BLOCKING DEVICE FOR STOPPING SOLID BODIES THAT HAVE BEEN IRRADIATED OR THAT ARE TO BE IRRADIATED

Abstract

The invention relates to a blocking device (5) for stopping solid bodies that have been irradiated or that are to be irradiated in a conduit system (2) which is used to transport the solid bodies by means of a propelling fluid into and out from a nuclear reactor (1). The blocking device has at least one main body (52) with a continuous channel (521) for the solid bodies and an actuator (58), which is arranged inside the main body (52) and which is adjustable relative to the main body (52) between an open position and a closed position in such a way that the channel (521) for the solid bodies is open in the open position and is closed in the closed position. The actuator (58) can be brought from the open position into the closed position and from the closed position into the open position by being displaced relative to the at least one main body (52). The blocking device can be used in particular as part of an aeroball measurement system (3) or as part of a nuclide activation system (4).

Claims

1. A blocking device for stopping solid bodies which have been irradiated or are to be irradiated in a conduit system, which is used for transporting the solid bodies by means of a propellant fluid into and out of a nuclear reactor, comprising at least one main body having a continuous channel for the solid bodies, and an actuator arranged inside the main body, which is displaceable relative to the main body between an open position and a closed position in such a way that the channel is passable for the solid bodies in the open position and is closed in the closed position, wherein the actuator can be moved by means of displacement relative to the at least one main body from the open position into the closed position and from the closed position into the open position.

2. The blocking device as claimed in claim 1, comprising multiple such main bodies each having a continuous channel, wherein the channels of all main bodies are passable for the solid bodies in the open position of the actuator and closed in the closed position.

3. The blocking device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the channels of all main bodies extend in parallel to one another.

4. The blocking device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the multiple main bodies are clamped arranged in succession between two clamping elements.

5. The blocking device as claimed in claim 1, to wherein the multiple main bodies are designed identically.

6. The blocking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one main body comprises a passage opening intersecting, in particular intersecting at right angles, with the channel, and wherein the actuator extends displaceably through the passage opening.

7. The blocking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main body and/or the actuator comprise a groove, in order to enable a passage for the propellant fluid also in the closed position.

8. The blocking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a seal is provided to seal off the at least one main body from the actuator in such a way that gas cannot escape outward between the main body and the actuator out of the channel in the open position or in the closed position.

9. The blocking device as claimed in claim 1, comprising multiple main bodies, wherein a seal element is arranged in each case between adjacent main bodies to prevent gas from being able to escape outward between the main bodies in the open position or in the closed position.

10. The blocking device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a stop surface, which is used to stop the actuator during the displacement into the open position, in order to thus define the open position.

11. The blocking device as claimed in claim 1, additionally comprising a drive, which is used to displace the actuator from the open position into the closed position and vice versa.

12. A method to stop balls of an aeroball measurement system, which is used to measure the neutron flux distribution in a nuclear reactor, the method comprising at least the steps of stopping the balls by means of a blocking device, which blocking device comprises at least one main body having a continuous channel for the balls and an actuator arranged inside the main body, which actuator is displaceable relative to the main body between an open position and a closed position in such a way that the channel is passable for the balls in the open position and is closed in the closed position; and moving the actuator by means of displacement relative to the at least one main body from the open position into the closed position and/or from the closed position into the open position.

13. A method to stop targets of a nuclide activation system, which is used to irradiate the targets in a nuclear reactor, the method comprising at least the steps of stopping the targets by means of a blocking device, which blocking device comprises at least one main body having a continuous channel for the targets and an actuator arranged inside the main body, which actuator is displaceable relative to the main body between an open position and a closed position in such a way that the channel is passable for the targets in the open position and is closed in the closed position; and moving the actuator by means of displacement relative to the at least one main body from the open position into the closed position and/or from the closed position into the open position.

14. The blocking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conduit system forms a part of an aeroball measurement system.

15. The blocking device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the passage opening intersects at right angles with the channel.

16. The blocking device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the groove is a ring groove.

17. The blocking device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the drive is an electric or hydraulic drive.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described hereinafter on the basis of the drawings, which are used solely for explanation and are not to be interpreted as restrictive. In the drawings:

[0037] FIG. 1 shows a functional diagram of a combined aeroball measurement system and a nuclide activation system in a nuclear power plant;

[0038] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a blocking device according to an embodiment according to the invention;

[0039] FIG. 3 shows another perspective view of the blocking device of FIG. 2;

[0040] FIG. 4 shows a central sectional view of the blocking device of FIG. 2, with the piston in the open position;

[0041] FIG. 5 shows a sectional view in plane V-V (see FIG. 4) of the blocking device of FIG. 2;

[0042] FIG. 6 shows a sectional view in plane VI-VI (see FIG. 4) of the blocking device of FIG. 2;

[0043] FIG. 7 shows a sectional view (only partially shown) in plane VII-VII (see FIG. 4) of the blocking device of FIG. 2;

[0044] FIG. 8 shows a sectional view in plane VIII-VIII (see FIG. 5) of the blocking device of FIG. 2;

[0045] FIG. 9 shows a detail view of the area IX marked in FIG. 4;

[0046] FIG. 10 shows a central sectional view of the blocking device of FIG. 2, with the piston in the closed position;

[0047] FIG. 11 shows a central sectional view of a blocking device according to another embodiment according to the invention, with the piston in the open position;

[0048] FIG. 12 shows a central sectional view of the blocking device of FIG. 11, with the piston in the closed position;

[0049] FIG. 13 shows a central sectional view in plane VIII-VIII (see FIG. 11) of the blocking device of FIG. 11;

[0050] FIG. 14 shows a central sectional view of a blocking device of FIG. 11, with a handle for manual operation; and

[0051] FIG. 15 shows a further functional diagram of a combined aeroball measurement system and a nuclide activation system in a nuclear power plant, with twofold use of the blocking device of FIG. 11.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0052] FIG. 1 shows a functional diagram of a nuclide activation system 4 combined with an aeroball measurement system 3, as is used, for example, in a nuclear power plant having a nuclear reactor 1. Two blocking devices 5 according to the invention are used here in an associated conduit system 2. An example of an embodiment of such a blocking device according to the invention is shown in more detail in FIGS. 2 to 10. A further example of an embodiment of a blocking device according to the invention is shown in FIGS. 11 to 14. FIG. 15 shows a functional diagram expanded in relation to FIG. 1, which is suitable in particular for the twofold use of a blocking device according to this further example. Functionally identical or similar features of different embodiments are each provided with the same reference signs in the drawings.

[0053] The conduit system 2 comprises a plurality of conduits 21, which as applicable represent a part of the aeroball measurement system 3 or the nuclide activation system 4 or belong to both systems. It is used to introduce measuring balls or nuclide activation targets into one or typically multiple instrumentation fingers of the nuclear reactor 1 and to transport them back out again after a sufficient dwell time. A propellant fluid, preferably a propellant gas, is used to transport the measuring balls or targets, that is to say the balls or targets are transported by means of overpressure and negative pressure through the conduit system 2. The use of nitrogen (N.sub.2) is preferred as the propellant gas.

[0054] All components of the conduit system 2 and in particular the conduits 21 are dimensioned with respect to their internal diameters so that the balls or targets can be conveyed well by means of the propellant gas without being able to mutually change positions. The conduits 21 accordingly have a conduit internal diameter which approximately corresponds to the external diameter of the balls or targets. At most, the internal diameter of the conduits 21 is slightly larger, i.e., preferably by at most 10%, more preferably by at most 5%, than the external diameter of the balls and the targets. The balls and the targets preferably have approximately the same external diameter.

[0055] The aeroball measurement system 3 comprises a parking position 32, which is provided for parking the measuring balls when no measurement is carried out. The measuring balls are preferably arranged adjacent to one another in multiple parallel rows. Preferably, each row corresponds to precisely one instrumentation finger in the nuclear reactor 1, i.e., the arrangement of the measuring balls in the parking position 32 corresponds to the arrangement of the measuring balls in the nuclear reactor 1.

[0056] During their transport through the conduits 21 of the conduit system 2, the measuring balls receive a significant level of kinetic energy due to the drive by the propellant gas. This is therefore also referred to as a ball firing measuring system. To stop the balls returned from the nuclear reactor 1 upon reaching the parking position 32, a blocking device 5 is provided, which can also be designated as a ball stopper.

[0057] Since the measuring balls are typically still radioactive upon reaching the parking position 32, a shield 33 is provided which completely encloses the parking position 32 and the blocking device 5 in order to protect the surroundings from radioactive radiation.

[0058] The measuring balls are preferably vanadium-containing steel balls. A measuring table 31 having multiple radiation detectors is provided for measuring the activity of the balls irradiated in the nuclear reactor 1. The measuring balls are preferably arranged adjacent to one another in multiple parallel rows on the measuring table 31, analogously as in the parking position 32, wherein preferably each row corresponds to precisely one instrumentation finger in the nuclear reactor 1. The neutron flux at a corresponding point in the nuclear reactor 1 can thus be concluded in a simple manner from the measured radiation of each measuring ball.

[0059] Corresponding connecting conduits 21 are provided to convey the measuring balls from the parking position 32 to the measuring table 31 or in the reverse direction. The blocking unit comprises an actuator (explained in more detail hereinafter), using which the passages from the parking position 32 to the connecting conduits 21 and thus to the measuring table 31 can be released or blocked for the balls.

[0060] Similarly to the aeroball measurement system 3, the nuclide activation system 4 also comprises a parking position 42, which is provided for parking the nuclide activation targets.

[0061] The targets are preferably arranged adjacent to one another in multiple parallel rows here. Each row also preferably corresponds to precisely one instrumentation finger in the nuclear reactor 1 here, i.e., the arrangement of the targets in the parking position 32 corresponds to the arrangement of the measuring balls in the nuclear reactor 1. The parking position is in particular assumed in each case by the targets when a measurement has to be carried out by means of the ball shoot system 2.

[0062] Since the neutron flux is typically lower in the area of the ends of the instrumentation fingers, dummy targets can be used for this points, which are only used for the correct arrangement of the targets in the nuclear reactor 1, but are not provided for the subsequent, for example medical use.

[0063] A blocking device 5 is also provided here to stop the targets returned from the nuclear reactor 1 upon reaching the parking position 42.

[0064] Since the targets are typically strongly radioactive upon reaching the parking position 42, a shield 43 is provided which completely encloses the parking position 42 and the blocking device 5, in order to protect the surroundings from radioactive radiation.

[0065] In order to be able to remove the targets from the nuclide activation system 4 after sufficient irradiation, the parking position 42 is connectable to removal conduits, which open into a removal container 44, via corresponding connecting conduits 21 and a fitting box 41. In order to remove the targets from the nuclide activation system 4, the actuator of the blocking device 5 is displaced into the open position, so that the passage in the blocking device 5 is released and the targets can be transported to the removal container 44.

[0066] The fitting box 41 is used to introduce nitrogen, thus the propellant gas, into the nuclide activation system 4 via corresponding N.sub.2 conduits 24. When the targets are to be removed from the nuclide activation system 4, the N.sub.2 conduits 24 are decoupled, for example, by hand from the fitting box 41 and instead the removal conduits are coupled on. Corresponding quick-action couplings 45 are advantageously provided for this purpose. The targets can be transported from the parking position 42 into the removal container 44, for example, utilizing the gravitational force.

[0067] The measuring balls and the nuclide activation targets are distributed from the parking positions 32 and 42, respectively, into the various instrumentation fingers of the nuclear reactor 1 by means of one or more distributor shunts 22. By means of the distributor shunts 22, the conduits 21 leading to the parking positions 32 and 42 are connected to the conduits 21 which lead to the respective instrumentation fingers. The distributor shunt(s) 22 can be designed, for example, according to the specifications in DE 10 2017 125 606 A1.

[0068] In addition, an emergency closing device 23 is provided in the conduit system 1 in direct proximity to the nuclear reactor 1. The emergency closing device 23 is used, for example, upon the occurrence of a leak in one of the instrumentation fingers to disconnect the conduit system section close to the reactor from the conduit system section far from the reactor. The emergency closing device can be designed as a rotation valve, in particular as a ball valve. In principle, however, it is also conceivable to use a blocking device according to the invention as the emergency closing device 23.

[0069] One preferred embodiment of the blocking device 5 used in the ball measuring system 3 and in the nuclide activation system 4 will be explained in more detail hereinafter on the basis of FIGS. 2 to 10.

[0070] As is very apparent on the basis of FIGS. 2 to 4, for example, the blocking device 5 comprises multiple main bodies 52, precisely six here, which are arranged in succession. The main bodies 52 are all designed identically and are each cuboid as a whole.

[0071] As can be inferred from FIGS. 4 and 6, a continuous channel 521, which is used for conducting through the measuring balls or targets, extends through each of the main bodies 52. The channels 521 of the different main bodies 52 all extend in parallel to one another. The internal diameter of the channels 521 preferably corresponds to that of the conduits 21, thus is approximately equal to or at most slightly larger than the external diameter of the measuring balls or targets. A conduit fitting 51, which is used to connect the channel 521 to a conduit 21, is provided in each case on both sides of the main bodies 52.

[0072] A guide block 55, 56 and then a cover 53, 54 is arranged at each of the ends of the row of the main bodies 52. The front cover 53 and the rear cover 54 are clamped by means of connecting screws 59 against the guide blocks 55, 56 and thus the main bodies 52. The row of the main bodies 52 is thus clamped like a sandwich between the guide blocks 55, 56, on the one hand, and the covers 53, 54. As is apparent in FIG. 5, the connecting screws 59, of which four are provided in the present exemplary embodiment, extend through the front cover 53, the guide blocks 55, 56, and the main bodies 52 and are screwed into the rear cover 54 by means of mutual thread engagement. The screw heads of the connecting screws 59 press against the front cover 53. A washer 591 is arranged between each of the screw heads and the cover 53.

[0073] A passage opening 57, which intersects perpendicularly with each of the channels 521 of the main bodies 52, extends through the front cover 53, the guide blocks 55, 56, and all main bodies 52. A piston rod 58, which forms an actuator of the blocking device 5 and is used to release or block the channels 521 of the main bodies 52, is inserted into the passage opening 57.

[0074] In the view of FIG. 4, the piston rod 58 is inserted completely into the passage opening 57, i.e., until stopping on a stop surface 541 of the rear cover 54. The piston rod 58 is located in this position in its open position, which is thus defined by the stop on the stop surface 541, and protrudes completely through all main bodies 52 and also the guide blocks 55, 56 and the front cover 53. The piston rod 58 has an external diameter in the interior of the main bodies 52 and the guide blocks 55, 56 which approximately corresponds to the internal diameter of the passage opening 57 or at most is slightly smaller.

[0075] Except for the protruding piston rod 58, the blocking device 5 as a whole has a compact cuboid shape. It is thus designed and installable in a space-saving manner.

[0076] The piston rod 58 comprises multiple channels 581, precisely six here, which each extend completely through the piston rod 58 perpendicularly to the longitudinal extension thereof. In the open position shown in FIG. 4, the channels 581 are in particular arranged so that they each represent an extension of the channels 521 of the main bodies 52 through the piston rod 58. The passage for the measuring balls or targets through the channels 521 is thus released via the channels 581.

[0077] To move the piston rod 58 from the open position into the closed position, it is retracted somewhat by means of a drive 50 (see FIG. 1) from the stop surface 541. The closed position of the piston bar is shown in FIG. 10. The drive 50 can be, for example, an electric rotation or linear drive or a hydraulic drive. The drive 50 is connected to the piston rod 58 at that free end which protrudes outward from the front cover 53 (on the right side in each of the views of FIGS. 4 and 10).

[0078] As is clearly apparent in FIG. 10, the channels 581 of the piston rod 58 are arranged displaced in relation to the channels 521 of the main bodies 52 in the closed position. The passage for the measuring balls and the targets through the channels 521 of the main bodies 52 is thus blocked by the piston rod 58. As results from a consideration of FIGS. 4 and 10 together, a very small displacement is sufficient to move the piston rod 58 from the open position into the closed position and vice versa. The demands on the drive 50 are thus comparatively minor, so that its resulting dimensioning can also be smaller.

[0079] During displacement, the piston rod 58 is guided in guide bushings 551 and 565 of the guide blocks 55 and 56, respectively. As is apparent in FIG. 8, the piston rod 58 preferably has a lateral flattening 583 in the area of the rear guide block 56 and presses with this against a contact plate 561. The piston rod 58 is thus twist-locked. The contact plate 561 is fastened in a cavity of the guide block 56 by means of screws 562 on the guide block 56. The access to the screws 562 takes place via openings 563, which are provided on the opposite side of the cavity and are closable by means of closure plugs 564.

[0080] In the closed position of the piston rod 58, the channels 521 of the main bodies 52 are as mentioned closed to the measuring balls and the targets in the present embodiment. However, the channels 521 are not closed to the propellant gas in the open position or in the closed position. To enable an unobstructed passage of the propellant gas in the closed position as well, the main bodies 52 and/or the piston rod 58 each have a ring groove 522 in the areas of the channels 521 or 581, respectively, opening to the passage opening 57. The ring groove 522, which is apparent in particular in FIGS. 6 and 9, in each case extends starting from the channel openings in a ring shape around the piston rod 58 and thus ensures an unobstructed gas exchange between the two channel parts of the channels 521 arranged on both sides of the piston rod 58, even in the closed position.

[0081] To prevent an escape of propellant gas outward between the main bodies 52 and the piston rod 58, seal rings 582 are attached between each of the channels 581 on the piston rod 58. The seal rings 582 seal off the piston rod 58 in relation to the main bodies 52.

[0082] Further seals 523 are provided to seal off the main bodies 52 from one another and in relation to the guide blocks 55 and 56. The seals 523 thus prevent an escape of propellant gas outward between the main bodies 52 and the guide blocks 55, 56.

[0083] A further seal ring 552 is arranged in the front guide block 55 on the piston rod 58. It is used to seal off through the passage between the guide block 55 and the piston rod 58. The seal ring 552 can be pressed against the guide block 55 by means of a contact pressure sleeve 555 in the longitudinal direction of the piston rod 58 (see FIG. 7). The pressing force of the contact pressure sleeve 555 and thus the sealing action of the seal ring 552 can be set with the aid of two adjustment screws 531. In the present exemplary embodiment, a sliding plate 553 and an end ring 554 are arranged between the seal ring 552 and the contact pressure sleeve 555. The piston rod 58 extends through the seal ring 552, the sliding plate 553, the end ring 554, and the contact pressure sleeve 555.

[0084] A further exemplary embodiment of a blocking device 5 according to the invention is shown in FIGS. 11 to 14. In contrast to the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 2 to 9, that of FIGS. 11 to 14 comprises an integrated pneumatic drive having a drive piston 556, which is attached by means of a threaded pin 559 or in another way on the piston rod 58 and is movable within a piston chamber 557. The piston chamber 557 is located in the interior of the guide block 55 and is delimited by the guide block 55 and the cover 53. On both sides of the drive piston 556, a gas fitting 550 opens into the piston chamber 557, to be able to introduce gas under pressure into the piston chamber 557 depending on the desired movement direction of the piston rod 58. The gas is thus used as a working medium to be able to move the piston rod 58 from the open position into the closed position and vice versa, wherein the gas can be compressed air, for example, but preferably nitrogen. The drive piston 556 is circumferentially sealed in relation to the inner wall of the guide block 55 by means of a piston seal 558.

[0085] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 11 to 14, two magnetic sensors 532, 543 are also provided, in order to measure the position of the piston rod 58, thus the actuator, in relation to the main bodies 52. A first magnetic sensor 532, as is apparent in FIG. 13, is positioned in a corresponding borehole of the cover 53 provided for this purpose and a second magnetic sensor 543 is positioned in a borehole of the cover 54 also provided for this purpose. To enable the measurement, a magnet 584, in particular a permanent magnet, is additionally attached in the area of each of the ends of the piston rod 58.

[0086] In contrast to the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 2 to 9, that of FIGS. 11 to 14 moreover comprises a threaded borehole arranged centrally in the cover 54, which is closed using a closure screw 542 in normal operation. In case of an operational malfunction of the drive of the blocking device 5, the closure screw 542 can be unscrewed and a handle 585 can be screwed into a threaded borehole provided at the corresponding end of the piston rod 58. The piston rod 58 can then be temporarily displaced manually in emergency operation with the aid of the handle 585 from the open position into the closed position or vice versa.

[0087] A functional diagram, which is suitable in particular for the exemplary embodiment of the blocking device 5 of FIGS. 2 to 9, is shown in FIG. 15. The functional diagram of FIG. thus differs from that of FIG. 1 in that the two blocking devices 5 each correspond, on the one hand, to that which is shown in FIGS. 11 to 14 and, on the other hand, gas switching conduits 25 are provided, to control the pneumatic drives integrated in the blocking devices 5. One of the two gas fittings 550 of the first blocking device 5 is connected by means of a gas switching conduit 25 to one of the two gas fittings 550 of the second blocking device 5 in each case in such a way that an application of pressure of the corresponding gas switching conduit 25 results in closing of the first blocking device 5 and opening of the second blocking device 5 or vice versa.

[0088] Of course, the invention described here is not restricted to the mentioned embodiments and a large number of modifications are possible. The actuator, which is formed here by the piston rod 58, thus does not necessarily have to have a circular cross section as in the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 2 to 10. The actuator could just as well have, for example, a rectangular, in particular square cross section. Moreover, the channels 521 do not necessarily all have to extend in parallel to one another, but could also extend in different directions. The channels 581 of the actuator would then have to be aligned accordingly. Instead of multiple, the blocking device could also only comprise a single main body, which has one or even multiple channels for the measuring balls or targets. An embodiment having multiple main bodies which each comprises multiple channels would also be conceivable. A large number of further modifications are conceivable.

TABLE-US-00001 LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS 1 nuclear reactor 54 cover 541 stop surface 2 conduit system 542 closure screw 21 conduit 543 magnetic sensor 22 distributor shunt 55 guide block 23 emergency closing device 550 gas fitting 24 N.sub.2 conduits 551 guide bushing 25 gas switching conduits 552 seal ring 553 sliding plate 3 ball measuring system 554 end ring 31 measuring table 555 contact pressure sleeve 32 parking position 556 drive piston 33 shield 557 piston chamber 558 piston seal 4 nuclide activation system 559 threaded pin 41 fitting box 56 guide block 42 parking position 561 contact plate 43 shield 562 screw 44 removal container 563 opening 45 quick-action couplings 564 closure plug 565 guide bushing 5 blocking device 57 passage opening 50 drive 58 piston rod 51 conduit fitting 581 channel 52 main body 582 seal ring 521 channel 583 flattening 522 ring groove 584 magnet 523 seal 585 handle 53 cover 59 connecting screw 531 adjustment screw 591 washer 532 magnetic sensor