US3881989A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of detecting a fuel element failure
Assignee: United States Department of Energy
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Filing: 1973-07-23
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Granted: 1975-05-06
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Expires: 1993-07-23
Abstract
Abstract A method for detecting a fuel element failure in a liquidsodium-cooled fast breeder reactor consists of equilibrating a sample of the coolant with a molten salt consisting of a mixture of barium iodide and strontium iodide - or other iodides whereby a large fraction of any radioactive iodine present in the liquid sodium coolant exchanges with the iodine present in the salt; separating the molten salt and sodium; if necessary, equilibrating the molten salt with nonradioactive sodium and separating the molten salt and sodium; and monitoring the molten salt for the presence of iodine, the presence of iodine indicating that the cladding of a fuel element has failed.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul Cohen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 22:15
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C17/00; G21C17/02; G21C17/04; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
63 words
A METHOD OF IDENTIFYING SMALL QUANTITIES OF RADIOACTIVE IODINE IN THE PRESENCE OF LARGE QUANTITIES OF RADIOACTIVE SODIUM COMPRISING EQUILIBRATING THE RADIOACTIVE SODIUM WITH A MOLTEN MIXTURE OF BARIUM IODIDE AND STRONTIUM IODIDE WHEREBY THE RADIOACTIVE IODINE PRESENT THEREIN EXCHANGES WITH THE IODINE PRESENT IN THE MOLTEN MIXTURE, REMOVING THE RADIOACTIVE SODIUM AND MONITORING THE MOLTEN MIXTURE FOR THE PRESENCE OF RADIOACTIVE IODINE.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
63 words
A METHOD OF IDENTIFYING SMALL QUANTITIES OF RADIOACTIVE IODINE IN THE PRESENCE OF LARGE QUANTITIES OF RADIOACTIVE SODIUM COMPRISING EQUILIBRATING THE RADIOACTIVE SODIUM WITH A MOLTEN MIXTURE OF BARIUM IODIDE AND STRONTIUM IODIDE WHEREBY THE RADIOACTIVE IODINE PRESENT THEREIN EXCHANGES WITH THE IODINE PRESENT IN THE MOLTEN MIXTURE, REMOVING THE RADIOACTIVE SODIUM AND MONITORING THE MOLTEN MIXTURE FOR THE PRESENCE OF RADIOACTIVE IODINE.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
67 words
A method of detecting a fuel element failure in a liquid-sodium-cooled fast breeder reactor comprising equilibrating a sample of the sodium coolant with a molten mixture of barium iodide and strontium iodide whereby any radioactive iodine in the sodium is accumulated in the molten salt by isotopic exchange, physically separating the sodium from the molten salt and monitoring the molten salt for the presence of radioactive iodine.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
67 words
A method of detecting a fuel element failure in a liquid-sodium-cooled fast breeder reactor comprising equilibrating a sample of the sodium coolant with a molten mixture of barium iodide and strontium iodide whereby any radioactive iodine in the sodium is accumulated in the molten salt by isotopic exchange, physically separating the sodium from the molten salt and monitoring the molten salt for the presence of radioactive iodine.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein a eutectic mixture of barium and strontium iodides is employed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 3 and including further equilibrating the molten salt with nonradioactive sodium whereby residual sodium radioactivity in the molten salt is in large part transferred to the sodium metal and physically removing the sodium metal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-05 | 1978-11-04 | 1979-05-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-05 | 1982-11-04 | 1983-05-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-05 | 1986-11-04 | 1987-05-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |