ACOUSTO-OPTICAL IMAGING DEVICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR WITH LIQUID-METAL HEAT-TRANSFER FLUID Russian patent published in 1994 - IPC

FIELD: nuclear power engineering. SUBSTANCE: acousto-optical imaging device has rod 2 which lower end has flange 5. Rod 2 is positioned for longitudinal movement in circular protrusion 8 of hollow body 3. Flange 5, hollow body 3 with circular protrusions 8, 12 and seals 10, 11 form tight chamber 6 filled with liquid metal 7 identical to heat transfer fluid of reactor. Ultrasonic converter 4 with membrane attached to rod 2 is permanently placed into chamber 6 and liquid metal 7. When device is used in nuclear reactor lower part of hollow body 3 is sunk into liquid-metal heat-transfer fluid. By rotation of nut 1 drive moves rod 2 to complete withdrawal of ultrasonic converter 4 from hollow body 3. With this chamber 6 opens, liquid metal 7 from it mixes with heat transfer fluid forming homogeneous medium for ultrasound. When operation is over rod 2 is withdrawn into hollow body 3, chamber 6 is sealed with remaining part of liquid metal in it. Excess of it flows over channels 9 of circular protrusion 8. Thus liquid metal 7 constantly contacts membrane of ultrasonic converter 4. For storage device is removed from nuclear reactor. EFFECT: reduced time of preparation of ultrasonic converter for operation by protection of membrane from oxidation. 1 dwg