ACTUATING ELEMENT OF NUCLEAR REACTOR CONTROL AND PROTECTION SYSTEM Russian patent published in 2002 - IPC

FIELD: nuclear reactor safety equipment. SUBSTANCE: actuating element has vertically mounted dry can with central and peripheral sleeves, neutron absorbers in peripheral sleeve, and means for holding absorbers in position above the core and driving them into core and resetting to initial position; novelty is that it is provided in addition with ionizing radiation sensor designed for remote control of its entrance in and exit from the core. Means for holding absorbers in upper position are made in the form of assembly of remote-control pawls for absorber hangers and means for lifting absorber from lower to upper position are formed by sensor movable within central sleeve, its lower nozzle being designed for engaging absorber pushing pistons mounted in peripheral sleeves through coupling collet when absorbers are in lower position and for disengaging them when they are in their upper position; piston-to-collet coupling members are disposed in vertical slits between peripheral and central sleeves. Means for holding absorbers in upper position may be made in the form of controlled electromagnet with poles for holding off-line magnetic-control pushing pistons disposed in peripheral sleeves and used as absorber supports; means for lifting absorbers from lower to upper position are made in the form of pneumatic drive formed by same pushing pistons and peripheral sleeves; lower part of each sleeve is joined through central sleeve with controlled-pressure gas line and upper one, with low-pressure (atmospheric-pressure) line. Reactivity control of reactor both during its operation and upon shutdown is effected by means of emergency control signal in response to which absorbers are dropped in core. Energy release of reactor is mainly checked upon reactor shutdown by sending ionizing radiation sensor signal into core and measuring it. EFFECT: provision for integrating reactivity control and energy release check-up functions. 3 cl, 2 dwg