Patent Number: 044316038
Section: description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The automatic, self-actuated device of this invention in a first embodiment is a valve which can be planned and designed to actuate as a function of the radiation "fluence"; defined as the time integrated, accumulated exposure to radiation. Operation of the valve may be continuous and linear with the fluence, or may be triggered to actuate at a certain fluence value. Refer to the single FIGURE. This schematic illustrates an application in which expansion of a bellows 1 causes valve shaft 2 to lift the valve plug 3 off seat 4, overcoming spring 5 force and opening the valve to permit flow therethrough. The entire valve may be located at the inlet to a blanket assembly (not shown). A reaction material 6 is located within the bellows, in this case in the form of a powder. The reaction material 6 may be boron carbide or other material which absorbs nuclear radiation and emits a gas. Boron carbide absorbs neutron irradiation and emits helium gas. As the powder 6 absorbs neutrons and emits helium gas, this gas accumulates in and pressurizes volume 7, expanding the bellows 1, and opening the valve. Prior to installation of the valve, a plan is developed which describes the future valve operation. Suppose that it is desired that the valve remain closed until a neutron fluence equivalent to 8,000 MWD/ton as measured in the reactor fuel has been observed by the valve, and open continuous thereafter, being fully open at 12,000 MWD/ton. Sufficient boron carbide powder is added to the bellows such that the spring 5 tension is just equaled by gas pressure at 8,000 MWD/ton, and the bellows is fully expanded at 12,000 MWD/ton. Besides planning the initial powder loading, the spring tension, initial pressure, and bellows expansion range may be adjusted. The pressure in the bellows will also vary with ambient temperature of the fluid. Buildup of pressure in the bellows due to neutron reactions can greatly exceed pressure variations due to expected temperature changes in many applications such that the temperature effect does not prevent proper valve operation. In some cases, a temperature change can be planned to favorably affect the valve: a valve which is currently 30% open will be opened somewhat more, admitting more coolant flow, during an incident involving higher fluid temperatures due to resulting higher gas temperature and gas pressure in the bellows 1. Several variations of the concept may be mentioned. The valve may have slots or holes in the valve seat 4 or plug 3 such that no absolute shutoff of flow is possible. The device itself may be disposed to be a trigger to the actuation of another device or valve. For example, the shaft 2 could be a locking device for a spring-loaded shaft for a valve, which valve is released to open or close on triggered release of the shaft by movement of the gas-impelled bellows. Additionally, shaft 2 may have ratchets which prevent movement of shaft 2 to return to a closed valve position in the event of a leak or rupture of bellows 1. The reaction material may be in several physical forms: powder, pellet, or even liquid. It is to be noted that the neutron fluence used to actuate the valve is precisely the parameter which varies the nuclear mass inventory of fuel and blanket assemblies, which inventory determines the desirable coolant flow rate. The valve is aptly suited therefore for use as a reactor assembly orifice. Several modifications of the device are possible without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the specification and drawing should be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting.