GB908130A - Improvements in or relating to charge-discharge arrangements for a gas-cooled heterogeneous nuclear reactor - Google Patents

Abstract

908,130. Servicing reactors. SIMONCARVES Ltd., and GENERAL ELECTRIC CO. Ltd. July 29, 1960 [Aug. 4, 1959], No. 26564/59. Class 39 (4). In a gas-cooled reactor of the type having fuel elements in channels in the moderator core it is arranged that the drop in gas pressure along a selected channel may be increased for the purpose of charging and discharging fuel elements into or from that channel. The channels may be horizontal or vertical and the pressure drop may be increased by a blower. As shown, a selected channel 2 is coupled to the extendible charge tube 7 of a travelling charge/ discharge vessel 5 and the pressure drop in the channel is increased by a blower 6 having a flexible connection with the pressure vessel 3. In use, an extendible chain is operated from the vessel 5 to engage the top fuel element in the channel and the blower 6 is operated to levitate the column of fuel elements, whereupon the chain is retracted and the column follows it, the column being finally secured in a magazine in the vessel 5. In a charging operation the chain pushes a fuel element column into a channel against the levitating force of the gas. To safeguard against failure of the blower during a fuel transfer operation the column of the vessel 5 may be made large enough to permit completion of the operation; alternatively, the vessel 5 may vent to a container 10 through a valve 8 and produce an adequate pressure differential across the channel. The arrangement permits pre-heating of the fuel elements about to be loaded into a channel without additional equipment. Specification 791,011 is referred to.