Abstract: Disclosed is a diagnostic apparatus structured to be electrically connected with a coil stack of a drive mechanism of a control device of a nuclear reactor. The coil stack has a plurality of coils. The diagnostic apparatus includes a power supply and a controller including a processor and a memory that stores a number of routines including a number of instructions. When executed on the processor the instructions cause the diagnostic apparatus to apply to a coil a voltage that varies as a function of time, detect a current in the coil as a function of time, identify in the current a first inflection point and a second inflection point, and determine, based upon an electronic evaluation that includes the first inflection point and the second inflection point, that the coil is one of functioning properly and in a state of at least partial failure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a control rod drive mechanism assembly for a nuclear reactor having a nuclear reactor vessel, a nuclear reactor core, a reactor vessel head, a latch housing nozzle, a latch housing, a rod travel housing, a latch assembly, a drive rod assembly and a rod control cluster assembly. The latch housing is integrated with the latch housing nozzle, the rod travel housing is welded to the latch housing, and the latch assembly is connected to the rod travel housing. The latch assembly includes the drive rod assembly and the rod control cluster assembly which is attached to the drive rod assembly.

Abstract: A magnetic jack control rod drive rod drive system having the magnetic coils that operate the moving parts of the drive system wound from anodized aluminum magnet wire or ceramic coated nickel clad copper and enclosed within a hermetically sealed housing that is pressurized with helium.

Abstract: An improved electrical coil unit is described which includes generally a coil member encapsulated within an iron-containing metal housing wherein the housing has an increased surface area to better transfer heat and provide air flow during operation. Each coil unit includes a coil member comprising a bobbin made of a non-conducting fiberglass impregnated resin and an insulated copper wire coiled around the outer surface of the bobbin member in multiple layers. Each coil unit is housed in an iron containing metal housing. The exterior surface of the housing preferably includes a plurality of fins extending longitudinally around the housing. A coating material is provided to encapsulate the coil member within the housing to form an integrated coil unit. The integrated coil units may be stacked to form a coil stack assembly.

Abstract: A control rod drive system for a nuclear reactor that employs hydraulic cylinders to operate a conventional plunger/gripper drive system to incrementally move control rods into and out of the core of a reactor. The pressure differential for driving hydraulic pistons within the cylinders is obtained from the difference in pressure between the outside and inside of the core barrel of the reactor and control of the pistons is obtained from external solenoids attached to the reactor control system. The external solenoids regulate a charging pump feed to Poppet valves that control the hydraulic feed to the cylinders. A hydraulic piston/cylinder drive is also provided for the shutdown rods which operate in either an all in or out of the core condition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a control rod drive mechanism assembly for a nuclear reactor having a nuclear reactor vessel, a nuclear reactor core, a reactor vessel head, a latch housing nozzle, a latch housing, a rod travel housing, a latch assembly, a drive rod assembly and a rod control cluster assembly. The latch housing is integrated with the latch housing nozzle, the rod travel housing is welded to the latch housing, and the latch assembly is connected to the rod travel housing. The latch assembly includes the drive rod assembly and the rod control cluster assembly which is attached to the drive rod assembly.

Abstract: A control rod drive system for a nuclear reactor that employs hydraulic cylinders to operate a conventional plunger/gripper drive system to incrementally move control rods into and out of the core of a reactor. The pressure differential for driving hydraulic pistons within the cylinders is obtained from the difference in pressure between the outside and inside of the core barrel of the reactor and control of the pistons is obtained from external solenoids attached to the reactor control system. The external solenoids regulate a charging pump feed to Poppet valves that control the hydraulic feed to the cylinders. A hydraulic piston/cylinder drive is also provided for the shutdown rods which operate in either an all in or out of the core condition.

Abstract: A magnetic jack control rod drive rod drive system having the magnetic coils that operate the moving parts of the drive system wound from anodized aluminum magnet wire or ceramic coated nickel clad copper and enclosed within a hermetically sealed housing that is pressurized with helium.

Abstract: A CEDM data acquisition system (40) receives analog coil-current signals from control element drive mechanism coils (18, 20); conditions the analog signals to remove noise induced therein by the electronic circuitry (44) associated with the control element drive mechanisms; digitizes the conditioned analog signals; displays the acquired test data; and records the data for future use. The inventive data acquisition system preferably has the ability to simultaneously measure, display and record coil-current data for all of the five coils associated with each CEDM rod-group with respect to time. Further, the inventive data acquisition system preferably allows the user to monitor, display and record data for up to eight CEDMs simultaneously. It also allows the measurement of rod-drop times during rod-drop testing of the CEDMs.

Abstract: A hand held insitu reactor vessel stud cleaner includes a right angle drill having a frame with an annular ring portion mounted thereon. An annular rotating plate assembly with a cylindrical brush holder or thread chase is concentrically mounted thereon and driven by a spur gear and ring gear combination or a belt and pulley combination. Vacuum structure is provided to remove corroded material loosened by the brushes or chase.