Patent US3719555A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3719555A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Irradiation test facility
Assignee: General Electric Co
•
Filing: 1968-10-18
•
Granted: 1973-03-06
•
Expires: 1988-10-18
Abstract
Abstract A test facility for use with a nuclear reactor to test instruments, fuel samples, etc., in a reactor environment under varying conditions is disclosed. This facility includes an insulated, gamma ray heated, pressurized boiler and reflux condenser system to provide an inherently stable temperature control system. Thus, the test environment may be varied with respect to temperature and pressure. In addition, test samples may be subjected to a boiling water environment, closely duplicating conditions in the core of a boiling water type power reactor.
Inventors
- 👤 G Davis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 18:27
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C1/00; G21C1/30; G21C1/303; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
228 words
An irradiation test facility for high temperature use disposed within a nuclear reactor having a reactor pressure vessel, comprising: a. a plurality of tubular means extending from an accessible position external to a vessel wall surrounding the nuclear reactor through a water containing space between the vessel wall and the nuclear reactor to a position adjacent a nuclear chain reacting core of the nuclear reactor and external to the reactor pressure vessel; b. means permitting samples to be inserted into the plurality of tubular means; c. irradiation chamber means enclosing a portion of at least some of the plurality of tubular means and receiving radiation from the nuclear chain reacting core; d. pressure tube means containing water surrounding a portion of at least some of the tubular means in a pressure tight connection including the portion of the tubular means enclosed in the irradiation chamber means, with the portion of the pressure tube means enclosed in the irradiation chamber means acting as a boiler to provide a stable selected temperature in the tubular means, and with a portion of the pressure tube means removed from the irradiation chamber means acting as a condenser; and e. means to vary pressure in said pressure tube means whereby the temperature in said pressure tube means and in the portion of said plurality of tubular means adjacent said core may be varied.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
228 words
An irradiation test facility for high temperature use disposed within a nuclear reactor having a reactor pressure vessel, comprising: a. a plurality of tubular means extending from an accessible position external to a vessel wall surrounding the nuclear reactor through a water containing space between the vessel wall and the nuclear reactor to a position adjacent a nuclear chain reacting core of the nuclear reactor and external to the reactor pressure vessel; b. means permitting samples to be inserted into the plurality of tubular means; c. irradiation chamber means enclosing a portion of at least some of the plurality of tubular means and receiving radiation from the nuclear chain reacting core; d. pressure tube means containing water surrounding a portion of at least some of the tubular means in a pressure tight connection including the portion of the tubular means enclosed in the irradiation chamber means, with the portion of the pressure tube means enclosed in the irradiation chamber means acting as a boiler to provide a stable selected temperature in the tubular means, and with a portion of the pressure tube means removed from the irradiation chamber means acting as a condenser; and e. means to vary pressure in said pressure tube means whereby the temperature in said pressure tube means and in the portion of said plurality of tubular means adjacent said core may be varied.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The test facility according to claim 1 further including means permitting liquid to be introduced into at least one of said plurality of tubular means and means to vary pressure within said at least one of said plurality of tubular means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
The test facility according to claim 1 wherein the pressure tube means comprises at least one gamma ray heated, thermally insulated, partially liquid filled pressure tube enclosing at least one of said plurality of tubular means and an extension of said pressure tube within said water containing space iS disposed in heat exchanging relationship with water in said water containing space.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
The test facility according to claim 1 further including detachable thermal expansion accommodating joints at a point between the accessible position external to the vessel wall surrounding the nuclear reactor and the position adjacent the nuclear chain reacting core, which joints permit said facility to be separated into two parts for removal from the reactor region.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The test facility according to claim 1 including at least two of said pressure tube means each of which surrounds at least two tubular means and means permitting the maintenance of different temperature and pressure conditions in each pressure tube means and in each tubular means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3250684A
Cited
GB1087507A
Cited
US3140980A
Cited
GB944049A
Cited
US3144392A
Cited
US3276963A
Cited
US3238107A
Cited
US3290220A
Cited
US3412250A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-05 | 1976-09-04 | 1977-03-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-05 | 1980-09-04 | 1981-03-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-05 | 1984-09-04 | 1985-03-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |