Patent ID: 8542791
Filing Date: 2013-09-24
Classification: G21C,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A refueling apparatus for charging a nuclear fuel assembly in a reactor vessel, the refueling apparatus comprising: a refueling unit for loading new nuclear fuel to a reactor core or extracting spent nuclear fuel from the core; and a waveguide sensor unit including an ultrasonic wedge configured to form a Lamb wave, a waveguide with a first end connected to the ultrasonic wedge and with a second end configured to transmit the Lamb wave into liquid metal in the reactor vessel, and an ultrasonic sensor connected to the ultrasonic wedge and configured to sense a reflection signal reflected from an inside of the reactor vessel, the waveguide being formed in a plate shape and mounted in an end of the refueling unit, wherein the waveguide integrally moves with the refueling unit, and the waveguide sensor unit is configured to detect a condition of the inside of the reactor vessel, while the refueling unit refuels the fuel assembly in the reactor vessel, and wherein the refueling unit has a space for the waveguide, and at least a portion of the waveguide is mounted in the refueling unit.