RU2722603C1 - Nondestructive test protective chamber - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: flaw detection; nuclear technology.SUBSTANCE: invention relates to nuclear engineering and can be used for non-destructive testing of irradiated articles of various dimensions, of arbitrary shape. For non-destructive examination using irradiated articles of any dimensions, as well as increasing intensity of performed investigations, reducing the area occupied by the chamber, the non-destructive inspection chamber is provided, which includes interconnected boxes horizontally, which are attached tightly to the reactor housing, wherein the first box has an opening closed by a movable shutter connected to the horizontal channel of the reactor, on the opposite wall of which there is a neutron trap perpendicular to the neutron beam, inside the box there is a table, on the table top of which there are overhead tracks, it is equipped with corresponding clamping-turning device, which enables to fix and turn various products around its axis by 360 degrees, and a radiation-protective door connecting the first box to the second one, the third box - an operator's box with a viewing system, containing an isolated process gate connected to the first side and closing with a stepped gate.EFFECT: technical effect: broader functional capabilities.3 cl, 1 dwg

Description

The invention relates to the field of nuclear engineering and can be used for non-destructive testing of irradiated products of various sizes, arbitrary shapes.

Known vertical protective chamber (Patent RU No. 2112288, G21F 7/00), containing isolated from each other located vertically radiation-protective boxes equipped with technological equipment. The cutting box for highly active structures is located in the lower part of the mine working area and is equipped with a vertical guide channel passing through the boxes located above, containing the transfer locks. The camera can be used at existing nuclear power plants to carry out technological operations with full-scale high-active structures, for example, with fuel assemblies and in the industrial production of sealed sources of ionizing radiation for general technical and medical purposes.

The disadvantage of the chamber is that it cannot carry out post-reactor non-destructive studies of the state of assemblies and individual products with high gamma activity, with the possibility of returning these assemblies and products to the active zones of reactors for subsequent irradiation.

Horizontal protective chambers are known (S. N. Votinov, V. P. Goltsev and other Radiation solid state physics and reactor materials science. M: Atomizdat, 1970, pp. 7-16.), Located in a specially constructed complex of buildings, consisting of from a chain of radiation-protected rooms and boxes located horizontally, one after another. The cameras are used to conduct studies of the physical and mechanical properties of structural materials. Cameras of this type are designed to carry out destructive research methods, mainly of a purely metallurgical direction, they work only with products of small sizes and activity.

The following operations with highly active structures can be carried out in these chambers: acceptance, storage, cutting products into parts, processing, X-ray diffraction, metallographic analysis, determination of changes in mechanical and physical properties in structural and fuel materials.

The disadvantages of such protective chambers are the inability to carry out operations with channels of high power reactors (RBMK, VVR-1000, etc.). They also cannot carry out post-reactor non-destructive studies of the state of assemblies and individual products with high gamma activity.

In all existing protective chambers, the only source of radiation is only the gamma activity of the product that is recorded in their working volumes and with which radiation hazardous cutting and research work is carried out in them.

The technical result of the present invention is the ability to conduct non-destructive studies of irradiated products of any size using a neutron beam as a research tool. The use of a chamber of this design ensures the return, if necessary, of the examined products to the reactor core for additional irradiation, as well as a decrease in the level of surface contamination of its working surfaces with radioactive contaminants, which makes it possible to carry out lightweight replacements of one research equipment and facilities with another.

In addition, the technical result is an increase in the intensity of research.

The specified technical result is achieved in that the protective chamber for non-destructive testing, placed close to the reactor vessel, including interconnecting boxes, the first box containing an inspection window has an opening closed by a movable shutter connected to the horizontal channel of the reactor, a table is placed inside the box , on the countertop of which there are laid-on rail tracks for the movable lifting and transport mechanism, a clamping-and-turning device that allows you to fix and rotate various products around its axis 360 degrees, a neutron trap mounted on the opposite wall perpendicular to the opening, the second, intermediate box and third box -A camera room with a viewing system, including a camera room, contains an isolated technological gateway that connects to the first block and closes with a step gate.

Along the inner perimeter of the first box, at a height not less than the dimensions of possible spatial neutron scattering, they are lined with replaceable replaceable hinged sheets of metal.

The presence of a second box allows you to temporarily store the examined products, which, after extraction from the reactor, have a high level of activity, both for returning to the reactor again and for disposal.

The presence of an isolated techno-gateway with a narrow stepped window opening closed by a sliding gate allows transferring various tools to the box depending on the research being carried out, and it also reduces the level of probable radioactive contamination.

The first box is also equipped with several vertical cells, which are made in the form of embedded pipes of different depths, located under the table top of the camera, and designed for temporary storage of products in them, both for research and to reduce induced activity after research.

The proposed design of the protective chamber created an opportunity for temporary storage of products examined in it, which, after being removed from the reactor, have a high level of activity.

Each of the vertical storage cells is equipped with a removable plug that prevents foreign objects from getting inside, all the embedded pipes of these cells are located in the area served by the lifting transport mechanism.

The camera is equipped with an appropriate clamping and rotary device that allows you to fix and rotate various products around its axis 360 degrees, has overhead rail tracks on the countertop, a movable lifting and transport mechanism having a predetermined service volume for the working volume is placed on these tracks, both of these mechanisms are controlled in the camera room.

All sides of the inner perimeter of the chamber are lined with removable hinged sheets of metal, for example, steel 1-1.5 mm thick, up to two meters high, replaced during operation and transferred to the discharge of radioactive waste with subsequent disposal.

The invention is illustrated by graphic material, where:

1. first boxing;

2. viewing window;

3. opening

4. movable protective curtain from an effective neutron absorber;

5. reactor;

6. table with rail tracks;

7. neutron trap;

8. 2nd boxing;

9. camera room;

10. insulated boxing;

11. stepped opening of the technological gateway;

12. a stepped sliding gates placed on a sliding trolley;

13. neutron protection of the viewing system from scattered neutrons in the form of "cilia" of protection;

14. vertical storage cells;

A protective chamber for non-destructive testing, placed close to the reactor vessel, consists of interconnecting boxes, the first box (1) containing an inspection window (2), has an opening (3), closed by a movable shutter (4), connected to a horizontal channel reactor (5), inside the box there is a table (6), on the tabletop of which there are laid-on rail tracks for a movable lifting and transport mechanism, a clamping and turning device that allows you to fix and deploy various products around its axis 360 degrees (not shown in the drawing) , a neutron trap (7) placed on the opposite wall perpendicular to the aperture, the first box is connected through the door to the second box (8), and the second and third to the operator (9), and the other contains an isolated box (10) with a technological gateway (11) closing with a step gate (12). A viewing system (2) with cilia (13) containing borated polyethylene and lead is placed in the wall between the viewing and the first box to protect the viewing system from scattered neutrons.

For temporary storage of articles containing irradiated nuclear and other materials in the chamber, vertical storage cells are made under the table top (14). For installing research equipment in the chamber, moving it around the chamber, servicing the vertical storage cells 12, an intracameral hoisting-and-transport mechanism (not shown in the drawing) was used, for the movement of which rail tracks are provided on the table top of the chamber.

The walls of the first box are provided with sheets of additional removable hinged cladding.

The proposed protective chamber operates as follows.

The test product is placed in the first box 1, placed at the level of the viewing window 2 and carry out the necessary research. If necessary, through the stepped opening of the technological gateway 11, the necessary tools are supplied to the box. If in the process of research the product needs to be irradiated, the radiation flux through the opening 3 is removed, having displaced the movable protective curtain 4.

To protect the viewing system from exposure to scattered neutron radiation, neutron protection 13 made in the form of "cilia" containing borated polyethylene up to 35 mm thick and lead up to 25 mm thick, which have a remote drive, is used. Its presence in its place is necessary only at the moments when the neutron beam is turned on. In the rest of the time, it is removed and does not interfere with inspections of the working volume, which are carried out only after the neutron beam is turned off.

After conducting research, the products can be placed in vertical storage cells 14 or moved to box 8.

Due to its design capabilities and features, the previous chamber can be dismantled at any time and placed new special equipment. With newly installed equipment, other non-destructive testing methods can be implemented, including those based on the use of a beam of powerful reactor radiation.

Claims (3)

1. A protective chamber for non-destructive testing, including interconnecting boxes placed horizontally, attached close to the reactor vessel, the first box having an opening closed by a movable shutter connected to the horizontal channel of the reactor, a neutron trap is installed on the opposite wall of the box, perpendicular to the neutron beam inside the box there is a table, on the tabletop of which overhead rail tracks are placed, it is equipped with an appropriate clamping and rotary device that allows you to fix and rotate various products around its axis 360 degrees, and a radiation-protective door connecting the first box to the second, the third box is the operator with a viewing system containing an isolated technological gateway, connected to the first side and closed with a step gate. 2. The protective chamber of non-destructive testing according to claim 1 is characterized in that the step opening in it is provided with a hermetically sealed narrow retractable sliding gate of a step design. 3. The non-destructive testing protective chamber according to claim 1 is characterized in that it is equipped with an appropriate clamping-and-turning device that allows fixing and turning various products around its axis 360 degrees, has overhead rail tracks on the tabletop, and a movable lifting-transporting track is placed on these tracks a mechanism having a given service area for the working volume, the control of both of these mechanisms is displayed in the operator's room.

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