Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Method for annulus spacer detection in nuclear reactors
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Application No.: US15258469Application Date: 2016-09-07
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Publication No.: US10347384B2Publication Date: 2019-07-09
- Inventor: James M. King , Bruce A. W. Smith , Paul Feenstra
- Applicant: ATOMIC ENERGY OF CANADA LIMITED
- Applicant Address: CA Mississauga, Ontario
- Assignee: ATOMIC ENERGY OF CANADA LIMITED
- Current Assignee: ATOMIC ENERGY OF CANADA LIMITED
- Current Assignee Address: CA Mississauga, Ontario
- Agency: Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP
- Main IPC: G21C17/00
- IPC: G21C17/00 ; G21C17/06 ; G21C3/18 ; F16L7/00

Abstract:
The present invention provides an apparatus for detecting and/or repositioning annulus spacers used to maintain the position of a pressure tube within a calandria tube of a nuclear reactor. The method comprises the steps of: vibrationally isolating a section of the pressure tube; vibrating the wall of said pressure tube within said isolated section; detecting vibration of the wall at a minimum of two axial positions within said isolated sections; and detecting the reduction in vibration level of the wall at one or more of said axial positions in comparison to the remaining axial positions. The apparatus comprises a tool head to be inserted into the pressure tube, the tool head comprising a first end and a second and a clamping block m each of said ends. The clamping blocks are used to vibrationally isolate a section of the pressure tube located between said ends. The apparatus also comprises piezo-actuators operable to vibrate said pressure tube; and accelerometers used for measuring vibration of said pressure tube.
Public/Granted literature
- US20160379725A1 METHOD FOR ANNULUS SPACER DETECTION IN NUCLEAR REACTORS Public/Granted day:2016-12-29
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