Abstract: The invention provides a regulating apparatus (10) for regulating the movement of spherical elements from one location, typically from a container (14), to another. The apparatus (10) includes a cylindrical tubular member (18) and a feed head (20) mounted in the spherical tubular member (18) so that it is rotatable relative thereto about an axis of rotation (22). A feed passage (32) opens upwardly out of a radially outer edge portion of the feed head (20). As the feed head (20) rotates, spherical elements enter the feed passage (32) and are discharged therefrom.

Abstract: This invention relates to a nuclear power plant (10) having a nuclear reactor (11) of the pebble bed type, making use of spherical fuel and/or moderator elements, and an element handling system (20) having at least one sphere flow path (22) along which spheres are conveyed under the influence of a fluid stream. More particularly, the invention relates to a method of decelerating spheres before being discharged from a discharge end (24) the sphere flow path (22). The invention extends to an element handling system (20), to a decelerating assembly (26) for decelerating spherical elements before being discharged from a discharge end (24) of the sphere flow path (22) and to a decelerator fitting for use in decelerating spherical elements before being discharged from a discharge end (24) of the sphere flow path (22).