Irradiation target handling device for moving a target into a nuclear reactor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10755829-B2
Application number	US-201615210231-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 14, 2016
Priority date	Jul 14, 2016
Publication date	Aug 25, 2020
Grant date	Aug 25, 2020

Abstract

A device that will enable material to be irradiated as needed to produce a desired transmutation product inside the core of a nuclear reactor. The device provides a means for monitoring neutron flux in the vicinity of the material being irradiated to allow determination of the amount of transmutation product being produced. The device enables the irradiated material to be inserted into the reactor and held in place at desired axial positions and to be withdrawn from the reactor when desired without shutting down the reactor. The majority of the device may be re-used for subsequent irradiations. The device also enables the simple and rapid attachment of unirradiated target material to the portion of the device that transmits the motive force to insert and withdraw the target material into and out of the reactor and the rapid detachment of the irradiated material from the device for processing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An irradiation target handling device having an isotope production cable assembly comprising:
a drive cable configured for use with an existing nuclear reactor drive mechanism for cable drive systems configured to insert and withdraw sensors within nuclear reactor cores, wherein an interior of the drive cable comprises a signal lead; a self-powered radiation detector, wherein the self-powered radiation detector is spirally wound and wrapped around an axial length of the drive cable, wherein the self-powered radiation detector is located on the drive cable proximate one end of the drive cable that is designed to be inserted into a flux thimble in a core of a nuclear reactor, wherein the self-powered radiation detector comprises a length configured to provide a preselected signal output with a minimal axial length from end to end of the spiral such that the self-powered radiation detector provides an output indicative of reactor flux at a position of the self-powered radiation detector position in a reactor core to optimize an axial position of a target material supported by and proximate the one end of the drive cable;
a one of a female end or male end of a quick disconnect coupling attached to the one end of the drive cable; and
a target holder element cable assembly having another of the female end or male end of the quick disconnect coupling at one end of the target holder element cable assembly, configured to attach to and detach from the one of the female or male end attached to the one end of the drive cable, the target holder element cable assembly having a target material holder configured to hold the target material as the drive cable is inserted and withdrawn through the flux thimble.

2. The irradiation target handling device of claim 1 wherein the target holder element cable assembly comprises a hollow cylinder of metal mesh having a length configured to hold the target material within the confines of the flux thimble.

3. The irradiation target handling device of claim 2 wherein the target holder element assembly is constructed from a material having substantially no cobalt.

4. The irradiation target handling device of claim 2 wherein the metal mesh is configured to support the target material in traveling through the flux thimble.

5. The irradiation target handling device of claim 2 wherein the hollow cylinder comprises the quick disconnect coupling at one end and a cap at another end.

6. The irradiation target handling device of claim 5 wherein the cap is secured in place with a ring clamp.

7. The irradiation target handling device of claim 1 wherein the quick disconnect coupling is a ball clasp coupling.

8. The irradiation target handling device of claim 1 wherein the drive cable is constructed for use with a drive mechanism that is part of an existing in-core moveable detector system.

9. The irradiation target handling device of claim 1 wherein the self-powered radiation detector further comprises a signal output lead routed axially through an opening in the drive cable.

Assignees

• Westinghouse Electric Co Llc

Inventors

• Heibel Michael D
• Mcardle Matthew D

Classifications

• Y02E30/30

  Nuclear fission reactors · CPC title

• G21C17/108

  Measuring reactor flux · CPC title

• G21G1/02 Primary

  in nuclear reactors (by thermonuclear reactions G21B; conversion of nuclear fuel G21C) · CPC title

• G21C19/22

  Arrangements for obtaining access to the interior of a pressure vessel whilst the reactor is operating · CPC title

• G21C23/00

  Adaptations of reactors to facilitate experimentation or irradiation · CPC title