space in which a first plurality of primary axial tubes are circumferential located. Circumferentially adjacent primary axial tubes are separated by one of the plurality of secondary channels and a plurality of webbings connects at least a portion of the plurality of primary axial tubes to adjacent structure. A fissionable nuclear fuel composition is located in at least some of the plurality of secondary channels and a primary coolant passes thorough at least some of the primary axial tubes. Additive and/or subtractive manufacturing techniques produce an integral and unitary structure for the fuel loaded reactor space. During manufacturing and as-built, the reactor design can be analyzed using a computational platform that integrates and analyzes data from in-situ monitoring during manufacturing.

Control rod drives include all-digital monitoring, powering, and controlling systems for operating the drives. Each controlling system includes distinct microprocessor-driven channels that independently monitor and handle control rod drive position information reported from multiple position sensors per drive. Controlling systems function as rod control and information systems with top-level hardware interfaced with nuclear plant operators other plant systems. The top-level hardware can receive operator instructions and report control rod position, as well as report errors detected using redundant data from the multiple sensors. Positional data received from each drive is multiplexed across plural, redundant channels to allow verification of the system using independent position data as well as operation of the system should a single channel or detector fail. Control rod drives are capable of positioning and detecting position of control elements in fine increments, such as 3-millimeter increments, with plural position sensors that digitally report drive status and position.

A method of removing floating foreign substances that may interfere with a normal operation of an electromechanical mechanism of a control rod drive mechanism and a device for executing the same are provided. The method of removing the foreign substances from the control rod drive mechanism comprising a driving shaft including a plurality of teeth and disposed in a vertical direction in the control rod drive mechanism, a first part configured to hold or release a lower end portion of the driving shaft depending on whether a stationary gripper coil is activated, a second part configured to hold or release an intermediate portion of the driving shaft depending on whether a movable gripper coil is activated, and a third part configured to move the second part in the vertical direction depending on whether a lift coil is activated may include: activating at least one of the stationary gripper coil, the movable gripper coil, and the lift coil to drive the first part, the second part, or the third part in a state in which the driving shaft is not able to move; and removing the foreign substances from the first part, the second part, or the third part.

A method of removing floating foreign substances that may interfere with a normal operation of an electromechanical mechanism of a control rod drive mechanism and a device for executing the same are provided. The method of removing the foreign substances from the control rod drive mechanism comprising a driving shaft including a plurality of teeth and disposed in a vertical direction in the control rod drive mechanism, a first part configured to hold or release a lower end portion of the driving shaft depending on whether a stationary gripper coil is activated, a second part configured to hold or release an intermediate portion of the driving shaft depending on whether a movable gripper coil is activated, and a third part configured to move the second part in the vertical direction depending on whether a lift coil is activated may include: activating at least one of the stationary gripper coil, the movable gripper coil, and the lift coil to drive the first part, the second part, or the third part in a state in which the driving shaft is not able to move; and removing the foreign substances from the first part, the second part, or the third part.

Various example embodiments are directed towards an improved control drum, as well as systems, apparatuses, and/or methods for operating a nuclear reactor with a plurality of improved control drums. The control drum includes an outer shell, an inner shell, a plurality of tubes, the plurality of tubes including at least one neutron absorbing tube and at least one neutron scattering tube, and at least one baffle plate arranged between the outer shell and the inner shell, the at least one baffle plate including a plurality of perforations, and at least one perforation of the plurality of perforations configured to support a tube of the plurality of tubes.

Various example embodiments are directed towards an improved control drum, as well as systems, apparatuses, and/or methods for operating a nuclear reactor with a plurality of improved control drums. The control drum includes an outer shell, an inner shell, a plurality of tubes, the plurality of tubes including at least one neutron absorbing tube and at least one neutron scattering tube, and at least one baffle plate arranged between the outer shell and the inner shell, the at least one baffle plate including a plurality of perforations, and at least one perforation of the plurality of perforations configured to support a tube of the plurality of tubes.

A control drum system for a nuclear reactor including a reactor core, including an ex-core reflector including a plurality of cylindrical apertures, a plurality of control drum assemblies, each control drum assembly including a drive shaft, a drum cylinder affixed to a bottom end of the drive shaft, and a planetary gear attached to a top end of the drive shaft, wherein each drum cylinder is rotatably received in a cylindrical aperture, a first control drum drive motor operably connected to a first control drum assembly, and an annular ring gear that is operably connected to the planetary gear of each of the control drum assemblies so that all the control drum assemblies rotate simultaneously.

A control drum system for a nuclear reactor including a reactor core, including an ex-core reflector including a plurality of cylindrical apertures, a plurality of control drum assemblies, each control drum assembly including a drive shaft, a drum cylinder affixed to a bottom end of the drive shaft, and a planetary gear attached to a top end of the drive shaft, wherein each drum cylinder is rotatably received in a cylindrical aperture, a first control drum drive motor operably connected to a first control drum assembly, and an annular ring gear that is operably connected to the planetary gear of each of the control drum assemblies so that all the control drum assemblies rotate simultaneously.