Patent EP0054789A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0054789A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Spectral shift controlled nuclear reactor
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1981-12-04
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2001-12-04
Abstract
Abstract A spectral shift pressurized water reactor comprising apparatus (38) for inserting and withdrawing water displacer elements (40, 82) having differing neutron absorbing capabilities for selectively changing the watermoderator volume in the core (34) thereby changing the reactivity of the core. The displacer elements (40, 82) comprise substantially hollow cylindrical low neutron absorbing rods (40) and substantially hollow cylindrical thick walled stainless rods (82). Since the stainless steel displacer rods have greater neutron absorbing capability, they can effect greater reactivity change per rod. However, by arranging fewer stainless steel displacer rods (82) in a cluster, the reactivity worth of the stainless steel displacer rod cluster can be less than a low neutron absorbing displacer rod cluster.
Inventors
- 👤 William Ralph Carlson
- 👤 Eugene Joseph Piplica
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 12:47
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C7/00; G21C7/26; G21C7/27; B; B23; B23K; B23K26/00; B23K26/14; B23K26/1462; G21C7/06; G21C7/08; G21C7/10; G21C7/117; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
171 words
A spectral shift pressurized water nuclear reactor including a reactor vessel (22) having an inlet (26) and an outlet (28) for circulating a water coolant in heat transfer with a core (34) disposed therein, a plurality of fuel assemblies (32) disposed in said core for generating heat by nuclear fission, and a plurality of low neutron absorbing water displacer elements (40) arranged to be inserted into, or withdrawn from, said fuel assemblies (32), characterized in that medium neutron absorbing water displacer elements (82) having a greater reactivity worth than said low neutron absorbing water displacer elements (40) but having a reactivity worth less than control rods are arranged in said reactor to be inserted into, or withdrawn from, certain of said fuel assemblies (32), said low neutron absorbing displacer elements (40) and said medium neutron absorbing displacer elements (82) being adapted to displace water from said core (34) when said displacer elements (40, 82) are inserted into said fuel assemblies (32) thereby reducing the volume of water in said core (32).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
171 words
A spectral shift pressurized water nuclear reactor including a reactor vessel (22) having an inlet (26) and an outlet (28) for circulating a water coolant in heat transfer with a core (34) disposed therein, a plurality of fuel assemblies (32) disposed in said core for generating heat by nuclear fission, and a plurality of low neutron absorbing water displacer elements (40) arranged to be inserted into, or withdrawn from, said fuel assemblies (32), characterized in that medium neutron absorbing water displacer elements (82) having a greater reactivity worth than said low neutron absorbing water displacer elements (40) but having a reactivity worth less than control rods are arranged in said reactor to be inserted into, or withdrawn from, certain of said fuel assemblies (32), said low neutron absorbing displacer elements (40) and said medium neutron absorbing displacer elements (82) being adapted to displace water from said core (34) when said displacer elements (40, 82) are inserted into said fuel assemblies (32) thereby reducing the volume of water in said core (32).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A nuclear reactor according to claim 1, characterized in that said medium neutron absorbing water displacer elements (82) consist essentially of cylindrical metal rods.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A nuclear reactor according to claim 2, characterized in that said medium neutron absorbing water displacer elements (82) are thick-walled stainless steel substantially cylindrical metal rods.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
A nuclear reactor according to claim 3, characterized in that said medium neutron absorbing water displacer elements (82) are arranged in groups of 9 rods to be simultaneously inserted into, or withdrawn from, a single one of said fuel assemblies (34).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A nuclear reactor according to claim 4, characterized in that said medium neutron absorbing displacer elements (82) are arranged to be disposed in a diagonal array within said fuel assemblies.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A nuclear reactor according to claim 5, characterized in that said displacer elements (82) are arranged in a cruciform-like arrangement in said assemblies (34).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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