DE2005767A1 - Device for. Output of consecutive row signals to a plurality of m rows with n elements per row - Google Patents

Description

DIPL.-ING.

Patent attorney

4 Düsseldorf 1 Schadowplatz 9

Düsseldorf, February 7, 1970

.Westinghouse Electric Corporation
Pittsburgh, Pa., V. St. A.

Device for delivering successive row signals to a plurality of m rows with η elements per row

The present invention relates to a system for delivering signals to move in either forward or reverse directions adjust the location of a plurality of rows of elements such as nuclear reactor control rods, the rows each up to η Elements included.

The present invention is related to those assigned to the same applicant as the present application concurrent patent applications

, with the titles "Circuit arrangement for controlling the current flow from a three-phase energy source to a plurality of groups of consumer elements", "Circuit arrangement for controlling the supply of the direct current supplied by a three-phase energy source to a group of consumer elements" and "Circuit arrangement for emitting periodic pulse Control signals to elements in a plurality of rows with from one to n _max elements ".

The sequential insertion or removal a plurality of elements is necessary in a nuclear reactor control rod system to control the operation of a nuclear reactor it is common knowledge to have rows of control bars in sequence

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Telephone (0211) 3308 68 Telegrams Cuetopst

to retract or withdraw according to the desired output power of the nuclear reactor. The output power of the Reactor increased when removing control rods, while when Retraction of the control rods into the reactor is lowered.

Typically the control bars are in a plurality of rows arranged with a number of groups each containing one or more rods. When the output power of the reactor increases is to be, the bars of a row are sequentially shifted one after the other, i. i.e., there will be a first row of bars withdrawn gradually or incrementally from the reactor, and others Bars are then deducted when more power is required. In general, it is preferred to start with the other rows before the first row has been fully extended.

Each rod is raised gradually by means of a known lifting mechanism postponed. Such a lifting mechanism is described in U.S. Patent 3 158 766 (Frisch). Furthermore, a brief description of the operation of such a lifting mechanism is given in FIG aforementioned, concurrent patent application given.

Since each row contains one or more bars or groups of bars, these rods or groups of rods when retracting or withdrawing a row are each individually step-by-step in the desired Moving direction. When moving a row upwards a step is accordingly first the first rod or the first group of rods, then the second rod (group), the third bar (group) etc. moved until the last bar or the last group of bars has been moved one step further are. If the direction of the rods is changed, the rod (group of rods) that moves last before the direction of change must be the one be moved first in the opposite direction when a change of direction is specified. This is necessary to ensure the correct mutual assignment of the rods within the reactor and the desired control over operation dos

009836/1364

- 3 -
To maintain the reactor.

Current nuclear reactors typically use two rows of rods and then an electromechanical unit for Control of the successive adjustment of the rows used. In short, such control units consist of two reversible, three-decade electromechanical counters. The first counter pays the steps performed by the first row of taxes, while the second counter counts the steps performed by the second row of controls. When the output power of the reactor is to be increased, the first row of steering or control rods is adjusted in sequence. The second row of control rods is adjusted in sequence after the first row has carried out n-incremental steps and the first row becomes stopped after the second row has completed n "steps. To reduce the power output by the nuclear reactor, the first row of controls is adjusted in the opposite direction, i. H. the Rods retracted when the second row n "from the maximum retracted State of the second row has executed, and the second control row is stopped when the first control row η steps from the point at which the first row of controls was maximally retracted. This overlap of the rows are provided to allow for the desired control over the incremental change in radioactivity within the reactor care for.

These latter row adjustment systems have different ones Disadvantage. On the one hand, because of their electromechanical structure, they all have the disadvantages associated with such electromechanical systems are connected. For example, they are relatively bulky, unreliable, and also have a proportionate long response time. On the other hand, the current systems require a three-decade up / down counter per row. For today's nuclear reactor systems with four or more rows, four such meters would be required. After all, it is with the current ones Systems also possible that, under certain conditions, disturbances in the correct mutual alignment of the rods or

009836/1364

Groups of rods within the two rows come when the Direction is changed in the event that the first and second control rows are n or n "steps away from the state in which they were maximally retracted. This is a particularly undesirable disadvantage, particularly in a four-way system or more rows.

The object of the present invention is therefore to create a device for adjusting one after the other, which works particularly reliably and can easily be adapted to any number of rows with elements or rods.

To solve this problem a device for dispensing consecutive Row signals to a plurality of m rows with η elements per row, for which each element of a group is stepwise is periodically displaceable, characterized according to the invention, that they have a signal counter which is responsive to cumulative incremental changes in the rows and these in the process counts, an adjustable signal decoding device responsive to selected, predetermined states of the signal counting device for outputting signals corresponding to the selected states and a first corresponding to the selected states Signal responsive device for the delivery of successive Has row signals.

In this arrangement there is a single up / down counter which is responsive to the cumulative number of changes in position of the rows. Corresponding to the cumulative steps Signals are provided by a logic stage which is responsive to first and last pulses, which are the first and the last assigned to each incremental step moving rod. The adjustable decoder responds to specified counter status signals corresponding to the times at which the sequential switching on of the rows began and should be terminated. The adjustable decoder delivers signals at these times, which then reach a controlled switching stage, which in accordance with the signals of the

009836/1364

adjustable decoder as well as in accordance with a Signal given by the logic stage and the direction as well as the previous direction of the control rod movement

after
indicates which is providing series / successive series signals.

The invention is described below using an exemplary embodiment in conjunction with the associated drawing. In the Drawing show:

Fig. 1 shows the mutual assignment of the one another

following adjustment of the rows and the output power in a nuclear reactor;

Figure 2 shows a sequential dispensing system

successive series signals according to the invention;

3 schematically shows the successive shifts

exercise of the bars or groups of bars within a control row, Fig. 3A, 3B and 3C different rod settings for a number of rods or groups of Illustrate rods;

4A and 4B show the mutual assignment of bars or

Groups of bars in two different rows of elements;

5 shows a shown in Boolean algebra

Functional diagram of the logic level of the Fig. 2 to prevent a disturbance in the mutual correct alignment of the groups within the ranks; and

Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of the controlled

Switching stage.

009836/13 ^ 4

Specifically, in Figure 1, the horizontal axis of the graph corresponds to the cumulative total number of steps performed by all of the m rows of the reactor. Thus, if row one and row two each take one step, the cumulative total is still only one step. The greater the number of steps performed, the greater the output power of the reactor. The vertical direction indicates the number of steps taken for each row. At the beginning, the output power of the nuclear reactor is zero or the minimum size. To increase the output of the reactor, the row one rods are incrementally withdrawn as shown. When row one has advanced S-steps, the trigger movement of row two begins so that the output of the reactor continues to increase. When the cumulative number of executed steps reaches the value Sp, the sequential shifting of the elements of the row one is ended. With counter status 3 "the peeling movement of row three begins, with S. row two is stopped, and with S_ the peeling movement of row four begins. As can be seen, the withdrawal movement of the row m begins in a system with m rows with the counter state S _{0 o} .

In order to reduce the output power of the reactor, the successive displacement of the control rods is carried out in the opposite direction. When the counter reaches the state S _n o, the row m is stopped. Row four is stopped when the counter reaches state 3, -, row two starts moving in at S., row three is stopped at S ~, row one starts moving in with S ', and row becomes two stopped at S-.

With Fig. 2, a system is illustrated, with the help of which the One after the other, shift the control rods accordingly Fig. 1 can be made. A logic stage 10 outputs two output signals F to an up / down counter 12 and R down. The signal F causes the counter 12 to count in the forward direction, this direction being a removal of the control rods in one

009836/1364

Nuclear reactor control rod system, and the signal R leaves count the counter 12 in the reverse direction, this counting direction corresponding to the entry of the bars into a control bar system. The logic stage 10 determines by receiving two input pulses P_ and P_ when a row is leading a step. These Impulses are assigned to the movement of the first and last rod (group) in each row. Because the counter only shows the cumulative number counts the steps executed by the rows, the pulses P_ and Ρ- only need to be assigned to one of the shifted rows since a shift by one step for more than one row still leads to a further counting step of the counter 12.

For a nuclear reactor control rod system, the pulses P _n and P "

U Jc

preferably the actual start signals for the first and last bars or groups of bars which are shifted in sequence within a row. A system for delivering these pulses is described in the co-pending patent application mentioned at the beginning. The forward and backward signals F and R are emitted as a function of the signal which acts on the logic stage 10 and determines the direction of the successive progression. Di ?! Determination of the times for the delivery of these impulses result: i ^ an v ^ cit, ttnteu in the manner described in detail.

Each of a plurality of adjustable decoders 14 is responsive to a particular counter value or state. Each state is selected according to the points in time at which the successive shifting of the bars of the rows should begin or end. The corresponding decoder output signals S ₁ , S ₂ , S ₃ ... S _{2m- 2>} where m is equal to the number of rows in the system, correspond to points S ₁ to S _{0 o} of FIG Decoding device for performing the aforementioned function is formed by a thumbwheel switch decoding device, as is generally known in digital decoding technology, which can be adjusted by hand and emits an output signal according to the states of a binary-coded decimal counter.

009836/1364

BATH ORIGINAL

-S-

The signals S ₁ to S _{2m 2} reach a controlled switching stage 16. The controlled switching stage 16 is also acted upon by a control signal C from the logic stage 10 and a control signal likewise emanating from the logic stage 10. The control signal and the control signal C are used to _{switch the signals S 1} to S ₂ 2 by the controlled switching stage 16. The control signal C is related to the direction in which the rows are sequentially shifted and plays a very important role the prevention of disturbances in the mutual correct alignment of the bars. Its function is also explained in detail below.

The controlled switching stage 16 contains a number of binary Flip-flops that are activated and reset by the signals S- to S "2 when the correct control signal and control signal are present C the various signals for the sequential one Provide adjustment of a plurality of m rows. Details on this are also explained below.

A manual bridging or shunt unit 18, when actuated by a manually triggered input signal 20, supplies the controlled switching stage 16 with a signal which enables manual control of the series signals. At the same time, the controlled switching stage 16 gives a blocking signal '; to logic level 10, through which their automatic functions are made ineffective. A display unit 22 can provide a visual indication of the signal count in the counter 12. If the counter 12 is, for example, a three-decade counter, the display 22 would also be designed as a three-decade display unit.

The forward output signal delivered by the logic stage 10 to the counter 12 F or reverse output signal R and that Steuerigna ', C, which is either a binary; EFIS or 3in binary ZERO signal is carried out in accordance with the following work instructions submitted for logical level 10:

009836/1364

BATH

Working instruction 1 - every time a step forward in the forward direction should take place and the last before the pulse P " received pulse a P. ~ -pulse v / ar, together with a P "-pulse an F-pulse delivered.

The reason for this rule results from FIG. 3, which shows a group of η rod elements in partial diagram 3A, all of which are located on stage 102 of row one, which is also stage 102 of counter 12 at the same time. When the row one rods are being run into a nuclear reactor, the counter 12 would count down. During the transition from level or level 102 to level or level 101, the never bar would first drop by an incremental step, then bar n-1, etc., up to bar 1. The state of counter 12 is only then decreased when the stick 1 has been advanced by one step. The counter thus only changes from state 102 to state 101 when all bars are in the position shown in FIG. 3B.

If the advancing direction were now reversed, <* :, h, if the bars were to be withdrawn, an F-pulse would be sent to the counter 12 in accordance with regulation 1, since the last one before the element-pulse P-, (corresponding to the Bar n) recorded pulse was a P ₀ pulse (corresponding to bar 1).

If the direction were reversed by a further step according to Fig. SC after retracting the rod η, no F-pulse would be emitted when the rod η is withdrawn by one step, as the last before ut ·; *. * Change of direction given impulse no! »^« Lflpula was, a lot / ne.; - " ¹ would de? ¹ regulation 1 not suffice, elu * a rod η would have reached the level of Fig. 3A, ie" h ", an F-signal would only be given _; if the last one received before P ₁ ; ai! UM; e Tinr »ul & Mr, F, -impulse *, if this rule does not apply, it can be seen that if a Change of direction from the backward direction into the forward direction at a point in time when the rods are in the position shown in FIG. 3C, the warrior from state 101

009836 / 136.4

BATH ORIGINAL

-ΙΟ- would go into state 102, although the bars are actually are in state lOl. The F-pulse is not in this case given before the next following P -pulse occurs.

Working instruction 2 - Every time a command for switching backwards is given and the last pulse _{received before the pulse P Q} was a P pulse, an R pulse is emitted together with a P pulse.

This regulation is the counterpart to regulation 1. As a result incorrect counting by the counter 12 is prevented when working in the reverse direction.

Working instruction 3 - In the event of a transition from the forward to the reverse direction, the control signal C is switched from the state ONE to reduced the status ZERO.

(a) This happens immediately if the last pulse signal received was a P _, - pulse;

(b) This change takes place after the next P _o pulse if the last signal received by the logic stage IO was a P _o pulse.

The reason for the last working instruction is as follows. The controlled switching stage 16 must know whether it is advanced in the forward or reverse direction. If the signal S _{1 is given} at the counter state 100, the controlled switching stage 16 provides a signal for the row two when the bars are withdrawn, ie when advancing in the forward direction, but lets the signal for row two disappear when the bars are retracted , ie is advanced in the reverse direction. The controlled switching stage 16 must therefore be supplied with information both with regard to the history of the direction of movement of the control rod system and the direction of movement now desired. This is the function of the control signal output by logic stage 10.

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BATH ORIGINAL

In the event that when transitioning from the forward to the reverse direction last a Pj, pulse was received, will be accordingly of working instruction 3 (a) above, the signal C is obtained directly from a binary indicating the working in the forward direction. ONE state changed to a binary ZERO state indicating that it is working in the reverse direction. If accordingly to the Point in time at which the pulling process of the bars turns into a drive-in process should pass, all bars are on the same Mveati, then the signal C goes from the state ONE to the state Zero over.

If the working direction of the system is reversed for the case

on
Since some of the rods are to be on one level and some on another level, working instruction 3 (a) is no longer applicable, since this can lead to disturbances in the correct alignment. This is best illustrated with reference to Figures 4Λ and 4B. In Fig. 4Λ the number of movement steps of row one is shown with the control sticks. In Fig. 4B, the number of times the row two of the control rods were moved is shown. The progression d * ---- row two begins when an S signal is emitted, i.e. In when the counter 12 is in the state 100 and the control signal C is in its will, "- 2astiinc. For example, when the system advances in forward direction and the transition to reverse direction to that illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B Time occurs, with the bars 1 of the two rows one and two are on levels 101 and 1, respectively, the counter takes, since it is until the delivery of the last pulse P ^ ₁ , ie when the last bar P on the next level goes over, at the point in time at which the reverse direction is to be switched on, state 100, so that a signal S _{1 is} supplied to the controlled switching stage 16. If the controlled switching stage 16 receives a control signal C with the value ZERO at this point in time, thus the supply of signals for row two would be terminated immediately, since switching stage 16 terminated the signals for row two at a counter state of 100 and a value of ZERO for signal C. This would be done thus lead to the alignment of the rod 1 of the row two

009836/1364

BAD ORKBiNAL

get lost.

On the basis of working rule 3 (b), the possibility of such a misalignment is eliminated by delaying the transition of the control signal C from the state ONE to the state ZERO until after the receipt of the next pulse P _n , when the last from logic stage 10 signal received before a change of direction was a P ^ pulse. This working instruction also covers the case in which the bars of the rows are indexed forward in the forward direction, then stopped and finally indexed in the reverse direction, as well as all other situations for which the correct mutual alignment could be disturbed when changing from the forward to the backward direction .

Working instruction 4 - For a transition from reverse to In the forward direction, the control signal C is transferred from the state ZERO to the state ONE.

(a) Immediately if the last pulse received by logic stage 10 was a P _n pulse;

(b) After the next P _F pulse signal, if the last one from

of the logic level 10 recorded pulse a P_ pulse

was.

This last working instruction is the counterpart to the working instruction 3. It prevents misalignment when advancing from reverse a transition is made to the forward advancing direction.

The logic level 10 carries out the functions specified by the above work instructions. On the basis of these working instructions, those skilled in the field of digital logic switching technology can build a logic stage 10 with the aid of suitable logic elements such as AND, OR and NOT (inversion) gates.

009836/1364

ORIGINAL BATHROOM

Figure 5 illustrates, using Boolean algebra expressions, a suitable embodiment of logic level 10 to perform the functions required in accordance with the aforementioned regulations. The logic stage is an asynchronous follow-up circuit because it contains secondary internal signals F ₁ and F ₀ , where

(1) F- are defined with function block 30 and F ₀ with function block 32,

(2) DIR a forward signal provided to logic stage 10 indicates

(3) fj a feedback signal from the output of function block 30 to the inputs of blocks 30, 32 and 40 after is a time delay caused by the time delay stage 34,

(4) f _{o is} a feedback signal from the output of function block 32 to the inputs of blocks 30, 3C, 40 and 42 after a time delay through a timing stage 36,

(5) a slash over a symbol or combination of symbols or an apostrophe after a combination of '' hammers enclosed. Symbols indicates a negation, d, iu the absence of such a signal, and

(6) the other symbols have been previously defined,

The input finals V ^ _f P "after passing through a Sjierrstufe 45 as well as the control signal DIR in the illustrated ^T '/ iron to the function blocks: 30, 32 and to the function block 42, which emits the output signal C. In addition, the signals DIR and Pp are sent to the function block 38, which supplies the output signal F, and finally the signals DIR and P are sent to the function block 40, which supplies the output signal R,

009836/1364

With Fig. 6 are details of a suitable controlled switching stage 16 for a four-row system. The control signal C and the control signal are fed to a switching stage 50, which via Connections 52 and 54 emits forward and reverse signals, respectively. Since the control signal C is either a binary ONE or ZERO signal the forward signal is output when C has the binary value ONE, while the reverse signal is output when the Control signal C has the binary value ZERO if a control signal is made available.

The connection 52 is at the inputs of AND gates 56, 57, 58, 59, 60 and 61. Accordingly, the backward connection 54 is at the inputs of AND gates 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 and 67. At In a four-row system there are six adjustable decoders 14 (FIG. 2) which output the same number of selected signals rL-Ty. The signal S- v / ird the inputs of the AND gates 57 and G3, the signal S _{3 to} the inputs of the AND gates 56 and 62, the signal S ₀ ds η inputs of the AND gates 59 and 65, the signal S den Inputs of AND gates 58 and 64, signal S _{5 to} the inputs of AND gates 61 and 67 and signal S _{g to} the inputs of AND gates 60 and 66.

The output signals of AND gates 62 and 56 switch a first binary flip-flop 70. The outputs of AND gates 57 and 64 toggle a second binary flip-flop 72, which is toggled back by means of the outputs at AND gates 63 and 5 ". The outputs of AND gates 53 and 6G switch a binary flip-flop 74, while the outputs the AND gates 65 and 30 reset the flip-flop 74. The outputs of the AND gates Gl and 67 switch a fourth flip-flop 76 or reset it.

After switching, the flip-flop 70 provides an output signal for row one, the flip-flop 72 an output signal for row two, flip-flop 74 is an output for row three and flip-flop 76 is an output for row four. By a reset signal the corresponding row output signal for one of the flip-flops is terminated.

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BATH ORIGINAL

To initiate the series signal sequence in the forward direction, the A signal is applied to connection 78. This signal resets flip-flops 72, 74 and 76 and switches flip-flop 70, so that it gives an output for row one. The rest of the sequence for forward or backward direction can be summarize with the table below:

Forward direction Signal decoder flip-flop

See circuit 72

5 ₂ Provision 70

5 ₃ circuit 74

5 ₄ Provision 72

5 ₅ Circuit 76

S _r reset 74

Row signal

Row Two - ON Row One - OFF Row Three - ON Row Two - OFF Row Four - ON Row Three - OFF

Reverse direction signal decoder flip-flop

^S 6 Circuit 74 ^S 5 Provision 76 ^S 4 Circuit 72 ^S 3 Provision 74 ^S 2 Circuit 70 Provision 72

Row signal

Row three - ON Row four - OFF Row two -SIN Row three - OFF Row one - ON Row two - OFF

Patent claims:

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Claims (12)

Godfather a η s ρ r ü c he ./Device for delivering successive row signals to a plurality of m rows with η elements per row, for which each element of a group can be periodically shifted step by step, characterized in that it has a signal counting device which responds to cumulative step-by-step changes in the rows and this counts, an adjustable signal decoding device responsive to selected, predetermined conditions of the .Signalzzählinrichtung for outputting signals corresponding to the selected conditions and a first device, responsive to the selected conditions corresponding signals, for outputting successive series signals W. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by a second device which is responsive to the first and last pulses, corresponding to the incremental movement of the first and last elements of each row during each incremental row movement to provide cumulative incremental row change signals, and by doing so last Element moved prior to a reduction in the advance direction moved as the first element after a change in the advance direction will. . 3 «device according to claim 2, characterized in that the The second device also emits a control signal to the first device, and in doing so to prevent misalignment the elements are supplied with information regarding the direction of progression. 4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the control signal is at least either a first or a second Binary number is. 009836 / 136A BAD CRiQfNAL 5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the Change of the control signal from a first binary number to a second binary number when a command is issued to transfer the Reverse direction in forward direction immediately when the command to change direction is issued, if this was last done by the pulse signal picked up by the second device is a first pulse signal, but after the next last pulse signal occurs when the last pulse signal recorded by the second device was a last pulse signal, 6. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the Control signal is either immediately from when a command is issued to transition from forward to reverse switching direction a second binary number changes to a first binary number when the command to change direction is issued, if that is the last The pulse signal picked up by the second device was a last pulse signal, or after the next first pulse signal, provided that the last pulse signal picked up by the second device is a first pulse signal was. 7. Device according to one or more of claims 2-6, characterized characterized that the cumulative incrementalou row change signals contain first binary signals for counting up and second binary signals for counting down. 8. The device according to claim 7 for preventing incorrect counter states, characterized in that the first binary signal is emitted as a function of each last pulse signal, if the command to advance in the forward direction is given and the last signal supplied before the end pulse signal was a first impulse signal. 9. Apparatus according to claim 7 or ß to prevent false counter states, characterized in that the second binary signal is delivered as a function of each first pulse signal when the command for Fex ^{1 1} circuit in 'i'iok-vXrtsrichtung 009836/1364 BATH ORIGINAL is given and the last supplied before the first pulse Impulse signal was a last impulse signal, 10. Device according to one or more of claims 2-9, characterized by means for selectively locking the second device and manually actuating the first Device for the delivery of series signals. 11. Device according to one or more of claims 2-10, characterized by a device for outputting an output display of the respective status of the counter. 12. The device according to one or more of claims 1-11, characterized characterized in that the adjustable signal decoder means a predetermined number of selected states outputs corresponding signals in accordance with the plurality of the m rows of elements. 009836 / 136A