BABCOCK & WILCOX MPOWER, INC. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20150228366 | LIFT-BASED UP-ENDER AND METHODS USING SAME TO MANIPULATE A SHIPPING CONTAINER CONTAINING UNIRRADIATED NUCLEAR FUEL - A shipping container containing an unirradiated nuclear fuel assembly is lifted off the ground by operating a crane to raise a lifting tool comprising a winch. The lifting tool is connected with the shipping container by a rigging line connecting with the shipping container at a lifting point located on the shipping container between the top and bottom of the shipping container, and by winch cabling connecting with the shipping container at the top of the shipping container. The shipping container is reoriented by operating the winch to adjust the length of the winch cabling so as to rotate the shipping container about the lifting point. Shortening the winch cabling rotates the shipping container about the lifting point from a horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation, while lengthening the winch cabling rotates the shipping container about the lifting point from the vertical orientation to the horizontal orientation. | 08-13-2015 |
20140334586 | CRDM DESIGNS WITH SEPARATE SCRAM LATCH ENGAGMENT AND LOCKING - A control rod drive mechanism (CRDM) includes a lifting rod supporting a control rod and a holding mechanism comprising an electromagnetic circuit with magnetic poles drawn together when the electromagnetic circuit is energized to hold the lifting rod. The hold is released upon de-energizing the electromagnetic circuit. A translation mechanism linearly translates the lifting rod held by the holding mechanism. The holding mechanism may include a non-magnetic spacer between the magnetic poles that defines a gap between the drawn together magnetic poles. The translation mechanism may include latches configured to engage an upper end of the lifting rod, and the holding mechanism draws the magnetic poles together to hold the latches engaged with the upper end of the lifting rod. A four-bar cam assembly may be used to cam the latches closed in response to a vertical actuation force applied to the cam bars. | 11-13-2014 |
20140301520 | CRDM WITH SEPARATE SCRAM LATCH ENGAGMENT AND LOCKING - A control rod drive mechanism (CRDM) configured to latch onto the lifting rod of a control rod assembly and including separate latch engagement and latch holding mechanisms. A CRDM configured to latch onto the lifting rod of a control rod assembly and including a four-bar linkage closing the latch, wherein the four-bar linkage biases the latch closed under force of gravity. | 10-09-2014 |
20140270036 | CRDM WITH SEPARATE SCRAM LATCH ENGAGMENT AND LOCKING - A control rod drive mechanism (CRDM) configured to latch onto the lifting rod of a control rod assembly and including separate latch engagement and latch holding mechanisms. A CRDM configured to latch onto the lifting rod of a control rod assembly and including a four-bar linkage closing the latch, wherein the four-bar linkage biases the latch closed under force of gravity. | 09-18-2014 |
20140241486 | FUEL ASSEMBLY - A fuel assembly includes a plurality of fuel rods arranged in parallel and including fissile material, a plurality of guide tubes arranged in parallel with and interspersed amongst the fuel rods, an upper end fitting connected with upper ends of the guide tubes, and a lower end fitting connected with lower ends of the guide tubes. Each fuel rod includes a top end and a bottom end wherein the top end extends into the upper end fitting and/or the bottom end extends into the lower end fitting. | 08-28-2014 |
20140205055 | Spacer Grids For Nuclear Reactor - A spacer grid includes intersecting straps defining cells with springs and dimples arranged to hold fuel rods passing through the cells. The direction of the springs switches at a switch point in the spacer grid that is not at the center of the spacer grid. The intersecting straps may include a first set of mutually parallel straps including a first transition strap and a second set of mutually parallel straps including a second transition strap, with the second set intersecting the first set. The springs of the first set of mutually parallel straps face away from the first transition strap, and the springs of the second set of mutually parallel straps face away from the second transition strap. The outer straps in some embodiments include dimples but not springs. | 07-24-2014 |
20140205053 | Spacer Grids With Springs Having Improved Robustness - A spacer grid includes intersecting straps defining cells with springs and dimples arranged to hold fuel rods passing through the cells. The springs are dual cantilevered springs with a bridge section between the distal end of the spring and the base. The distal portion of the spring is less stiff than the bridge section. The bridge section creates a bump which acts as a stop or travel limiter to prevent loss of grip force due to excessive spring deflection. | 07-24-2014 |
20130301784 | SUSPENDED UPPER INTERNALS FOR COMPACT NUCLEAR REACTOR INCLUDING A LOWER HANGER PLATE - A pressure vessel comprises an upper vessel section and a lower vessel section. A nuclear reactor core comprises fissile material contained in a containing structure and disposed in the lower vessel section. Upper internals are disposed in the lower vessel section above the nuclear reactor core. The upper internals include at least guide frames and internal control rod drive mechanisms (CRDMs) with CRDM motors mounted on a suspended support assembly including a plurality of hanger plates connected by tie rods. The plurality of hanger plates includes a lowermost hanger plate having alignment features configured to align the upper internals with the containing structure that contains the nuclear reactor core. | 11-14-2013 |
20130301775 | CRDM INTERNAL ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR - An internal control rod drive mechanism (CRDM) including an electric motor is disposed in a nuclear reactor and further includes a support surface with sealed electrical connectors electrically connected with the electric motor power the motor. The internal CRDM is disposed on a support element secured inside the nuclear reactor. The support element includes sealed electrical connectors mating with the sealed electrical connectors on the support surface of the internal CRDM to power the electric motor. The sealed electrical connectors may be sealed glass, ceramic, or glass-ceramic connectors welded onto the ends of the MI cables extending from the motor. Springs, are disposed between the mating sealed electrical connectors of the support element and the support surface. A purge line is integrated with each mated connection. | 11-14-2013 |
20130272484 | RESISTANCE WELDING OF AN END CAP FOR NUCLEAR FUEL RODS - An open end of a cladding tube of a nuclear fuel rod is plugged with an end plug having a main body and a cylindrical bond portion extending from the main body and terminating in a cladding seat with reduced diameter compared with the cylindrical bond portion. The plugging includes clamping the open end of the cladding tube against the cladding seat of the end plug and, while clamping, applying electrical current between the end plug and the open end of the cladding tube so as to force the open end of the cladding tube over the cladding seat and slide over the cylindrical bond portion of the end plug and to generate a resistance weld between a cylindrical bonding surface of the cylindrical bond portion of the end plug and the inside surface of the open end of the cladding tube. | 10-17-2013 |
20130272483 | LOWER END PLUG WITH TEMPERATURE REDUCTION DEVICE AND NUCLEAR REACTOR FUEL ROD INCLUDING SAME - A pedestal plug is sized to fit into a cladding of a nuclear fuel rod. A lower end plug is sized and shaped to plug the lower end of the nuclear fuel rod. One of the pedestal plug and the lower end plug includes a protrusion and the other of the pedestal plug and the lower end plug includes a hollow region into which the protrusion fits. In one embodiment the pedestal plug is a hollow cylindrical pedestal plug and the protrusion is disposed on the lower end plug. The protrusion disposed on the lower end plug suitably press fits into the hollow cylindrical pedestal plug. In a method of assembling a fuel rod of a nuclear reactor, the pedestal plug and the lower end plug are press fit together, and after the press fitting the lower end plug is welded to a cladding of the fuel rod with the pedestal plug disposed inside the cladding. | 10-17-2013 |
20130272480 | LOWER END FITTING LOCATING PINS - A nuclear reactor has a core installed on a lower core plate and formed from multiple fuel assemblies, each fuel assembly including a structural cage assembly. The structural cage assembly has an upper end fitting, mid grids, and a lower end fitting (LEF). The LEF positions the fuel assembly using four locating pins located at each corner of the LEF. The pins position the fuel assembly laterally by mating with receiving holes in the lower core plate. The locating pins have a chamfered tip with a flat end. The chamfered tip allows for a greater positioning margin when installing the fuel assembly in the core by guiding the pins into holes in the lower core plate, and the flat tip provides strength and stability in case the assembly is inadvertently rested on the tip of the pin instead of the LEF pads. | 10-17-2013 |
20130272473 | AUXILIARY CONDENSER SYSTEM FOR DECAY HEAT REMOVAL IN A NUCLEAR REACTOR - A nuclear reactor includes an internal steam generator and a nuclear core disposed in a containment structure. A condenser is disposed outside the containment structure, and includes a condenser inlet line tapping off a steam line connected to the steam generator outside the containment structure, and a condensate injection line conveying condensate from the condenser to the integral steam generator. Isolation valves are located outside the containment structure on a feedwater line, the steam line, and the condensate injection line. The valves have an operating configuration in which the isolation valves on the feedwater and steam lines are open and the isolation valve on the condensate injection line is closed, and a heat removal configuration in which the isolation valves on the feedwater and steam lines are closed and the isolation valve on the condensate injection line is open. | 10-17-2013 |
20130272467 | INCORE INSTRUMENTATION CABLE ROUTING AND SUPPORT ELEMENT FOR PRESSURIZED WATER REACTOR - A nuclear reactor comprises a pressure vessel, a nuclear reactor core comprising fissile material disposed in the pressure vessel, and a core basket disposed in the pressure vessel and containing the nuclear reactor core. An incore instrument is disposed in a guide tube of the nuclear reactor core. The incore instrument has a cable extending out of the bottom of the nuclear reactor core and making a 180° turn. A bottom support element is attached to the bottom of the core basket and defines or includes a routing tube that routes the cable of the incore instrument through the 180° turn. In some embodiments, the pressure vessel includes upper and lower vessel portions, the nuclear reactor core and core basket are disposed in the lower vessel portion, and the vessel penetration is through the lower vessel portion or through a mid-flange connecting the upper and lower vessel portions. | 10-17-2013 |
20130272465 | POWER DISTRIBUTION PLATE FOR POWERING INTERNAL CONTROL ROD DRIVE MECHANISM (CRDM) UNITS - A power distribution plate (PDP) sits on top of a support plate. Control rod drive mechanism (CRDM) units are mounted on top of the PDP, but the PDP is incapable of supporting the weight of the CRDM units and instead transfers the load to a support plate. The PDP has receptacles which receive cable modules each including mineral insulated (MI) cables, the MI cables being connected with the CRDM units. The PDP may further include a set of hydraulic lines underlying the cable modules and connected with the CRDM units. The cable modules in their receptacles define conduits or raceways for their MI cables and for any underlying hydraulic lines. | 10-17-2013 |