Ge-hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC

Other

Kenneth Allan Morgan

Gerald A Deaver

Randy Morris Brown

David L Major

Gerald Alan Deaver

Jerry W Nicholson

Cesar M Velasquez

Filemon Tecson Cabrera

David Lee Major

David Major

Randy Brown

Gerald Deaver

Cesar Manuel Velasquez

Jerry Wayne Nicholson

Control rod drives include all-digital monitoring, powering, and controlling systems for operating the drives. Each controlling system includes distinct microprocessor-driven channels that independently monitor and handle control rod drive position information reported from multiple position sensors per drive. Controlling systems function as rod control and information systems with top-level hardware interfaced with nuclear plant operators other plant systems. The top-level hardware can receive operator instructions and report control rod position, as well as report errors detected using redundant data from the multiple sensors. Positional data received from each drive is multiplexed across plural, redundant channels to allow verification of the system using independent position data as well as operation of the system should a single channel or detector fail. Control rod drives are capable of positioning and detecting position of control elements in fine increments, such as 3-millimeter increments, with plural position sensors that digitally report drive status and position.

Digital systems and methods for high precision control in nuclear reactors

Control rod drives include linearly-moveable control elements inside an isolation barrier. Control rod drives move the control element through secured magnetic elements subject to magnetic fields. Induction coils may generate magnetic fields and be moveable across a full stroke length of the control element in the reactor. A motor may spin a linear screw to move the induction coils on a vertical travel nut. A control rod assembly may house the magnetic elements and directly, removably join to the control element. The control rod assembly may lock with magnetic overtravel latches inside the isolation barrier to maintain an overtravel position. Overtravel release coils outside the isolation barrier may release the latches to leave the overtravel position. Operation includes moving the induction coils with a linear screw to drive the control element to desired insertion points, including full insertion by gravity following de-energization. No direct connection may penetrate the isolation barrier.

Methods of moving an induction coil to move a control element in a nuclear reactor

Control rod drives include linearly-moveable control elements inside an isolation barrier. Control rod drives move the control element through secured magnetic elements subject to magnetic fields. Induction coils may generate the magnetic fields across a full stroke length of the control element in the reactor. A closed coolant loop may cool the induction coils, which may be in a vacuum outside the isolation barrier. A control rod assembly may house the magnetic elements and directly, removably join to the control element. The control rod assembly may lock with magnetic overtravel latches inside the isolation barrier to maintain an overtravel position. Overtravel release coils outside the isolation barrier may release the latches to leave the overtravel position. Methods of operation include selectively energizing or de-energizing induction coils to drive the control element to desired insertion points, including full insertion by gravity following de-energization. No direct connection may penetrate the isolation barrier.

Stationary isolated rod couplings for use in a nuclear reactor control rod drive

Control rod drives include linearly-moveable control elements inside an isolation barrier. Control rod drives move the control element through a motor and rotor powering a linear screw internal to an isolation barrier. Induction coils may generate magnetic fields and be moveable across a full stroke length of the control element in the reactor. The magnetic fields hold closed a releasable latch to disconnect the control elements from the linear drives. A control rod assembly may join to the control element. The control rod assembly may lock with magnetic overtravel latches inside the isolation barrier to maintain an overtravel position. Overtravel release coils outside the isolation barrier may release the latches to leave the overtravel position. Operation includes moving the magnetic fields and releasable latch together on opposite sides of an isolation barrier to drive the control element to desired insertion points, including full insertion by gravity following de-energization.

Magnetically-actuated isolated rod couplings for use in a nuclear reactor control rod drive

Moveable isolated rod couplings for use in a nuclear reactor control rod drive

A method of shutting down a nuclear reactor may include compressing a scram gas that is in fluid communication with a scram accumulator. The scram accumulator defines a chamber therein and contains bellows within the chamber. The bellows are configured to hold a scram liquid in isolation of the scram gas. The scram gas exerts a compressive force on the bellows in a form of stored energy. The method may additionally include releasing the stored energy in response to a scram signal such that the scram gas expands into the chamber of the scram accumulator to compress the bellows and expel the scram liquid from the scram accumulator to insert control rods into a core of the nuclear reactor.

Hydraulic control unit and method of shutting down a nuclear reactor using the same

The present invention is directed toward a VAV (variable air volume) air conditioning system which is capable of varying the supply air volume to a space based upon discharge temperature while simultaneously maintaining constant ventilation. The thermal dynamic balancing system of the present invention includes a bypass air box and an outside air ventilation box, each having adjustable dampers, which are controlled, in concert with one another, to provide a system which constantly dehumidifies the air in the conditioned space while simultaneously maintaining the discharge air temperature and degree of ventilation at constant values.

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Wilmington, NC, United States of America

Kenneth Allan Morgan