WO2002095766A1 - Method of and sphere detector for monitoring the passage of a sphere along a sphere flow path - Google Patents

Method of and sphere detector for monitoring the passage of a sphere along a sphere flow path Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2002095766A1
WO2002095766A1 PCT/IB2002/001751 IB0201751W WO02095766A1 WO 2002095766 A1 WO2002095766 A1 WO 2002095766A1 IB 0201751 W IB0201751 W IB 0201751W WO 02095766 A1 WO02095766 A1 WO 02095766A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
sphere
magnetic field
flow path
detector
detector installation
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Application number
PCT/IB2002/001751
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French (fr)
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WO2002095766B1 (en
Inventor
Frank Curtolo
Francois Jacobus Retief
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Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (Proprietary) Limited
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Publication of WO2002095766A1 publication Critical patent/WO2002095766A1/en
Publication of WO2002095766B1 publication Critical patent/WO2002095766B1/en

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
    • G21C—NUCLEAR REACTORS
    • G21C17/00—Monitoring; Testing ; Maintaining
    • G21C17/06—Devices or arrangements for monitoring or testing fuel or fuel elements outside the reactor core, e.g. for burn-up, for contamination
    • G21C17/066—Control of spherical elements
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
    • G21C—NUCLEAR REACTORS
    • G21C19/00—Arrangements for treating, for handling, or for facilitating the handling of, fuel or other materials which are used within the reactor, e.g. within its pressure vessel
    • G21C19/20—Arrangements for introducing objects into the pressure vessel; Arrangements for handling objects within the pressure vessel; Arrangements for removing objects from the pressure vessel
    • G21C19/202—Arrangements for handling ball-form, i.e. pebble fuel
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E30/00—Energy generation of nuclear origin
    • Y02E30/30—Nuclear fission reactors

Definitions

  • THIS INVENTION relates to a nuclear power plant. More particularly it relates to a method of monitoring the movement of spheres along a sphere flow path. It further relates to a sphere detector for monitoring the passage of a sphere along a sphere flow path and to a sphere detector installation. In addition it relates to a nuclear power plant.
  • Nuclear reactors of the pebble bed design employ spherical fuel elements.
  • the fuel elements are graphite spheres, typically of about 60 mm in diameter, which are loaded with uranium.
  • the pebble bed reactor also makes use of graphite spheres, i.e. without uranium, as moderator elements.
  • both the fuel elements and the moderator elements are referred to as "spheres" .
  • a nuclear plant incorporating a pebble bed nuclear reactor typically also includes a fuel handling and storage system which permits the recycling of fuel elements and, if desired, moderator elements, through the reactor.
  • a method of monitoring the movement of a sphere along a sphere flow path which includes generating a magnetic field through which the sphere flow path passes and sensing variations of the magnetic field corresponding to the presence and/or absence of a sphere in the portion of the sphere flow path which extends through the magnetic field .
  • a method of monitoring the movement of a sphere along a sphere flow path which includes sensing the movement of spheres by at least two sensors spaced apart longitudinally relative to the flow path.
  • At least one of the sensors may be an electromagnetic sensor which is configured to generate a magnetic field through which a portion of the sphere flow path passes and to sense variations in the magnetic field caused by the presence or absence of a sphere in the portion of the sphere flow path which passes through the magnetic field.
  • both of the sensors are electromagnetic sensors.
  • the or each magnetic field generated may be a fluctuating magnetic field.
  • the method may include generating a signal in response to a sensed change in the magnetic field and feeding the signal or signals to processing means.
  • the method may include interpreting the signals in the processing means and generating an output which is indicative of whether or not a sphere is present or has passed along the sphere flow path as well as the direction of movement of the sphere.
  • a sphere detector for monitoring the passage of a sphere along a sphere flow path which detector includes a pair of electromagnetic sphere sensors which are mountable in a spaced apart relationship and are capable of sensing the passage of a sphere along a sphere flow path; and a processing means for the receiving and processing signals generated by the sphere sensors.
  • a sphere detector installation which includes a sphere flow path defining means which defines a sphere flow path at least part of which is of an electrically non-conductive material; and at least one electromagnetic sphere detector for monitoring the presence in or passage of spheres through the at least part of the sphere flow path which is of an electrically non-conductive material.
  • the sphere detector installation may include a pair of electromagnetic sphere sensors spaced longitudinally relative to the sphere flow path.
  • the sphere detector may be a sphere detector of the type described above.
  • the sphere flow path defining means may include a length of pipe of an electrically non-conductive material dimensioned so that spheres can pass therethrough with clearance and in single file.
  • Each sphere sensor may include a magnetic field generator for generating a magnetic field through which a sphere travelling along the sphere flow path passes and magnetic field sensing means for sensing variations in the magnetic field such as that caused by a sphere passing therethrough.
  • At least one of the magnetic field generators may be configured to generate a fluctuating magnetic field.
  • the magnetic field generators may each include a first coil connected to an oscillator configured to inject an AC current into the coil and thereby set up an alternating magnetic field, the magnetic field sensing means including a second coil positioned on the opposite side of the flow path to the first coil.
  • the frequencies of the signals generated by the oscillators may differ from one another, the processing means including an amplifier which is complementary to the associated oscillator frequency and to which a signal from the second coil is fed.
  • the processing means may include, associated with each sphere sensor, a rectifier for rectifying an output from the associated amplifier and at least one comparator to which the rectified signal is fed.
  • the processing means includes two comparators associated with each sphere sensor and to which the rectified signal from the associated rectifier is fed, the threshold of the comparators being set at different levels.
  • the threshold of one comparator may be set at a relatively low level so that it produces an output at all times, this is interpreted as a "System OK" signal, and the threshold of the other comparator is set at a relatively higher level so that it will be triggered in response to a change in the magnetic field associated with the presence and/or absence of a sphere.
  • the processing means may include a processor, eg a microcomputer, to which the outputs of the comparators are fed, the processor being configured to process the signals received from the comparators and produce an output in a required form.
  • a processor eg a microcomputer
  • the processor drives a fieldbus interface to produce fieldbus compatible signals.
  • the use of two sensors permits the detector to detect not only the presence of a sphere but also its direction of travel along the flow path.
  • the invention extends to a nuclear power plant which includes a nuclear reactor of the pebble bed type; and a fuel handling and storage system which includes at least one sphere detector installation as described above.
  • the nuclear power plant may include a plurality of sphere detectors configured to monitor the movement of spheres at different positions in the fuel handling and storage system.
  • reference numeral 10 refers generally to a sphere detector installation in accordance with the invention.
  • the sphere detector installation 10 includes sphere flow path defining means in the form of a length of pipe 1 2 at least part of which is of a ceramic material or another electrically non-conductive material.
  • the length of pipe 1 2 typically forms part of a fuel handling and storage system of a nuclear power plant.
  • the sphere detector installation 10 further includes a sphere detector, generally indicated by reference numeral 14 in accordance with the invention.
  • the sphere detector 14 includes a pair of electromagnetic sphere sensors, generally indicated by reference numerals 1 6 and 1 8 and processing means, generally indicated by reference numeral 20 for receiving and processing signals generated by the sphere sensors 1 6, 1 8.
  • the sensors 1 6, 1 8 are spaced longitudinally relative to the length of pipe 1 2.
  • the sensor 1 6 includes a magnetic field generator, generally indicated by reference numeral 22, comprising a coil 24 positioned adjacent to the pipe 1 2 and an oscillator 26 connected to the coil 24 and configured to inject an AC signal into the coil and thereby set up an alternating magnetic field through which a sphere 28 passing along the pipe 1 2 must pass.
  • the sphere sensor 1 6 further includes a coil 30 positioned adjacent to the length of pipe 12 at a position diametrically opposed to the coil 24.
  • the processing means 20 includes a narrow band amplifier 32 which is complementary to the oscillator 26 and to which the coil 30 is connected .
  • the processing means further includes a rectifier 34 for rectifying an output from the amplifier and two comparators 36, 38 to which the rectified signal from the rectifier 34 is fed.
  • the threshold of the comparator 36 is set relatively low so that it produces an output at all times, i.e. whether a sphere is detected or not. This signal is interpreted as a "system OK" signal.
  • the threshold of the comparator 38 is set higher so that it will be triggered by the presence and/or absence of a sphere 28 in the magnetic field.
  • the sensor 18 includes a magnetic field generator, generally indicated by reference numeral 40, comprising a coil 42 and an oscillator 44.
  • the sensor 1 8 includes a coil 46 positioned diametrically opposed to the coil 42.
  • the processing means 20 further includes, associated with the sensor 1 8 a narrow band amplifier 48, a rectifier 50 and two comparators 52, 54 which function in the same manner as described above with reference to the sensor 1 6.
  • the processing means 20 further includes a processor, typically in the form of a micro-processor 56 to which the outputs of the comparators 36, 38, 52, 54 are fed.
  • the processor 56 processes the signals received from the comparators 36, 38, 52, 54 to produce a required output.
  • the processor 56 drives a fieldbus interface 58 to produce fieldbus compatible signals.
  • the pipe 1 2 typically forms part of a fuel handling and storage system of a nuclear power plant.
  • the magnetic field generators 22, 40 produce magnetic fields through which a sphere 28, i.e. a fuel element or moderator element travelling along the pipe 1 2 must pass.
  • the spheres typically have a diameter of about 60 mm and the pipe has an inner diameter of about 63.5 mm so that the spheres can pass along the pipe with clearance and in single file.
  • the flux density of the magnetic field varies which is detected by the coil 30.
  • the coil 46 the signals received from the coils 30, 46 are processed by the processing means 20 to produce the required outputs.
  • the sphere detector installation 10 in accordance with the invention will be capable of sensing the movement of spheres at speeds in excess of 10 m/s with a zero following distance.
  • the sphere detector installation will be capable of determining whether or not a sphere has moved along the length of pipe 1 2 and if so in which direction. In addition, if a sphere is stationary in the pipe this too can be detected as well as whether or not the detector is faulty.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • High Energy & Nuclear Physics (AREA)
  • Geophysics And Detection Of Objects (AREA)

Abstract

A sphere detector installation (10) includes a length of pipe (12) which is of an electrically non-conductive material and which defines part of a sphere flow path. The installation (10) includes a sphere detector (14). The detector (14) includes a pair of electromagnetic sphere sensors (16, 18) and processing means (20) for receiving and processing signals generated by the sensors (16, 18). Each sensor (16, 18) includes a coil (24) to which the pipe (12) passes. The sensors (16, 18) further includes a coil (30, 46) to which the processing means (20) is connected. The processing means (20) includes an amplifier (32), a rectifier (34), two comparators (36, 38) and a processor (56) which drives a fieldbus interface (58).

Description

METHOD OF AND SPHERE DETECTOR FOR MONITORING THE PASSAGE OF A SPHERE ALONG A SPHERE FLOW PATH
THIS INVENTION relates to a nuclear power plant. More particularly it relates to a method of monitoring the movement of spheres along a sphere flow path. It further relates to a sphere detector for monitoring the passage of a sphere along a sphere flow path and to a sphere detector installation. In addition it relates to a nuclear power plant.
Nuclear reactors of the pebble bed design employ spherical fuel elements. The fuel elements are graphite spheres, typically of about 60 mm in diameter, which are loaded with uranium. The pebble bed reactor also makes use of graphite spheres, i.e. without uranium, as moderator elements.
In the context of this specification, both the fuel elements and the moderator elements are referred to as "spheres" .
A nuclear plant incorporating a pebble bed nuclear reactor typically also includes a fuel handling and storage system which permits the recycling of fuel elements and, if desired, moderator elements, through the reactor.
In the interests of safe and reliable operation of the plant it is desirable that the movement of the spheres be closely controlled. Control of the fuel handling and storage system requires monitoring of the positions of the spheres within the system.
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a method of monitoring the movement of a sphere along a sphere flow path which includes generating a magnetic field through which the sphere flow path passes and sensing variations of the magnetic field corresponding to the presence and/or absence of a sphere in the portion of the sphere flow path which extends through the magnetic field .
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of monitoring the movement of a sphere along a sphere flow path, which includes sensing the movement of spheres by at least two sensors spaced apart longitudinally relative to the flow path.
At least one of the sensors may be an electromagnetic sensor which is configured to generate a magnetic field through which a portion of the sphere flow path passes and to sense variations in the magnetic field caused by the presence or absence of a sphere in the portion of the sphere flow path which passes through the magnetic field.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention both of the sensors are electromagnetic sensors.
The or each magnetic field generated may be a fluctuating magnetic field.
The method may include generating a signal in response to a sensed change in the magnetic field and feeding the signal or signals to processing means.
The method may include interpreting the signals in the processing means and generating an output which is indicative of whether or not a sphere is present or has passed along the sphere flow path as well as the direction of movement of the sphere.
According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a sphere detector for monitoring the passage of a sphere along a sphere flow path which detector includes a pair of electromagnetic sphere sensors which are mountable in a spaced apart relationship and are capable of sensing the passage of a sphere along a sphere flow path; and a processing means for the receiving and processing signals generated by the sphere sensors.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a sphere detector installation which includes a sphere flow path defining means which defines a sphere flow path at least part of which is of an electrically non-conductive material; and at least one electromagnetic sphere detector for monitoring the presence in or passage of spheres through the at least part of the sphere flow path which is of an electrically non-conductive material.
The sphere detector installation may include a pair of electromagnetic sphere sensors spaced longitudinally relative to the sphere flow path.
The sphere detector may be a sphere detector of the type described above.
The sphere flow path defining means may include a length of pipe of an electrically non-conductive material dimensioned so that spheres can pass therethrough with clearance and in single file.
Each sphere sensor may include a magnetic field generator for generating a magnetic field through which a sphere travelling along the sphere flow path passes and magnetic field sensing means for sensing variations in the magnetic field such as that caused by a sphere passing therethrough.
At least one of the magnetic field generators may be configured to generate a fluctuating magnetic field.
The magnetic field generators may each include a first coil connected to an oscillator configured to inject an AC current into the coil and thereby set up an alternating magnetic field, the magnetic field sensing means including a second coil positioned on the opposite side of the flow path to the first coil. The frequencies of the signals generated by the oscillators may differ from one another, the processing means including an amplifier which is complementary to the associated oscillator frequency and to which a signal from the second coil is fed.
The processing means may include, associated with each sphere sensor, a rectifier for rectifying an output from the associated amplifier and at least one comparator to which the rectified signal is fed.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the processing means includes two comparators associated with each sphere sensor and to which the rectified signal from the associated rectifier is fed, the threshold of the comparators being set at different levels.
The threshold of one comparator may be set at a relatively low level so that it produces an output at all times, this is interpreted as a "System OK" signal, and the threshold of the other comparator is set at a relatively higher level so that it will be triggered in response to a change in the magnetic field associated with the presence and/or absence of a sphere.
The processing means may include a processor, eg a microcomputer, to which the outputs of the comparators are fed, the processor being configured to process the signals received from the comparators and produce an output in a required form.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the processor drives a fieldbus interface to produce fieldbus compatible signals.
The use of two sensors permits the detector to detect not only the presence of a sphere but also its direction of travel along the flow path.
The invention extends to a nuclear power plant which includes a nuclear reactor of the pebble bed type; and a fuel handling and storage system which includes at least one sphere detector installation as described above.
The nuclear power plant may include a plurality of sphere detectors configured to monitor the movement of spheres at different positions in the fuel handling and storage system.
The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing, which shows a schematic representation of a sphere detector installation in accordance with the invention.
In the drawing, reference numeral 10 refers generally to a sphere detector installation in accordance with the invention.
The sphere detector installation 10 includes sphere flow path defining means in the form of a length of pipe 1 2 at least part of which is of a ceramic material or another electrically non-conductive material. The length of pipe 1 2 typically forms part of a fuel handling and storage system of a nuclear power plant.
The sphere detector installation 10 further includes a sphere detector, generally indicated by reference numeral 14 in accordance with the invention.
The sphere detector 14 includes a pair of electromagnetic sphere sensors, generally indicated by reference numerals 1 6 and 1 8 and processing means, generally indicated by reference numeral 20 for receiving and processing signals generated by the sphere sensors 1 6, 1 8. The sensors 1 6, 1 8 are spaced longitudinally relative to the length of pipe 1 2.
The sensor 1 6 includes a magnetic field generator, generally indicated by reference numeral 22, comprising a coil 24 positioned adjacent to the pipe 1 2 and an oscillator 26 connected to the coil 24 and configured to inject an AC signal into the coil and thereby set up an alternating magnetic field through which a sphere 28 passing along the pipe 1 2 must pass. The sphere sensor 1 6 further includes a coil 30 positioned adjacent to the length of pipe 12 at a position diametrically opposed to the coil 24. The processing means 20 includes a narrow band amplifier 32 which is complementary to the oscillator 26 and to which the coil 30 is connected . The processing means further includes a rectifier 34 for rectifying an output from the amplifier and two comparators 36, 38 to which the rectified signal from the rectifier 34 is fed. The threshold of the comparator 36 is set relatively low so that it produces an output at all times, i.e. whether a sphere is detected or not. This signal is interpreted as a "system OK" signal. The threshold of the comparator 38 is set higher so that it will be triggered by the presence and/or absence of a sphere 28 in the magnetic field.
Similarly, the sensor 18 includes a magnetic field generator, generally indicated by reference numeral 40, comprising a coil 42 and an oscillator 44. In addition, the sensor 1 8 includes a coil 46 positioned diametrically opposed to the coil 42. The processing means 20 further includes, associated with the sensor 1 8 a narrow band amplifier 48, a rectifier 50 and two comparators 52, 54 which function in the same manner as described above with reference to the sensor 1 6.
The processing means 20 further includes a processor, typically in the form of a micro-processor 56 to which the outputs of the comparators 36, 38, 52, 54 are fed. The processor 56 processes the signals received from the comparators 36, 38, 52, 54 to produce a required output. In this regard, in the embodiment shown, the processor 56 drives a fieldbus interface 58 to produce fieldbus compatible signals.
The pipe 1 2 typically forms part of a fuel handling and storage system of a nuclear power plant.
In use, the magnetic field generators 22, 40 produce magnetic fields through which a sphere 28, i.e. a fuel element or moderator element travelling along the pipe 1 2 must pass. In this regard, the spheres typically have a diameter of about 60 mm and the pipe has an inner diameter of about 63.5 mm so that the spheres can pass along the pipe with clearance and in single file. When a sphere passes through the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generator 22, the flux density of the magnetic field varies which is detected by the coil 30. Similarly, when a sphere passes through the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generator 40, this is detected by the coil 46. The signals received from the coils 30, 46 are processed by the processing means 20 to produce the required outputs.
The Inventors believe that the sphere detector installation 10 in accordance with the invention will be capable of sensing the movement of spheres at speeds in excess of 10 m/s with a zero following distance.
In addition, the sphere detector installation will be capable of determining whether or not a sphere has moved along the length of pipe 1 2 and if so in which direction. In addition, if a sphere is stationary in the pipe this too can be detected as well as whether or not the detector is faulty.
The Inventors believe that the invention will permit the movement of fuel elements and moderator elements in the fuel handling and storage system to be monitored accurately and quickly.

Claims

CLAIMS:
1 . A method of monitoring the movement of a sphere along a sphere flow path which includes generating a magnetic field through which the sphere flow path passes and sensing variations of the magnetic field corresponding to the presence and/or absence of a sphere in the portion of the sphere flow path which extends through the magnetic field.
2. A method of monitoring the movement of a sphere along a sphere flow path, which includes sensing the movement of spheres by at least two sensors spaced apart longitudinally relative to the flow path.
3. A method as claimed in Claim 2, in which at least one of the sensors is an electromagnetic sensor which is configured to generate a magnetic field through which a portion of the sphere flow path passes and to sense variations in the magnetic field caused by the presence or absence of a sphere in the portion of the sphere flow path which passes through the magnetic field.
4. A method as claimed in Claim 3, in which both of the sensors are electromagnetic sensors.
5. A method as claimed in Claim 1 , Claim 3 or Claim 4, in which the or each magnetic field generated is a fluctuating magnetic field.
6. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 1 and 3 to 5, inclusive, which includes generating a signal in response to a sensed change in the magnetic field and feeding the signal or signals to processing means.
7. A method as claimed in Claim 6, which includes interpreting the signals in the processing means and generating an output which is indicative of whether or not a sphere is present or has passed along the sphere flow path as well as the direction of movement of the sphere.
8. A sphere detector for monitoring the passage of a sphere along a sphere flow path which detector includes a pair of electromagnetic sphere sensors which are mountable in a spaced apart relationship and are capable of sensing the passage of a sphere along a sphere flow path; and a processing means for the receiving and processing signals generated by the sphere sensors.
9. A sphere detector installation which includes a sphere flow path defining means which defines a sphere flow path at least part of which is of an electrically non-conductive material; and at least one electromagnetic sphere detector for monitoring the presence in or passage of spheres through the at least part of the sphere flow path which is of an electrically non-conductive material.
1 0. A sphere detector installation as claimed in Claim 9, in which the sphere detector includes a pair of electromagnetic sphere sensors spaced longitudinally relative to the sphere flow path.
1 1 . A sphere detector installation as claimed in Claim 10, in which the sphere detector is a sphere detector as claimed in Claim 8.
1 2. A sphere detector installation as claimed in Claim 1 1 , in which the sphere flow path defining means includes a length of pipe of an electrically non- conductive material dimensioned so that spheres can pass therethrough with clearance and in single file.
1 3. A sphere detector installation as claimed in Claim 1 1 or Claim 1 2, in which each sphere sensor includes a magnetic field generator for generating a magnetic field through which a sphere travelling along the sphere flow path passes and magnetic field sensing means for sensing variations in the magnetic field.
14. A sphere detector installation as claimed in Claim 1 3, in which at least one of the magnetic field generators is configured to generate a fluctuating magnetic field.
1 5. A sphere detector installation as claimed in Claim 1 3 or Claim 14, in which the magnetic field generators each include a first coil connected to an oscillator configured to inject an AC current into the coil and thereby set up an alternating magnetic field, the magnetic field sensing means including a second coil positioned on the opposite side of the flow path to the first coil.
1 6. A sphere detector installation as claimed in Claim 1 5, in which the frequencies of the signals generated by the oscillators differ from one another, the processing means including an amplifier which is complementary to the associated oscillator and to which a signal from the second coil is fed.
1 7. A sphere detector installation as claimed in Claim 1 6, in which the processing means includes, associated with each sphere sensor, a rectifier for rectifying an output from the associated amplifier and at least one comparator to which the rectified signal is fed.
1 8. A sphere detector installation as claimed in Claim 1 7, in which the processing means includes two comparators associated with each sphere sensor and to which the rectified signal from the associated rectifier is fed, the threshold of the comparators being set at different levels.
1 9. A sphere detector installation as claimed in Claim 1 8, in which the threshold of one comparator is set at a relatively low level so that it produces an output at all times and the threshold of the other comparator is set at a relatively higher level so that it will be triggered in response to a change in the magnetic field associated with the presence and/or absence of a sphere.
20. A sphere detector installation as claimed in Claim 1 8 or Claim 1 9, in which the processing means includes a processor to which the outputs of the comparators are fed, the processor being configured to process the signals received from the comparators and produce an output in a required form.
21 . A sphere detector installation as claimed in Claim 20, in which the processor drives a fieldbus interface to produce fieldbus compatible signals.
22. A nuclear power plant which includes a nuclear reactor of the pebble bed type; and a fuel handling and storage system which includes at least one sphere detector installation as claimed in any one of Claims 9 to 21 , inclusive.
23. A nuclear power plant as claimed in Claim 22, which includes a plurality of sphere detectors configured to monitor the movement of spheres at different positions in the fuel handling and storage system.
24. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, substantially as described and illustrated herein.
25. A sphere detector as claimed in Claim 8, substantially as described and illustrated herein.
26. A sphere detector installation as claimed in Claim 9, substantially as described and illustrated herein.
27. A nuclear power plant as claimed in Claim 22, substantially as described and illustrated herein.
28. A new method, detector, installation or plant substantially as described herein.
PCT/IB2002/001751 2001-05-23 2002-05-17 Method of and sphere detector for monitoring the passage of a sphere along a sphere flow path WO2002095766A1 (en)

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US10553323B2 (en) * 2014-01-29 2020-02-04 Tsinghua University Fuel ball detecting method and system with self-diagnosis function
CN111724922A (en) * 2020-06-24 2020-09-29 西南科技大学 High-temperature gas cooled reactor fuel conveying pipeline maintenance device, system and method

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FR2907223A1 (en) * 2006-10-13 2008-04-18 Areva Np Sas METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DETECTING STRUCTURAL ANOMALIES IN A SPHERICAL PARTICULATE, IN PARTICULAR IN A NUCLEAR FUEL PARTICLE FOR REACTORS AT HIGH TEMPERATURE OR VERY HIGH TEMPERATURE.
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WO2008046986A3 (en) * 2006-10-13 2008-06-26 Areva Np Method and device for detecting structural abnormalities in a spherical particle, mainly in a nuclear fuel particle for high temperature or very high temperature reactors
JP2010506184A (en) * 2006-10-13 2010-02-25 アレヴァ エヌペ Method and apparatus for detecting structural anomalies in spherical particles, especially nuclear fuel particles for high temperature or very high temperature reactors
US8248065B2 (en) 2006-10-13 2012-08-21 Areva Np Method and device for detecting structural abnormalities in a spherical particle
CN101202126B (en) * 2007-12-10 2011-12-28 清华大学 Bidirectional ball-passing count and display device for ball bed high temperature gas-cooling stack ball-passing loading/unloading system
CN102231289A (en) * 2011-04-18 2011-11-02 清华大学 Automatic detection mechanism for appearance integrity of ball bed high-temperature reactor fuel element
CN102231289B (en) * 2011-04-18 2013-01-30 清华大学 Automatic detection mechanism for appearance integrity of ball bed high-temperature reactor fuel element
US10553323B2 (en) * 2014-01-29 2020-02-04 Tsinghua University Fuel ball detecting method and system with self-diagnosis function
CN111724922A (en) * 2020-06-24 2020-09-29 西南科技大学 High-temperature gas cooled reactor fuel conveying pipeline maintenance device, system and method

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