METHOD FOR NONDESTRUCTIVE INSPECTION OF TECHNICAL STATE OF GRAPHITE STACK OF URANIUM-GRAPHITE NUCLEAR REACTORS Russian patent published in 2014 - IPC G21C17/00 

FIELD: physics, atomic power.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to operation of a uranium-graphite nuclear reactor and can be used in nondestructive inspection of the state of process channels and graphite stack of a RBMK reactor core. The method involves generating an electric current in the graphite stack, detecting the resultant magnetic field inside the channel tubes of the process channel and determining the technical state of the graphite stack based on a set of measurements. Electrical current in the graphite stack is generated using a source which is connected to an electrical circuit, part of which is the graphite stack. The electrical circuit includes a source which is connected through electrodes to the inner surface of the tubes of the process channels, upper and lower plates, as well as tubes included in between, which are electrically connected to blocks of the surrounding graphite stack. When the graphite columns bend, they electrically close and the resultant stray current is detected from the resultant magnetic field.

EFFECT: enabling express inspection to detect bending graphite columns and detecting dangerous cracks therein not only without retrieving the process channel from the graphite stack, but with minimal volume of fuel removed from the process channels.

7 cl, 15 dwg