Induced nuclear reactions: processes – systems – and elements – Handling of fission reactor component structure within... – Fuel component
Reexamination Certificate
1947-03-31
2001-03-13
Behrend, Harvey E. (Department: 3641)
Induced nuclear reactions: processes, systems, and elements
Handling of fission reactor component structure within...
Fuel component
C376S414000, C427S006000, C029S423000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06201846
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to an improved method of jacketing bodies in pressure-tight jackets. More specifically, the invention relates to an improved method of jacketing a member comprising fissionable material within a jacket of nonfissionable material to form an assembly adapted for use in a neutronic reactor.
In a neutronic reactor, a fissionable material, such as uranium, is commonly encased or jacketed in a jacket of a material of high thermal conductivity. The jacket functions both to prevent corrosion of the fissionable material and to prevent the escape of radioactive substances, which are generated within the fissionable material during operation of the reactor, into portions of the reactor other than the fissionable material. For operation of a neutronic reactor at high temperatures, the body within the jacket is bonded to the inner surface of the jacket. This is necessary in order to secure adequate heat transfer to an exterior coolant from the fissionable material, within which great quantities of heat are produced in the operation of the reactor.
The fissionable members commonly employed in neutronic reactors are cylindrical in shape, usually of a diameter of the order of 1 inch and are of a length rendering them suitable for easy handling. Such fissionable elements are commonly called “slugs”.
It has been found that with the methods heretofore used for making the unitary jacketed slug structure described above, there have frequently occurred faults in the bonding between the fissionable member and the jacket. At the points of occurrence of such faults, there have developed “hot spots”, points of high temperature, which may cause the production of blistering, rupturing of the jacket, and other deleterious effects upon the jacketed slugs during high temperature operation of the neutronic reactor. The development of such defects during operation is extremely prejudicial, if not fatal, to the continued proper operation of the reactor.
Because of the factors discussed above, the quality and uniformity of the bond required between the fissionable member and the jacket must be perfect to a degree heretofore never required. The present invention is not directly concerned with the physical construction or the materials of the fissionable member, the jacket, or the bonding agent. It is the object of this invention to provide a method of assembling and bonding a jacketed slug of fissionable material wherein no air bubbles or other faults exist in the bond between the fissionable material and the jacket.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1101729 (1914-06-01), Davis
patent: 1479936 (1924-01-01), Stevens
patent: 1692818 (1928-11-01), Christopf
patent: 1760039 (1930-05-01), Bundy
patent: 2310834 (1943-02-01), Bullock
patent: 2321071 (1943-06-01), Ehrhardt et al.
Behrend Harvey E.
Fisher Robert J.
Gottlieb Paul A.
The United States of America as represented by the United States
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