Flow-measuring differential calorimeter

Abstract

A differential calorimeter with flux measurement to measure a heat flux emitted by radioactive materials contained in a container, including: a measurement cell including measurement plates distributed around a container reception containment; and a reference cell including reference plates and a reference sample. The reference plates are placed behind the measurement plates from the container when the container is in the reception containment and the reference sample is under the reception containment.

Claims

1. A differential calorimeter with flux measurement to measure a heat flux emitted by radioactive materials contained in a container, comprising: a measurement cell comprising measurement plates including a first measurement plate on which the container is to be disposed and plural other measurement plates; a reference cell comprising reference plates and a reference sample; wherein each reference plate is placed facing a side of a respective measurement plate opposite to a side of the respective measurement plate facing the container when the container is disposed on the first measurement plate, and wherein the reference sample is under the first measurement plate.

2. A differential calorimeter according to claim 1, further comprising a fixed part configured to hold the container and including the first measurement plate and a moving part configured to be assembled above the fixed part and configured to open to allow the container to be placed on the fixed part.

3. A differential calorimeter according to claim 2, wherein the fixed part contains the reference sample and at least one reference plate.

4. A differential calorimeter according to claim 2, wherein the moving part comprises at least one reference plate and at least one measurement plate.

5. A differential calorimeter according to claim 1, further comprising Peltier elements affixed onto a side of each of the other measurement plates facing a respective reference plate.

6. A differential calorimeter according to claim 1, wherein each of the other measurement plates faces a different side of the container when the container is disposed on the first measurement plate.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Other characteristics and advantages will become clear after reading a preferred embodiment given as a non-limitative example with reference to the figures in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic view of a vertical section through the calorimeter according to this invention,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic view of a vertical section through the upper wall of the calorimeter according to this invention, and

(4) FIG. 3 shows a diagrammatic view of a vertical section through the lower part of the calorimeter according to this invention.

DETAILED PRESENTATION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS

(5) According to one preferred embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, the calorimeter comprises a fixed part PF and one or more moving parts PM, that once positioned on the fixed part form a containment to receive a container CT containing radioactive materials for which it is required to measure the heat flux.

(6) The elements of the calorimeter that are particularly interesting in the framework of the invention will be described below.

(7) The calorimeter comprises a measurement cell CM comprising a regulated thermal block BT, reference Peltier elements PR and measurement Peltier elements PM. The measurement cell comprises measurement plates PLM. The measurement cell also comprises heating elements CH and temperature sensors to regulate the thermal block. The thermal block is thus at a stable temperature potential.

(8) The calorimeter comprises a reference cell CR comprising reference plates PLR and a reference sample ER. The reference cell is hidden by the measurement cell.

(9) The lower part of the calorimeter forms the fixed part PF of the calorimeter. It comprises the reference sample ER, on which a reference plate PLR and a measurement plate PLM are mounted.

(10) The container reception containment is located above the fixed part. The containment is surrounded by the moving part PM, for example formed by two half-shells that open up so that the container can be put in position in the containment.

(11) Other structures of the fixed and moving parts are possible as a variant. For example, the fixed part may comprise the base and a side wall, while the moving part may comprise the other three side walls and the top wall.

(12) All the side walls and the top wall of the containment comprise the same elements.

(13) With reference to FIG. 2, the top wall is separated from the container CT by an air interface. Elements supported by the top wall are described below, starting from the inside and working towards the outside. Starting from this air interface, the top wall comprises a measurement plate PLM that receives heat released by the container by conduction, convection and radiation in air.

(14) The face of the measurement plate PLM that is not facing the container comprises studs P onto each of which measurement Peltier elements PM are fixed. The regulated thermal block BT is fixed to the measurement Peltier elements PM.

(15) The studs P and the measurement Peltier elements PM are around the periphery of the measurement plate PLM. A reference plate PLR is fixed to the reference Peltier elements PR, themselves fixed to the regulated thermal block BT, in a space located between the studs, the measurement plate PLM and the regulated thermal block BT. This reference plate is thus located behind the measurement plate from the container when the container is in the reception containment.

(16) An isolating layer CI separates the measurement plate PLM and the reference plate PLR. Thus, the reference plate PLR is not in direct contact with the container CT. The functions of the reference plate PLR are to: simulate the calorific mass of measurement plates, be in thermal contact with the regulated block, be isolated from heat originating from the container, as much as possible, measure heat fluxes due to regulation and disturbances.

(17) Finally, a heating element CH is fixed to the regulated thermal block BT.

(18) The side walls have the same elements as the top wall.

(19) With reference to FIG. 3, the bottom part of the calorimeter comprises a measurement plate PLM on which the container is placed. Therefore, there is contact between the container CT and the measurement plate PLM.

(20) Elements in the bottom part of the calorimeter are described below, from the inside towards the outside. Measurement Peltier elements PM are fixed to the measurement plate PLM.

(21) A regulated thermal block BT is fixed to the measurement Peltier elements PM through one of its faces.

(22) Reference Peltier elements PR are fixed to the regulated thermal block BT on its face opposite the face on which the measurement Peltier elements PM are fixed.

(23) A reference plate PLR is fixed to the reference Peltier elements. This reference plate is thus located behind the measurement plate from the container when the container is in the reception containment.

(24) Finally, a reference sample ER is fixed to the reference plate PLR. The reference sample is thus under the container reception containment.

(25) The opening system is composed of removable half-shells sliding on precision rails. The rails make it possible to open the calorimeter using a secure electro-mechanical system. Once the two half-shells are separated, the container can easily be placed in the reception containment using a forklift truck.

(26) The size of the calorimeter is appropriate for the size of the containers in which the heat flux is to be measured.