Patents Assigned to AREVA
  • Device for the dry handling of nuclear fuel assemblies
    Patent number: 9355749
    Abstract: A device for the dry handling of nuclear fuel assemblies is provided. The device includes a transfer basket which can be connected to a lifter and which includes a gripper for gripping the fuel assembly to be transferred, the gripper being supported by a lift built into the basket; and an indexing table which can be placed on a cask and which comprises a positioner for positioning the basket over a slot in the cask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: AREVA NP
    Inventors: Mathieu Jean Maurice Chassignet, Frederic Jean-Marie Schermesser
  • System for storage and transportation of spent nuclear fuel
    Patent number: 9349493
    Abstract: A concrete storage module (26) is adapted to slideably receive a cylindrical canister assembly (12) therein. Heat dissipation fins (62) and a tubular heat shield (96) are disposed within the module to help dissipate heat emitted from the nuclear fuel assemblies stored in the canister to air flowing through the module. The canister assembly (12) is composed of a basket assembly (70) constructed from multi-layer structural plates disposed in cross-cross or egg carton configuration. A single port tool (106) is provided for draining water from the canister (12) and replacing the drain water with make-up gas. The single port tool is mounted in the cover (100) of the canister and is in fluid flow communication with the interior of the canister.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Areva Inc.
    Inventors: William Bracey, Thomas van Riper, Uwe Wolf, Jayant Rajabhau Bondre, Kamran Tavassoli, Raheel Haroon
  • Component for conducting or receiving a fluid and method for testing the component
    Patent number: 9347590
    Abstract: A component for conducting or receiving a fluid, in particular a component of a fluid-conducting line system of an industrial plant, especially of a line system of a tertiary cooling circuit of a nuclear power plant, includes a wall having a supporting structure made of a glass-fiber-reinforced plastic. Electrically insulating inner and outer protective layers are disposed on respective inner and outer surfaces of the supporting structure. An electrically conductive inner intermediate layer lies between the inner protective layer and the supporting structure and is provided with an electrical terminal. An electrically conductive outer intermediate layer lies between the outer protective layer and the supporting structure, is provided with an electrical terminal and is electrically insulated from the inner intermediate layer. A method for testing the component is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Areva GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Strohmer, Jens Saalfrank
  • Method for surface processing a zirconium or hafnium alloy, and component processed in this manner
    Patent number: 9340845
    Abstract: A method for surface processing at least a portion of a component of zirconium or hafnium alloy, including at least one operation of nanostructuring a surface layer of the alloy so as to confer on the alloy over a thickness of at least 5 ?m a grain size which is less than or equal to 100 nm, the nanostructuring being carried out at a temperature which is less than or equal to that of the last thermal processing operation to which the component was previously subjected during its production. Component of zirconium or hafnium alloy processed in this manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: AREVA NP
    Inventor: Dominique Hertz
  • Apparatus for detecting a magnetically conductive object and position measuring system for measuring the position of a guide rod and associated position measuring method
    Patent number: 9329019
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a magnetically conductive object in a detection area has an electrical coil and at least one sensor element. The apparatus is intended to be as free of degradation processes as possible and thus requires little maintenance and is configured and set up with the highest possible degree of redundancy and measurement reliability. For this purpose, the coil is set up to form a magnetic field in the detection area and the sensor element is configured to detect a magnetic field with a field strength, the magnitude of which is greater than a predefined threshold value. The threshold value is set to be higher than the field strength present in the detection area when the magnetically conductive object is absent and lower than the field strength present therein when the object is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Areva GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Reymann, Naeel Muhamad Ali
  • SECURED GRIPPING SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20160090277
    Abstract: A lifting beam is provided. The lifting beam includes a lower beam and an upper beam arranged above the lower beam; an arranger for arranging the beams in close and releasable engagement with one another; and systems for gripping the load. The gripping systems are kept in an open position when the beams are in engagement with one another, and in a closed position when an engager is released.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Applicant: AREVA NP
    Inventors: Joël ARCHER, Olivier SEVRIN
  • Increase in the separation factor between americium and curium and/or between lanthanides in a liquid-liquid extraction operation
    Patent number: 9284620
    Abstract: A method using diglycolamide for increasing the separation factor between americium and curium and/or between lanthanides during an extraction operation. The operation comprising putting an acid aqueous phase, in which are found the americium, curium and/or lanthanides, in contact with an organic phase non-miscible with water, containing at least one extractant in an organic diluent. The aqueous and organic phases are then separated, and the diglycolamide is added to the aqueous phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignees: Commissariat a l'energie atomique et aux energies alternatives, AREVA NC
    Inventors: Xavier Heres, Pascal Baron
  • Motor stand of a primary motor-driven pump unit of a pressurized water nuclear reactor
    Patent number: 9281084
    Abstract: A motor stand of a primary motor-driven pump unit of a pressurized water nuclear reactor comprises an upper flange and fixing means suited to ensure the fixing of transverse holding means of the said primary motor-driven pump unit, the said primary motor-driven pump unit comprising an electric motor having a lower flange suited to be integrated with the said upper flange of the said motor stand. The motor stand is characterized in that the said fixing means comprise an annular element resting on the said upper flange of the said motor stand suited to be flanged between the said upper flange of the said motor stand and the said lower flange of the said motor, the said fixing means comprising at least one radial excrescence in which there is arranged a space suited to receive the said holding means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: AREVA NP
    Inventor: Olivier Philippart
  • Apparatus and method for limiting and analyzing stress corrosion cracking in pressurized water reactors
    Patent number: 9280688
    Abstract: A method to assess and predict pressurized water stress corrosion cracking in operational nuclear power plants and the effect of adding zinc compounds into a reactor coolant system of the nuclear power plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: AREVA Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Glenn Lockamon, William Edward Allmon, Stephen Fyfitch, John Carroll Griffith
  • Transport container for nuclear fuel assembly and method of transporting a nuclear fuel assembly
    Patent number: 9275768
    Abstract: A container for a non-irradiated nuclear fuel assembly including a single casing for receiving at least one nuclear fuel assembly, the casing being formed from an elongate tubular shell, the shell including a metallic internal layer delimiting at least one individual housing for receiving a nuclear fuel assembly, and a metallic external layer surrounding the internal layer, the shell being filled between its internal layer and its external layer, and from lids for closing the or each housing at the longitudinal ends of the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: AREVA NP
    Inventors: Pierre Wegeler, Jacques Gauthier
  • Nuclear fuel rod spacer grid and framework and assembly comprising such a grid
    Patent number: 9275763
    Abstract: A grid including at least two meshed grid parts intended to be superposed in a longitudinal direction, each grid part extending in a transverse plane, and the grid parts being moveable one relative to the other in at least one transverse direction between an open configuration for the insertion of nuclear fuel rods in the longitudinal direction through the grid parts, and a closed configuration allowing each fuel rod inserted through the grid parts to be clamped transversely between the grid parts. According to one aspect of the invention, the grid includes elements for transversely immobilizing the grid parts in the closed configuration, the immobilizing elements being designed to engage as the superposed grid parts are moved closer together in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: AREVA NP
    Inventors: Noemie Gomez, Angelo Beati, Dominique Hertz, Thierry Muller
  • METHODS FOR SIMULATING THE FLOW OF A FLUID IN A VESSEL OF A NUCLEAR REACTOR AND FOR CALCULATING THE MECHANICAL DEFORMATION OF ASSEMBLIES OF A NUCLEAR REACTOR CORE, AND ASSOCIATED COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS
    Publication number: 20160042823
    Abstract: A method for simulating the flow of a fluid in a vessel of a nuclear reactor is provided. The nuclear reactor includes the vessel and a core inside the vessel, the core including nuclear fuel assemblies, each one extending in an axial direction, including nuclear fuel rods and a grid for maintaining the rods, and being spaced apart from another by a clearance between the grids in a transverse direction. This method for simulating a fluid flow in the vessel of a nuclear reactor includes determining of head loss coefficients in the core, and computing the fluid pressure and speed component(s) in the core using the equation: ?P=?K×V where P is the component of the fluid pressure, K is a matrix including the determined head loss coefficients, and V is a vector including the fluid speed component(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Applicant: AREVA NP
    Inventors: Nicolas Goreaud, Benjamin Chazot, Jérémy Galpin, Hubert Salaün, Elodie Mery De Montigny
  • Methods for Simulating the Flow of a Fluid in a Vessel of a Nuclear Reactor and for Calculating the Mechanical Deformation of Assemblies of a Nuclear Reactor Core, and Associated Computer Program Products
    Publication number: 20160042822
    Abstract: A method for simulating the fluid flow in a vessel of a nuclear reactor is provided. The reactor includes a core inside the vessel, the core including a lower plate, an upper plate and fuel assemblies extending between the plates, and having a volume axially delimited by first and second interfaces corresponding to the plates. The method includes computing, for the core volume, the fluid pressure and speed, from an initial value of the speed or pressure in the first interface and respectively in the second interface, and using the fluid mass, movement quantity and energy balance equations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Applicant: AREVA NP
    Inventors: Nicolas Goreaud, Jérémy Galpin, Benjamin Chazot, Hubert Salaün, Elodie Mery De Montigny
  • STAINLESS STEEL FOR HOT FORGING AND HOT FORGING METHOD USING SAID STEEL
    Publication number: 20160024626
    Abstract: A micro-alloyed austenitic stainless steel for hot forging is provided. The micro-alloyed austenitic stainless steel has the following composition in weight %: 16.0%?Cr?25.0%; 8.0%?Ni?25.0%; traces?Mo?6.0%; traces?C?0.08%; traces?Si?1.0%; traces?Mn?3.0%; traces?P 21 0.045%; traces?S?0.035%; traces?Cu?2.0%; traces?N?0.2%; traces?V?0.3%; traces?Ti?0.3%; traces?B?0.005%; traces?W?3.0%; 0.015%?Nb?0.100%, the remainder being iron and inevitable manufacturing impurities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Applicant: AREVA NP
    Inventor: Francois Louis Marie ROCH
  • Gripper
    Patent number: 9242381
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gripper for raising and lowering loads and having the following configuration:—it comprises a coupling part and a connecting part,—the connecting part is guided on the coupling part for movement along a movement axis between a first end position and a second end position, wherein those ends of the aforementioned parts which are oriented away from one another are further apart from one another in the first end position than in the second end position,—at least two catch elements are present on the coupling part and can be moved between a gripping position, in which they use a rear-engagement surface to engage behind a mating element of the load, and a release position, in which they release the mating element,—the connecting part is connected to the at least two catch elements via at least one gear mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: AREVA GMBH
    Inventors: Georg Krämer, Konrad Meier-Hynek, Lothar Nehr
  • METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DETERMINING THE RADIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY DEPOSITED IN A SEA BED
    Publication number: 20160018533
    Abstract: A device for measurement of the radiological activity in the bottom of an aqueous medium, comprising a sealed case for a radiological detector, means forming a truncated cone containing a material that allows radiation to be measured by said radiological detector to pass through it, comprising a short base and a long base, the long base forming an input face for the radiation to be measured, this cone being assembled to said case in a sealed manner, the short base being placed on the side of the detector input face, and the long base being designed to be placed facing the bottom of this aqueous medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Applicant: AREVA NC
    Inventor: Marc MESSALIER
  • Assembly and method for injecting water containing a neurton-absorbing element to cool a nuclear reactor core in a crisis situation
    Patent number: 9240252
    Abstract: An assembly is provided including a mobile structure including a main pipe equipped with a first end intended to be connected to a water supply and a second end intended to be connected to a circuit connected to the primary circuit of the reactor, and including between these two ends in the direction of circulation of the water, a pump, a water heating device, an injector for continuously injecting the powdered neutron-absorbing element into the water of the main pipe, a first mixer for mixing and dissolving powder with water and a controller driving and controlling the flow rate of the water and the flow rate of the powder injected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: AREVA NP
    Inventors: Thierry Muller, Emilie Maud Guillaume, Jean-Paul Bombail, Michael Guillodo
  • Method and device for detecting the drop of a cluster in a nuclear reactor
    Patent number: 9236152
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for detecting the drop of a cluster in a pressurized-water nuclear reactor, comprising the steps of: detecting a negative time derivative of the neutron flux, and comparing the absolute value of said time derivative to a first threshold value (S1); triggering a time delay (?T) if said absolute value is greater than said threshold value (S1); detecting a positive time derivative of said neutron flux, and comparing the absolute value of said time-derivative to a second threshold value (S2); and triggering the emergency shutdown of the reactor if the absolute value of said positive time derivative of said flux becomes greater than said second threshold value (S2) during said time delay (?T).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: AREVA NP
    Inventor: Christian Royere
  • METHOD FOR MEASURING DOSAGE BY MEANS OF A RADIATION DETECTOR, ESPECIALLY AN X-RADIATION OR GAMMA-RADIATION DETECTOR, USED IN THE SPECTROSCOPIC MODE, AND DOSAGE MEASUREMENT SYSTEM USING SAID METHOD
    Publication number: 20160003950
    Abstract: A method for measuring dosage by means of a radiation detector, especially an X-radiation or gamma-radiation detector, used in the spectroscopic mode, and a dosage measurement system using said method. A range of energies and a dose type H is chosen, a radiation detector of a given type is used, spectra measured by the detector are established for various radiations of the given type, the energies of which are within the chosen range and the respective doses of which are known, and from the spectra, a weighting function is established, that is a correspondence between a mean dose increment and a mean energy, deposited into the detector. This enables a person provided with a dosimeter identical to the detector to know at any time the mean absorbed dose rate, expressed in the amount H.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Applicant: AREVA NC
    Inventors: Jean-Marc FONTBONNE, Jean COLIN, Cathy FONTBONNE, Jacky JEHANNO
  • METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE GAIN AND ZERO OF A MULTI-PIXEL PHOTON COUNTER DEVICE, AND LIGHT-MEASURING SYSTEM IMPLEMENTING SAID METHOD
    Publication number: 20160003671
    Abstract: A method for controlling the gain and zero of a multiple pixel photon counter device, and light-measuring system implementing said method. Signals provided by the device are acquired for predefined periods, until a predefined total measurement time is reached, an amplitude histogram is formed from the acquired signals, the positions of two consecutive peaks, measurable on the histogram, are determined, an error signal is produced, which is equal to the deviation between both peaks and, by means of the same, the voltage supplying the device is regulated, so as to keep the deviation equal to a predefined set point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Applicant: AREVA NC
    Inventors: Jean-Marc FONTBONNE, Jean COLIN, Cathy FONTBONNE, Jacky.Allee JEHANNO