Method of replacing cesium trap and cesium trap assembly thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11152127-B2
Application number	US-201816498665-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 29, 2018
Priority date	Mar 29, 2017
Publication date	Oct 19, 2021
Grant date	Oct 19, 2021

Abstract

A method for replacing a cesium trap includes freezing the cesium trap which partially contains cesium and is located within a shielded cell and. The cesium trap is then decoupled and removed from the shielded cell. A second cesium trap is inserted into the shielded cell and attached to the shielded cell.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of replacing a cesium trap, the method comprising:
freezing a first cesium trap at least partially containing cesium therein, wherein the first cesium trap is located within a shielded cell;
decoupling the first cesium trap from the shielded cell, wherein decoupling the first cesium trap comprises remotely decoupling a cell anchor extending from the shielded cell from a trap anchor extending from the first cesium trap, and wherein remotely decoupling the cell anchor from the trap anchor comprises removing a connection member that couples the cell anchor extending from the shielded cell to the trap anchor extending from the first cesium trap;
removing the first cesium trap from the shielded cell;
inserting a second cesium trap into the shielded cell; and
attaching the second cesium trap to the shielded cell.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein decoupling the first cesium trap further comprises at least one of:
remotely decoupling the first cesium trap from a sodium processing circuit; and
remotely disconnecting electrical power and instrument control attachments extending between the first cesium trap and the shielded cell.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein remotely decoupling the first cesium trap from a sodium processing circuit comprises:
crimping at least one sodium line extending from the first cesium trap; and
cutting the at least one sodium line adjacent the crimped portion such that a first portion of the at least one sodium line extends from a top portion of the first cesium trap and a second portion of the at least one sodium line remains part of the sodium processing circuit.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein remotely disconnecting electrical power and instrument control attachments comprises unplugging at least one of an electrical power attachment and an instrument control attachment from a corresponding receiver disposed on a top portion of the first cesium trap.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the connection member is at least one of a pin and a bolt.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein removing the first cesium trap comprises:
releasably coupling the first cesium trap to a lifting tool; and
lifting, via the lifting tool, the first cesium trap out of the shielded cell such that a base of the first cesium trap slidably disengages with at least one locating pin extending from a bottom of the shielded cell.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein lifting the first cesium trap separates a cooling line inlet extending from the first cesium trap from a fixed cooling line extending from the shielded cell.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein releasably coupling the first cesium trap to a lifting tool comprises rotating and lifting at least one hook of the lifting tool into a corresponding lifting eye disposed on the first cesium trap.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein inserting the second cesium trap comprises:
releasably coupling the second cesium trap to a lifting tool, wherein the lifting tool includes at least one hook and the second cesium trap includes at least one corresponding lifting eye;
placing, via the lifting tool, the second cesium trap into the shielded cell;
aligning a base of the second cesium trap with at least one locating pin extending from a bottom of the shielded cell; and
lowering the base of the second cesium trap onto the at least one locating pin.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein lowering the second cesium trap slidably couples a cooling line inlet extending from the second cesium trap to a fixed cooling line extending from the shielded cell.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein attaching the second cesium trap comprises at least one of:
coupling a cell anchor extending from the shielded cell to a trap anchor extending from the second cesium trap forming at least one lateral support anchor extending between the first cesium trap and the shielded cell;
welding at least one first sodium line extending from the second cesium trap to at least one second sodium line extending from a sodium processing circuit; and
connecting electrical power and instrument control attachments via plugging the attachments into a corresponding receiver disposed on a top portion of the second cesium trap.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first cesium trap contains a predetermined amount of cesium and the second cesium trap contains no amount of cesium.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the shielded cell is an individualized shielded cell.

14. A method of replacing a cesium trap, the method comprising:
freezing a first cesium trap at least partially containing cesium therein, wherein the first cesium trap is located within a shielded cell;
decoupling the first cesium trap from the shielded cell;
removing the first cesium trap from the shielded cell, wherein removing the first cesium trap comprises:
releasably coupling the first cesium trap to a lifting tool; and
lifting, via the lifting tool, the first cesium trap out of the shielded cell such that a base of the first cesium trap slidably disengages with at least one locating pin extending from a bottom of the shielded cell, wherein lifting the first cesium trap separates a cooling line inlet extending from the first cesium trap from a fixed cooling line extending from the shielded cell;
inserting a second cesium trap into the shielded cell; and
attaching the second cesium trap to the shielded cell.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein decoupling the first cesium trap comprises at least one of:
remotely decoupling a cell anchor extending from the shielded cell from a trap anchor extending from the first cesium trap;
remotely decoupling the first cesium trap from a sodium processing circuit; and
remotely disconnecting electrical power and instrument control attachments extending between the first cesium trap and the shielded cell.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein remotely decoupling the cell anchor from the trap anchor comprises removing a connection member that couples the cell anchor extending from the shielded cell to the trap anchor extending from the first cesium trap.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the connection member is at least one of a pin and a bolt.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein remotely decoupling the first cesium trap from a sodium processing circuit comprises:
crimping at least one sodium line extending from the first cesium trap; and
cutting the at least one sodium line adjacent the crimped portion such that a first portion of the at least one sodium line extends from a top portion of the first cesium trap and a second portion of the at least one sodium line remains part of the sodium processing circuit.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein remotely disconnecting electrical power and instrument control attachments comprises unplugging at least one of an electrical power attachment and an instrument control attachment from a corresponding receiver disposed on a top portion of the first cesium trap.

20. The method of claim 14 , wherein releasably coupling the first cesium trap to a lifting tool comprises rotating and lifting at least one hook of the lifting tool into a corresponding lifting eye disposed on the first cesium trap.

21. The method of claim 14 , wherein inserting the second cesium trap comprises:
releasably coupling the second cesium trap to a lifting tool, wherein the lifting tool includes at least one hook and the second cesium trap includes at least one corresponding lifting eye;
placing, via the lifting tool, t

Assignees

• Terrapower Llc

Inventors

• Corbin Robert A
• Truax John E

Classifications

• Y02E30/30

  Nuclear fission reactors · CPC title

• G21C19/313 Primary

  using cold traps · CPC title

• G21C17/022

  for monitoring liquid coolants or moderators · CPC title

• Y02E30/00

  Energy generation of nuclear origin · CPC title