The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 02, 2013
Filed:
Apr. 07, 2008
Sture Lennart Helmersson, Kolback, SE;
Nils Magnus Limback, Vasteras, SE;
Jonathan Michael Wright, Vasteras, SE;
Sture Lennart Helmersson, Kolback, SE;
Nils Magnus Limback, Vasteras, SE;
Jonathan Michael Wright, Vasteras, SE;
Westinghouse Electric Sweden AB, Vasteras, SE;
Abstract
A method of operating a nuclear reactor is disclosed. The reactor () encloses a core having a plurality of fuel rods (). Each fuel rod () includes a cladding and fuel pellets of a nuclear fuel. The fuel pellets are arranged in an inner space of the cladding leaving a free volume comprising an upper plenum, a lower plenum and a pellet-cladding gap. The reactor is operated at a normal power and a normal inlet sub-cooling during a normal state. The reactor is monitored for detecting a defect on the cladding of any of the fuel rods. The operation of the reactor is changed to a particular state after detecting such a defect. The particular state permits an increase of the free volume in the defect fuel rod. The reactor is operated at the particular state during a limited time period, after which the reactor is operated at the normal state.