Irradiation device for material test using gamma ray from spent nuclear fuel assembly

The present invention relates to an irradiation device for material test using a gamma ray radiated from a spent nuclear fuel assembly and provides the irradiation device for material test using a gamma ray radiated from a spent nuclear fuel assembly wherein an irradiation device for material test to achieve a radiation effect evaluation is manufactured to be movable upward, downward and horizontally in order to study the hardening phenomenon of the frail materials to the radiation among the atomic power facilities using a gamma ray radiated from a spent nuclear fuel assembly, thereby it is possible to adjust a position of the spent nuclear fuel used for material test using a gamma ray radiated from a spent nuclear fuel and a test material, identify a distance between the spent nuclear fuel and the test material easily with a scale and evaluate the radiation effects on the materials used at facilities handling a spent nuclear fuel under the same situation as they are really exposed. Further the present invention comprises a support constructed vertically; a vertical moving table which is capable of moving upward and downward connected with a proper position of the support; a moving device for moving said vertical moving table upward and downward; a horizontal moving table which is capable of moving horizontally placed on the vertical moving table; a horizontal moving bar which is capable of moving horizontally placed on the vertical moving table; and a driving device for driving the horizontal moving table and the horizontal moving bar horizontally.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2006-0048219, filed on May 29, 2006, which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to an irradiation device to test material using gamma rays radiated from a spent nuclear fuel assembly. In particular, in order to research a hardening process of material weakening due to radiation in atomic power facilities from gamma rays radiated from a spent nuclear fuel assembly, the present invention provides an irradiation device to test material, the device being capable of moving upward, downward and horizontally, thereby controlling a position of a spent nuclear fuel and a test material for a radiation test on the test material using gamma rays radiated from the spent nuclear fuel for accomplishing an evaluation of radiation effects. The present invention further provides an irradiation device for a material test using gamma rays radiated from a spent nuclear fuel assembly in which a scale is placed to discern a distance between the spent nuclear fuel assembly and a test material.

2. Discussion of the Background

A spent nuclear fuel generally generated at a nuclear power or nuclear fuel laboratory generates various kinds of radiation such as a particles, β rays, γ rays, neutrons, etc. and the materials of facilities for handling and storing the spent nuclear fuel are to be irradiated by such radiation rays in a large amount.

Therefore, various kinds of parts and devices constructed in the facilities for handling and storing the spent nuclear fuel are degenerated by being exposed to the radiation circumstance, and this is regarded as a main cause of a malfunction of the parts and devices used for handling the spent nuclear fuel or a decrease in the longevity thereof.

Therefore, in order to operate the facilities for handling and storing the spent nuclear fuel safely, it is important to evaluate the effects caused by radiation of various kinds on nuclear power material.

In order to do so, the experiments to identify a degeneration phenomenon of the materials exposed to radiation circumstance, need to consider effects caused by neutral particles, alpha particles and beta rays among the radiation generated from the spent nuclear fuel, which except for effects caused by gamma rays are so scarce, since experiments for identifying the degeneration phenomenon of the materials exposed to the radiation circumstance are performed under the gamma ray irradiation until now.

To perform such experiments, the existing facilities for an irradiation test using gamma rays have mainly used60Co sources and the gamma rays evaluation test of gamma rays on materials are partially performed using137Cs sources.

In the existing gamma ray irradiation facility, using60Co sources and137CS sources, where the gamma rays energies are at 1.17 MeV, 1.332 MeV and at 0.662 MeV respectively, cannot describe a various energy spectrum of gamma rays generated from a spent nuclear fuel and the effects thereof on material.

Since such energy and flux-to-dose-rate of gamma rays generated from a spent nuclear fuel assembly have a various spectrum according to burn-up, cooling time, position and distance of nuclear fuel assembly, it is required to develop and make an irradiation device to describe the various circumstances of gamma ray irradiation radiated from a spent nuclear fuel.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention provides an irradiation device to test material capable of moving upward, downward and horizontally to accomplish an evaluation of radiation effects, thereby controlling a position of a spent nuclear fuel and a test material for a radiation test on the test material using gamma rays radiated from the spent nuclear fuel and further provides an irradiation device to test material using gamma rays radiated from a spent nuclear fuel assembly in which a scale is placed to discern a distance between the spent nuclear fuel assembly and the test material.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention provides an irradiation device to test material using gamma rays radiated from a spent nuclear fuel assembly which includes a support placed in the vertical direction; a vertical moving table which is capable of moving upward and downward connected with a position of the support; a moving device for moving said vertical moving table upward and downward; a horizontal moving table which is capable of moving horizontally placed on the vertical moving table; a horizontal moving bar which is capable of moving horizontally placed on the vertical moving table; and a driving device for driving the horizontal moving table and the horizontal moving bar horizontally.

Desirably, the support comprises shaped steels, each having two wings and both wings separated from each other by a fixed space distance, a bottom plate placed horizontally under the shaped steels, a flat plate having a plate body placed in front of the shaped steels with a longitudinal direction, and a linear guide rail placed on each of the right and left side of the front of the flat plate.

In this place, a reinforcement member slopes at a fixed angle on a position of a front-below side of the flat plate and on an end portion of one side of the bottom plate.

And a guide having a flat plate body is formed on a front-top of the flat plate, the guide is connected with the flat plate by a plate body and a guide hole is pierced on the top of the guide through the flat plate body.

Meanwhile, a support plate having a plate body is constructed on the top of the back side of the flat plate.

In this place, the vertical moving table is composed of an upper plate having a plate body, a lower plate spaced apart from the upper plate by a fixed distance, the lower plate substantially the same length and shape as the upper plate and a vertical flat plate placed vertically on one end of the upper plate and a corresponding one end of the lower plate, respectively.

And a reinforcement member slopes at a fixed angle on the bottom end of the vertical flat plate and another end of the lower plate.

In addition, both sides of one end of the upper plate and the lower plate have L-shaped coupling parts respectively and a plurality of slider blocks are placed in the vertical direction to each of the coupling parts.

And a coupling hole having a fixed diameter is pierced on a portion in the middle part of the upper plate and the lower plate respectively.

Also, a plurality of taps for combining a locking member therewith are pierced on the upper plate and the lower plate.

Meanwhile, a scale having a fixed length is placed on a position of the upper plate.

In this place, the moving device consists of a moving handle to apply a turning force, a decelerator for reducing the turning force provided by the moving handle, a bevel gear to apply a torque increased according as the turning force is reduced by the decelerator, a ball screw having a round bar shape connected with the bevel gear and a ball screw nut placed on a position of the ball screw.

Desirably, support units are placed respectively on a position of both ends of the ball screw.

Meanwhile, the horizontal moving table consists of a moving plate formed to be a plate body, a ball screw having a ball screw nut connected to a lower side of the moving plate, a bevel gear connected to one of the ends of the ball screw and a hinge bracket connected to the bevel gear.

In this place, support units are placed respectively on a portion of both ends of the ball screw.

And a plurality of slider blocks are placed on both sides of the lower side of the moving plate and a linear guide rail for moving the moving plate is combined with the slide blocks.

Desirably, a fixed part of a pointer in a position on the moving plate in the shape of a wedge is exposed to the outside.

In addition, a shaft having a square section on the top of the hinge bracket is projected upward.

Meanwhile, the horizontal moving bar consists of a moving piece in the shape of a square bar, a ball screw having a ball screw nut connected with one end of the moving piece, a bevel gear connected with one of the ends of the ball screw and a hinge bracket connected with the bevel gear.

Desirably, a slider block is formed on the end of the moving piece, a slide bar is connected with the slider block by inserting therein and an end of the slide bar and the ball screw nut are connected by a damping spring.

And support units are placed respectively on a portion of both end sides of the ball screw.

In addition, brackets having a guide roller for guiding a movement of the moving piece are placed respectively on both sides of the moving piece.

In this place, a scale is built on the upper side of the moving piece.

And a shaft having a square section on the upper side of the hinge bracket is projected upward.

Meanwhile the driving device consists of a long driving bar having a round bar shape and a driving handle placed on the top end of the driving bar.

Desirably, a coupling groove having a square section is formed on the lower side end of the driving bar.

In this place, a shield and a reservoir for holding an atomic power material is further included.

Desirably, the reservoir is in the shape of a hexahedron with an open top which includes a housing having an atomic power material and shielding body therein and a lid placed on the open top of the housing.

Alternatively, a gasket is interposed between the housing and the lid.

In this place, the gasket is made of metal material.

Alternatively, the gasket is made of synthetic resin material.

In this place, a plurality of locking holes having a locking member are pierced in the edge of the lid and a plurality of locking holes for installing a locking member are pierced in a flange in the upper and lower edges of the housing.

And the shielding body consists of an upper shielding body and a lower shielding body and a setting groove for inserting and installing an atomic power material into a position of one side of the lower shielding body.

In addition, an I bolt is placed on a position of both upper sides of the upper shielding body.

Examples according to the present invention are explained in detail hereinafter referring to the attached figures.

FIG. 1represents a front view of a support of an irradiation device to test material using gamma rays radiated from a spent nuclear fuel assembly of the present invention,FIG. 2represents a plan view of the support of an irradiation device ofFIG. 1,FIG. 3represents a front view of a vertical moving table of an irradiation device to test material using gamma rays radiated from a spent nuclear fuel assembly of the present invention,FIG. 4represents a plan view of the vertical moving table ofFIG. 3,FIG. 5represents a front view of a moving device for moving a vertical moving table of an irradiation device to test material using gamma rays radiated from a spent nuclear fuel assembly of the present invention,FIG. 6represents a plan view of the moving device for moving a vertical moving table ofFIG. 5,FIG. 7represents a front view of a horizontal moving table of an irradiation device to test material using gamma rays radiated from a spent nuclear fuel assembly of the present invention,FIG. 8represents a plan view of the horizontal moving table ofFIG. 7,FIG. 9represents a front view of a horizontal moving bar of an irradiation device to test material using gamma rays radiated from a spent nuclear fuel assembly of the present invention,FIG. 10represents a plan view of the horizontal moving bar ofFIG. 9,FIG. 11represents a front view of a driving handle of an irradiation device to test material using gamma rays radiated from a spent nuclear fuel assembly of the present invention,FIG. 12represents a plan view of the driving handle ofFIG. 11.

As shown in the figures, the irradiation device1to test material using gamma rays radiated from a spent nuclear fuel assembly of the present invention comprises a support10, a vertical moving table20, a moving device30, a horizontal moving table40, a horizontal moving bar50and a driving device60.

The support10(FIG. 1andFIG. 2) comprises shaped steels11each having two wings and both wings separated from each other by a fixed space distance, a bottom plate12placed horizontally under each shaped steel11, a flat plate13having a plate body placed in front of each of the shaped steels11with a longitudinal direction, a linear guide rail14placed on each right and left side of the front of the flat plate13.

In this place, the linear guide rail14is placed in the vertical direction to the flat plate13and placed on a position of right and left sides of the flat plate13.

Meanwhile, a reinforcement member15for supporting the flat plate13slopes at a fixed angle on a position of a front-below side of the flat plate13and on a position of an end portion of the bottom plate12.

And the front side of each shaped steel11is connected with the back side of the flat plate13and supports the flat plate13. That is, the flat plate13is placed in the vertical direction and each shaped steel11is placed to be in contact with each side of the back side of the flat plate13having a long plate body, thereby reinforcing the flat plate13.

Meanwhile, a guide18having a flat plate body is formed on a front-top of the flat plate13and a lateral side of the guide18is connected with the front side of the flat plate13by a plate body19, but the guide18and the flat plate13are spaced apart from each other by a fixed distance and a guide hole18ais pierced on the top of the guide18through the flat plate body.

Also, the guide hole18ais pierced in the central part of the guide18and the guide hole18ais connected with a bar62of the driving device60(FIG. 11) described later by inserting therein and has a spin-pair relations with each other (FIG. 23).

In this place, it is preferable that guides18placed on a front-upper side of the flat plate13be placed on each side of the flat plate13symmetrically with respect to the center of the flat plate13.

Also, a support plate17having a plate body is constructed on a position of the back-upper side of the flat plate13in order for the moving device30to be placed.

The vertical moving table20(FIG. 3andFIG. 4) is composed of an upper plate21having a plate body, a lower plate22spaced apart from the upper plate21by a fixed distance the lower plate22substantially the same length and shape as the upper plate21corresponding thereto, a vertical flat plate23placed vertically on the both sides of one end of the upper plate and the lower plate21,22respectively and a reinforcement member24sloped at a fixed angle on the bottom end of the vertical flat plate23and the other end of the lower plate22.

In this place, the reinforcement member24sloped at a fixed angle between the lower plate22and the vertical flat plate23not only supports the lower plate22but also reinforces the relations of the upper plate and the lower plate21,22and the vertical flat plate23.

Meanwhile, both sides of the one ends of the upper plate and the lower plate21,22have L-shaped coupling parts25respectively and slider blocks26for moving upward and downward when connected with the linear guide rails14which are placed on both right and left sides of the flat plate13of the support10, the slider blocks26are placed in the vertical direction to each of the coupling parts25and are constructed on the upper and lower ends of each vertical flat plate23.

An example of the present invention teaches that there are four slide blocks26constructed on the upper and lower ends of each vertical flat plate23but the slide blocks26can be more or less than four.

And a coupling hole27with a fixed diameter corresponding to a ball screw nut35of the moving device30(FIG. 5andFIG. 6) as described later is pierced on a position of the one ends of the upper and the lower plates21,22in order to be connected with the ball screw nut35.

In addition, a plurality of taps28for combining a locking member therewith are pierced on the upper plate and the lower plate21,22.

In this place, a scale49(seeFIG. 8andFIG. 18) having a fixed length is placed on a position of the upper plate21of the vertical moving table20.

The moving device30for moving the vertical moving table20upward and downward consists of a moving handle31, a decelerator32for reducing the turning force provided by the moving handle31, a bevel gear33for a torque increased according as the turning force is reduced by the decelerator32to be applied, a ball screw34having a round bar shape connected with the bevel gear33and a ball screw nut35placed on a position of the ball screw34.

In this place, support units36to be locked by a locking member such as a bolt are placed respectively on both end sides of the ball screw34.

In case of spinning the moving handle31by the above-said constitution, a turning force of the moving handle31is delivered to a ball screw34through the decelerator32and the bevel gear33and the ball screw34is spun by the delivered turning force.

In the case of spinning the moving handle31by such a constitution, a turning force of the moving handle31is delivered to the ball screw34through the decelerator32and the bevel gear33and the delivered turning force spins the ball screw34.

And a ball screw nut35can be placed on a position of the ball screw34and by the spinning of the ball screw34the ball screw nut35moves upward and downward.

At this time, support units36placed respectively on both ends of the ball screw34are fixed by a locking member (non-illustrated).

In this place, it is preferable that a separate handle be further equipped to the moving handle31for workers to chuck and spin the moving handle31.

The horizontal moving table40(FIG. 7andFIG. 8) consists of a moving plate41formed to be a plate body, a ball screw42having a ball screw nut43connected to a low part side of the moving plate41, a bevel gear45connected to one of the end sides of the ball screw42and a hinge bracket46connected to the bevel gear45.

In this place, support units44are locked and fixed by a locking member (non-illustrated) respectively on a position of both end sides of the ball screw42and the ball screw nut43moves horizontally on the ball screw42by the spinning of the ball screw42.

Meanwhile, as stated above, in order to move the moving plate41connected with the ball screw nut43by moving of the ball screw nut43caused by the spinning of the ball screw42, a plurality of slider blocks47are placed on a position of each side of the low part side of the moving plate41and linear guide rails48for moving the moving plate41according to the spinning of the ball screw42are combined with the slide blocks47in order for the slide blocks47to slide thereon wherein the linear guide rails48are connected by the locking member (non-illustrated) respectively with a position in the longitudinal direction of each side of the upper side of the upper plate21of the vertical moving table20. In this place, a fixed part of a pointer41ain a position of the moving plate41in the shape of a wedge is exposed to the outside, and the scale49is placed in a longitudinal direction of a position corresponding to the pointer41awherein the scale49is placed on a position of the upper plate21of the vertical moving table20.

In the case of horizontally moving the moving plate41of the horizontal moving table40by the constitution as stated above, a pointer41aplaced on a position of the moving plate41indicates the graduations of the scale49placed on a position of the upper plate21of the vertical moving table20, thereby measuring the horizontal moving distance of the moving plate41.

Meanwhile, a shaft46ahaving a square section on the top of the hinge bracket46is projected upward wherein the shaft46ais connected with the driving device60(FIG. 11) stated later and the shaft46aspins.

The horizontal moving bar50(FIG. 9) consists of a moving piece51in the shape of square bar, a ball screw52having a ball screw nut53connected with one end of the moving piece51, the ball screw52placed in a horizontal direction, a bevel gear55connected with one end of the ball screw52and a hinge bracket56connected with the bevel gear55.

In this place, a damping spring53ais placed between the end sides of the ball screw nut53of the ball screw52and the one end of the moving piece51, thereby connecting the ball screw nut53and the moving piece51.

Meanwhile, a slider block57is formed on the one end of the moving piece51, a slide bar58is connected with the slider block57by inserting therein and an end of the slide bar58and the ball screw nut53are connected by the damping spring53a.

And support units54are fixed by a locking member (non-illustrated) and placed respectively on a portion of both ends of the ball screw52wherein the ball screw52spins centering around each support unit54, thereby making the ball screw nut53placed on a position of the ball screw52able to move horizontally.

According to the above-said constitution, the ball screw nut53moves horizontally by the spinning of the ball screw52, the ball screw nut53is inserted into the damping spring53aconnected with the end thereof, and the slide bar58is combined with the slider block57connected with the damping spring53a, thereby moving a moving piece51horizontally.

At this time, a bracket51bhaving a guide roller51afor guiding the moving piece51is constructed on a position of both sides of the moving piece51of the horizontal moving bar50and the bracket51bis connected with an upper side of the lower plate22of the vertical moving table by a locking member (non-illustrated).

In this place, a scale59is built on an upper side of the moving piece51wherein it is possible to identify and measure a distance between a spent nuclear fuel assembly and a vertical moving table20during gamma ray irradiation by the scale59.

Meanwhile, a shaft56ahaving a square section on the upper side of the hinge bracket56is projected upward and is connected with a driving bar64of the driving device60(FIG. 11) as stated later.

The driving device60(FIG. 11andFIG. 12) consists of a long driving bar62having a round bar shape and a driving handle61placed on the top end of the driving bar62.

In this place, a coupling groove63having a square section is formed on the lower end of the driving bar62and is connected with the shafts46a,56a(seeFIG. 7andFIG. 9) having a square section projected upward on the upper side of the hinge brackets46,56which are placed respectively on the horizontal moving table40and the horizontal moving bar50, and in the case of spinning the driving handle61of the driving device60, the hinge brackets46,56of the horizontal moving table40and the horizontal moving bar50spin accordingly and a moving plate41of the horizontal moving table40and a moving piece51of the horizontal moving bar50move.

Meanwhile, it is preferable that a separate handle be further equipped to the driving handle61for workers to chuck and spin the driving handle61.

An example of the present invention teaches that the coupling groove63formed on the lower end of the driving bar62of the driving device60has a square section but it can have triangle, hexagon or octagon section and it is preferable that the shafts46a,56aof each hinge brackets46,56connected with the coupling groove63be formed to correspond to a section shape of the coupling groove63.

A combination process of an irradiation device1to test material using gamma rays radiated from a spent nuclear fuel assembly of the present invention is explained hereinafter referring toFIGS. 13-24.

First of all, a combination process of the support10and the vertical moving table20of the irradiation device1to test material using gamma rays radiated from a spent nuclear fuel assembly of the present invention is explained referring toFIGS. 13-14.

The vertical moving table20is constructed on the support10and the flat plate13. That is, the slider blocks26placed in the vertical direction on the vertical flat plate23of the vertical moving table20are combined with the linear guide rails14placed in the vertical direction on each of the right and left sides of the flat plate13of the support10.

As stated above, combining the slide blocks26of the vertical moving table20with the linear guide rail14of the support10makes the vertical moving table20move on the guide rail14of the support10.

In this manner, a vertical moving table20is placed on the support10and then the support10and the moving device30for moving the vertical moving table20upward and downward are combined together.

That is, as illustrated inFIGS. 15 and 16, the vertical moving table20is constructed on the support10and the decelerator32of the moving device30is laid on the support plate17placed on the upper side of the flat plate13of the support10(seeFIGS. 13 and 14).

At this time, the ball screw nut35of the ball screw34connected with the decelerator32by the bevel gear33in the vertical direction is fixed by combining with the coupling hole27pierced on a position of the end side of the upper plate21of the vertical moving table20and the support units36placed respectively on a position of both ends of the ball screw34are connected with a position of the upper and lower portions of the front side of the flat plate13of the support10by a locking member (non-illustrated).

In this place, a decelerator32placed on the support plate17constructed on the upper side of the flat plate13of the support10is connected with the support plate17and fixed by a locking member.

Meanwhile, a ball screw34connected with the bevel gear33is placed on the upper side of the flat plate13of the support10and is built between plate bodies19(seeFIG. 1andFIG. 2) connecting the guide18with the flat plate13at a fixed distance from each other.

And then, a horizontal moving table40is combined with the vertical moving table20.

That is, referring toFIGS. 17 and 18, the linear guide rails48are fixed on the plurality of taps28(seeFIG. 3andFIG. 4) placed on a position of both the right and left sides of the upper plate21in the longitudinal direction by a locking member (non-illustrated).

That is, the linear guide rails48are placed respectively on the taps28pierced on both right and left sides of the upper plate21in a longitudinal direction by using a locking member.

And the slider blocks47placed respectively on the lower side of the moving plate41of the horizontal moving table40are combined with each linear guide rail48locked on the upper plate21to be movable.

At this time, the end of the ball screw42connected with the moving plate41by the ball screw nut43(seeFIG. 8) is connected with the upper side of the vertical moving table20by a hinge bracket46.

As stated above, the horizontal moving table40is placed on the upper plate21of the vertical moving table20and the scale49is placed on one side of the upper plate21of the vertical moving table20wherein the scale49is placed on a corresponding position to the pointer41aplaced on the moving plate41.

And then, the horizontal moving bar50is built between the upper and lower plates21,22of the vertical moving table20.

That is, as illustrated inFIGS. 19 and 20, the horizontal moving bar50is built on the center part of the space between the upper plate21and the lower plate22of the vertical moving plate20and then the bracket51b(seeFIG. 9) comprising a guide roller51aplaced respectively on a position of both sides of the moving piece51of the horizontal moving bar50is fixed on the lower plate22by a locking member (non-illustrated).

Also, a hinge bracket56connected with the end of the moving piece51by the ball screw52is connected with the lower plate22of the vertical moving table20and support units54placed on the ends of the ball screw52of the horizontal moving bar50are fixed on the upper side of the lower plate22by a locking member (non-illustrated).

As stated above, placing the moving bar50between the upper plate21and the lower plate22of the vertical moving table20is illustrated inFIGS. 21 and 22.

In this manner, the horizontal moving table40is placed on the upper plate21of the vertical moving table20and the horizontal moving bar50is placed between the upper plate21and the lower plate22of the vertical moving table20, thereby horizontally moving the horizontal moving table40and the horizontal moving bar50centering around the vertical moving table20.

Meanwhile, the horizontal moving table40is placed on the upper plate21of the vertical moving table20, the horizontal moving bar50is placed between the upper plate21and the lower plate22of the vertical moving table20and then the driving device60for driving the horizontal moving bar50is placed thereon, thereby finishing the combination procedure of the irradiation device1to test material using gamma rays radiated from a spent nuclear fuel assembly.

In this place, as illustrated inFIGS. 23 and 24, the driving device60is combined with the guide hole18aof the guide18placed on the upper side of the flat plate13of the support10by inserting therein and the coupling groove63having a square section is connected with the horizontal moving table40.

That is, the driving bar62having a fixed length in a round bar shape of the driving device60is inserted and fixed in the guide hole18aof the guide18placed on the upper side of the flat plate13of the support10and the lower side of the driving bar62in which the coupling groove63having a square section is formed is combined with the square section shaft46aof the hinge bracket46placed on the end side of the horizontal moving table40.

As stated above, the vertical moving table20is built on the support10, the moving device30is built on the vertical moving table20, the horizontal moving table40and the horizontal moving bar50are built on the vertical moving table20and the driving device60is built thereon, thereby finishing the combination procedure of an irradiation device1to test material using gamma rays radiated from a spent nuclear fuel assembly.

Meanwhile, in order to experiment on changes in all kinds of atomic power materials to radioactive rays radiated from a spent nuclear fuel assembly using the irradiation device1to test material using gamma rays radiated from a spent nuclear fuel assembly of the present invention, a shield and a storage reservoir for holding an experimental material are needed.

In this manner, in the irradiation device1to test material using gamma rays radiated from a spent nuclear fuel assembly, the reservoir70for holding an experimental material is, as illustrated inFIGS. 25,26and27, in the shape of a hexahedron with an open top which consists of a housing71having an atomic power material74and a shielding body75therein, a lid72placed on the open top of the housing71and a gasket73placed between the housing71and the lid72for sealing them up.

In this place, it is preferable that the gasket73be made of metal material and be in the shape of plate body for sealing up the housing71and the lid72.

An example of the present invention teaches that the gasket73is placed between the lid72and the housing71for preventing a fluid from inflowing during working under water but an O-ring made of synthetic resin material containing rubber material or a rubber ring can be placed between the lid72and the housing71.

In this place, a plurality of locking holes72ahaving a locking member (non-illustrated) are pierced in the edge of the lid72and flanges79are placed respectively in the upper and lower edges of the housing71wherein a plurality of locking holes79afor installing a locking member (non-illustrated) are pierced on a position of the flanges79.

Meanwhile, the shielding body75built in the housing71consists of an upper shielding body76and a lower shielding body77and a setting groove77afor inserting and installing an atomic power material74into one side of the lower shielding body77is formed.

In this place, an I bolt76afor assembling and disassembling the shielding body is placed on a position of both upper sides of the upper shielding body.

As stated above, in the irradiation device1to test material using gamma rays radiated from a spent nuclear fuel assembly, the reservoir70for holding an experimental material is placed on the moving plate41of the horizontal moving table40of the irradiation device1to test material using gamma rays radiated from a spent nuclear fuel assembly.

We explain a driving procedure of the irradiation device1to test material using gamma rays radiated from a spent nuclear fuel assembly of the present invention referring toFIGS. 28 and 29hereinafter.

First of all, the irradiation device1to test material of the present invention is installed in a near position to a spent nuclear fuel assembly3.

At this time, the reservoir70for holding nuclear fuel materials is installed on a horizontal moving table40of the irradiation device1for material test using a gamma ray radiated from a spent nuclear fuel assembly3.

Also, by controlling the moving device30connected with the support10of the irradiation device1to test material using gamma rays radiated from the spent nuclear fuel assembly3, the vertical moving table20installed on the support10to be movable upward and downward moves.

That is, by controlling the moving handle31of the moving device30connected with the support10, the ball screw34connected with the decelerator32of the moving handle31and the bevel gear33spins and the ball screw nut35connected with the upper plate21of the vertical moving table20and placed on a position of the ball screw34by the spinning of the ball screw34moves upward and downward, thereby moving the vertical moving table20upward and downward.

At this time, the vertical moving table20is moved on the flat plate13of the support10upward and downward more easily by the slider blocks26placed on both sides of the vertical flat plate23of the vertical moving table20and the linear guide rails14combined with the slider blocks26.

As stated above, by moving the vertical moving table20upward and downward centering around the support10with the moving device30to place on a position of the spent nuclear power fuel assembly3in a longitudinal direction and by controlling the driving device60, the horizontal moving table40moves horizontally to the spent nuclear fuel assembly3.

That is, the square section shaft46aprojected upward on the upper side of the hinge bracket46placed on the end of the horizontal moving table40is combined with the square section coupling groove63placed on the lower end of the driving bar62of the driving device60and then by controlling the driving handle61of the driving device60, the ball screw42connected with the hinge bracket46by the bevel gear45spins and the ball screw nut43connected with the lower side of the moving plate41of the horizontal moving table40and placed on a position of the ball screw by the spinning of the ball screw42moves to move the horizontal moving table40horizontally centering around the vertical moving table40.

At this time, slider blocks47placed respectively on both lower sides of the moving plate41of the horizontal moving table40move along linear guide rails48placed respectively on a position of both sides of the vertical moving table20, thereby moving the moving plate41of the horizontal moving table40horizontally more easily.

In this place, it is possible to measure a moving distance of the horizontal moving table40by the pointer41aplaced on a position of the moving plate41of the horizontal moving table40and the scale49placed on a position corresponding to the pointer41aand placed on the upper plate21of the vertical moving table20.

Meanwhile, the driving device60is controlled, thereby moving the horizontal moving bar50horizontally to the spent nuclear power fuel assembly3.

That is, the square section shaft56aprojected upward on the upper side of the hinge bracket56placed on the end side of the horizontal moving bar50is combined with the square section coupling groove63formed on the lower side of the driving bar62of the driving device60and then the ball screw52connected with the hinge bracket56by the bevel gear55by controlling the driving handle61of the driving device60, the ball screw nut53moves horizontally by the spinning of the ball screw52, the moving ball screw nut53is inserted into the damping spring53aconnected with the end side thereof and the slider bar58is combined with the slider block57connected with the damping spring53a, thereby moving the moving piece51.

At this time, it is possible to measure a distance between the spent nuclear fuel assembly3and the vertical moving table20by the scale59placed on the upper side of the moving piece51of the horizontal moving bar50.

In this manner, by moving the vertical moving table20upward and downward to a position for irradiating gamma rays centering around the support10and moving the horizontal moving table40and the horizontal moving bar50horizontally, a moving distance of the horizontal moving table40and a distance between the vertical moving table20and the spent nuclear fuel assembly3are measured, it is possible to control the distance between the radiation materials and the spent nuclear fuel assembly3and make a research on the degeneration phenomenon of materials susceptible to the radiation and evaluate the radiation effects on the materials used at facilities and devices handling spent nuclear fuel under the real situation.

We explained the preferable example of the present invention above, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to such a specific example and it is possible for those skilled in the art to properly change the present invention within a scope described in the claims.

As stated above, the present invention having such a constitution teaches that an irradiation device1to test material to achieve a radiation effect evaluation is manufactured to be movable upward, downward and horizontally in order to study the hardening phenomenon of the materials susceptible to the radiation among the atomic power facilities using gamma rays radiated from a spent nuclear fuel assembly, thereby it is possible to adjust a position of the spent nuclear fuel used to test material using gamma rays radiated from the spent nuclear fuel and a test material, identify a distance between the spent nuclear fuel and the test material easily with a scale and evaluate the radiation effects on the materials used at facilities handling spent nuclear fuel under the same situation as they are really exposed.