Irradiation sample test rod and working method thereof

Abstract

The invention discloses an irradiation sample test rod and a working method thereof. The irradiation sample test rod comprises a cladding tube, a first end plug, a second end plug, an irradiation test sample, a filter cushion block and a compression spring, the first end plug and the second end plug are respectively matched and sealed at two opposite ends of the cladding tube; the irradiation test sample, the filtering cushion block and the pressure spring are sequentially arranged in the cladding tube along the axial direction of the cladding tube; the first end plug is provided with a first flow channel, the second end plug is provided with a second flow channel, and the first flow channel is communicated with the second flow channel through the inner space of the cladding pipe to form a coolant flow channel for coolant circulation. Through cooperation of the cladding tube, the first end plug and the second end plug, an irradiation test sample is packaged in the rod, through arrangement of the flow channels in the end plugs, a cooling agent can circulate in the irradiation sample test rod, and it is guaranteed that the irradiation test sample makes contact with the cooling agent; and fragments generated by irradiating the test sample are packaged in the irradiation sample test rod, so that the fragments are prevented from flowing into the reactor core.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of nuclear reactor fuel technology, and in particular to an irradiated sample test rod and its working method. Background Technology

[0002] Typical stationary correlation component sample rods for pressurized water reactors include a flow-blocking plug rod and a neutron source rod. The flow-blocking plug rod is a solid stainless steel rod, while the neutron source rod has a closed outer shell, sealed at both ends with end plugs, and contains an internal californium source or antimony-beryllium core. Because the neutron source rod is entirely sealed, even if a test sample is placed inside, it is impossible to simulate the actual water environment inside the reactor core for testing. Currently, there are no dedicated rod assemblies designed for test samples that can simulate the actual water environment inside a reactor core. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an irradiation sample test bar and its working method.

[0004] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve its technical problem is: to provide an irradiation sample test rod, including a shell tube, a first end plug, a second end plug, an irradiation test sample, a filter pad block and a compression spring; The first end plug and the second end plug are respectively fitted and sealed at opposite ends of the casing tube. The irradiation test sample, the filter pad, and the compression spring are sequentially arranged inside the casing tube along the axial direction of the casing tube, wherein the compression spring abuts between the first end plug and the filter pad. The first end plug is provided with a first flow channel connecting the inner and outer spaces of the casing tube, and the second end plug is provided with a second flow channel connecting the inner and outer spaces of the casing tube. The first flow channel is connected to the second flow channel through the inner space of the casing tube to form a coolant flow channel for coolant circulation.

[0005] Preferably, the outer peripheral surface of the filter pad is provided with at least one side groove, and the side groove and the corresponding inner wall of the casing tube form a water flow channel; The first flow channel, the inner cavity of the casing tube where the compression spring is located, the water flow tank, the gap between the irradiated test sample and the inner wall of the casing tube, and the second flow channel are connected in sequence to form the coolant flow channel.

[0006] Preferably, the first end plug has a through hole on its end face facing the casing tube, and the through hole extends into the first end plug; the first end plug has at least one side hole on its side, and the side hole extends into the first end plug to connect with the through hole; the side hole and the through hole are connected to form the first flow channel.

[0007] Preferably, the first flow channel is an L-shaped flow channel.

[0008] Preferably, the second end plug has a central through hole that penetrates its opposite two end faces, and the central through hole forms the second flow channel.

[0009] Preferably, the end face of the second end plug facing the casing tube is provided with at least one radially extending through groove, the through groove communicating with the central through hole to jointly form the second flow channel.

[0010] Preferably, the end face of the second end plug facing the casing tube is provided with a cross-shaped through groove, which communicates with the central through hole to form the second flow channel.

[0011] Preferably, the filter pad is a stainless steel pad.

[0012] The present invention also provides a method for operating an irradiated sample test bar, wherein the coolant enters the cladding tube from the second flow channel of the second end plug, flows sequentially through the gap between the irradiated test sample and the inner wall of the cladding tube, the gap between the filter pad and the inner wall of the cladding tube, then enters the space where the compression spring is located, and finally flows out after entering the first flow channel of the first end plug.

[0013] Preferably, the fragments generated by the irradiated test sample are confined within the casing tube by the filter pad and the first end plug.

[0014] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: the irradiation test sample is encapsulated within the casing tube, the first end plug, and the second end plug, along with the compression spring and filter pad, forms an irradiation test sample rod; simultaneously, the flow channel on the end plug allows coolant to flow from inside the irradiation test sample rod, ensuring that the irradiation test sample is in contact with the coolant; the filter pad and the first end plug provide dual isolation, ensuring that fragments generated by the irradiation test sample are encapsulated within the irradiation test sample rod and do not flow out to the outside, thus preventing them from flowing into the reactor core. Attached Figure Description

[0015] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the external structure of an irradiated sample test bar according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the irradiated sample test bar in the axial direction according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first end plug in an irradiated sample test bar according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 yes Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the first end plug shown; Figure 5This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the second end plug in an irradiated sample test bar according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 yes Figure 5 The diagram shows the structure of the second end plug at another angle. Figure 7 yes Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the second end plug shown; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the filter pad in an irradiated sample test bar according to an embodiment of the invention. Detailed Implementation

[0016] To provide a clearer understanding of the technical features, objectives, and effects of the present invention, specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0017] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 As shown, an embodiment of the irradiation sample test bar of the present invention includes a casing tube 30, a first end plug 10, a second end plug 20, an irradiation test sample 40, a filter pad 50, and a compression spring 60. The first end plug 10 and the second end plug 20 are respectively fitted together and sealed at opposite ends of the casing tube 30, enclosing the casing tube 30 to form a sealed tube structure. The irradiation test sample 40, the filter pad 50, and the compression spring 60 are sequentially arranged inside the casing tube 30 along the axial direction of the casing tube 30. The compression spring 60 abuts between the first end plug 10 and the filter pad 50, providing elastic pressure to press the filter pad 50 onto the irradiation test sample 40.

[0018] The first end plug 10 has a first flow channel 100, thus forming a water-passing end plug; the first flow channel 100 connects the inner and outer spaces of the casing tube 30. The second end plug 20 has a second flow channel 200, thus forming a water-passing end plug; the second flow channel 200 connects the inner and outer spaces of the casing tube 30. The first flow channel 100 communicates with the second flow channel 200 through the internal space of the casing tube 30, forming a coolant flow channel for coolant circulation. Coolant can enter the interior of the casing tube 30 from the second flow channel 200, flow along the coolant flow channel, and finally flow out from the first flow channel 100.

[0019] Specifically, the first end plug 10 can be tightly connected to one end of the casing tube 30 by an interference fit, thereby closing that end of the casing tube 30. The outer periphery of the end of the first end plug 10 facing the casing tube 30 is also provided with a first annular step 11. After the first end plug 10 is tightly fitted into the end of the casing tube 30 with its end facing the casing tube 30, the first annular step 11 abuts against the end face of the casing tube 30.

[0020] The cladding tube 30 is usually a round tube, and the first end plug 10 is a cylindrical structure.

[0021] by Figure 1 , Figure 2 Taking the vertically positioned irradiated sample test rod as an example, the first end plug 10 is located at the top of the casing tube 30, forming the upper end plug; the irradiated sample test rod is connected to the fixed related component clamping system (used for the irradiated sample test rod and other related component rods) through the first end plug 10. Correspondingly, combined with Figure 2 and Figure 3 The end of the first end plug 10 facing away from the casing tube 30 is provided with a connecting part 12, and the connecting part 12 is provided with a U-shaped groove 13 for connecting with the fixed related component clamping system.

[0022] The first flow channel 100 is preferably located at the lower end of the first end plug 10 facing the casing tube 30. (Reference) Figures 2-4 The first end plug 10 has a through hole 101 on its end face facing the casing tube 30, and the through hole 101 extends into the interior of the first end plug 10. The side of the first end plug 10 has at least one side hole 102, which extends into the interior of the first end plug 10 to connect with the through hole 101; the side hole 102 and the through hole 101 are connected to form a first flow channel 100.

[0023] exist Figure 4 In the embodiment shown, the side of the first end plug 10 is provided with a side hole 102, and the first flow channel 100 formed by the side hole 102 and the through hole 101 is an L-shaped flow channel.

[0024] In other embodiments, when the side of the first end plug 10 is provided with two side holes 102, the two side holes 102 can be arranged opposite to each other, so that the first flow channel 100 formed by the two side holes 102 and the through hole 101 is a T-shaped flow channel.

[0025] Understandably, the side holes 102 are not limited to one or two settings, and can be added or removed according to actual needs.

[0026] like Figure 1 As shown, the second end plug 20 can be tightly connected to the other end of the casing tube 30 by an interference fit, thus closing that end of the casing tube 30. The second end plug 20 is also provided with a second annular step 21 on the outer periphery of the end facing the casing tube 30. After the second end plug 20 is tightly fitted into the end of the casing tube 30 with its end facing the casing tube 30, the second annular step 21 abuts against the end face of the casing tube 30.

[0027] by Figure 1 , Figure 2 Taking the vertical placement of the irradiated sample test rod as an example, the second end plug 20 is located at the bottom of the casing tube 30, forming the lower end plug.

[0028] The casing tube 30 is usually a circular tube, and the second end plug 20 is generally cylindrical. The end of the second end plug 20 away from the casing tube 30 is set into a cone shape, which facilitates the flow of external fluid from bottom to top along the outer surface of the second end plug 20.

[0029] The second flow channel 200 penetrates the second end plug 20. (Reference) Figures 5-7 The second end plug 20 is provided with a central through hole 201 that penetrates its opposite two end faces, and the central through hole 201 forms a second flow channel 200.

[0030] In some embodiments, the second flow channel 200 is formed only by the central through hole 201.

[0031] In other embodiments, the end face of the second end plug 20 facing the casing tube 30 is provided with at least one radially extending through groove 202. The through groove 202 intersects with and communicates with the central through hole 201, thus forming a second flow channel 200. The through groove 202 on the end face of the second end plug 20 serves as a guide, directing the coolant flow towards the gap between the irradiated test sample 40 and the casing tube 30, thereby facilitating smoother flow towards the first end plug 10.

[0032] exist Figure 6 and Figure 7 In the illustrated embodiment, the end face of the second end plug 20 facing the casing tube 30 is provided with two radially extending through grooves 202. The two through grooves 202 intersect in a cross shape, thereby forming a cross-shaped through groove. The cross-shaped through groove communicates with the central through hole 201, together forming the second flow channel 200.

[0033] Inside the cladding tube 30, the irradiation test sample 40 is positioned between the filter pad 50 and the second end plug 20, and can correspond to the tubing or rod provided in the cladding tube 30. The irradiation test sample 40 is made of the material to be irradiated and is fitted into the irradiation test sample rod to measure the material's irradiation growth, corrosion performance, etc. The material to be irradiated includes, but is not limited to, zirconium alloys and silicon carbide.

[0034] Inside the casing tube 30, the filter pad 50 is positioned between the compression spring 60 and the irradiated test sample 40, used to regulate the water flow rate and filter larger fragments of the irradiated sample. The outer circumferential shape of the filter pad 50 is preferably adapted to the inner circumference of the casing tube 30, which is typically a circular tube, and the filter pad 50 is correspondingly a cylindrical pad.

[0035] refer to Figure 2 and Figure 8 To avoid obstructing the flow of coolant, the outer peripheral surface of the filter pad 50 is provided with at least one side groove 51. The side groove 51 and the inner wall of the corresponding casing tube 30 form a water channel for the coolant to pass through.

[0036] The first flow channel 100, the inner cavity of the casing tube 30 where the compression spring 60 is located, the water flow tank, the gap between the irradiated test sample 40 and the inner wall of the casing tube 30, and the second flow channel 200 are connected in sequence to form a coolant flow channel. That is, the second flow channel 200 is connected to the first flow channel 100 through the gap between the irradiated test sample 40 and the inner wall of the casing tube 30, the water flow tank, and the inner cavity of the casing tube 30 where the compression spring 60 is located, to form a coolant flow channel.

[0037] Alternatively, filter pad 50 can be made of stainless steel.

[0038] The irradiation sample test rod of this invention, as a correlation component rod, replaces part of the flow-blocking plug rod / neutron source rod in a fixed correlation component. Besides fulfilling the flow-blocking function of the original fixed correlation component's flow-blocking plug rod / neutron source rod, it also provides an irradiation testing space for the samples to be tested. The test samples include tubes / rods such as zirconium alloy and silicon carbide, used to test the irradiation production, material corrosion, and other properties of the samples.

[0039] Combination Figures 1-2 The working method of the irradiated sample test bar of the present invention is as follows: The coolant enters the casing tube 30 from the second flow channel 200 of the second end plug 20, flows through the gap between the irradiated test sample 40 and the inner wall of the casing tube 30, the gap between the filter pad 50 and the inner wall of the casing tube 30 (i.e., the water channel), then enters the space where the compression spring 60 is located, and finally flows out after entering the first flow channel 100 of the first end plug 10.

[0040] The coolant enters the irradiated sample test rod, which allows the irradiated test sample 40 to be in a water environment that simulates the water environment inside the real reactor core (e.g., simulating the fuel rod cladding tube in the reactor core and in the coolant environment), thus obtaining more realistic and accurate test results.

[0041] In the above working method, the fragments generated by the irradiation test sample 40 are confined within the casing tube 30 by the filter pad 50 and the first end plug 10.

[0042] Among them, the filter pad 50 can compress and wrap the fragments generated by the irradiation test sample 40. The small size of the water channel on the side of the filter pad 50 can limit the outflow of large fragments. The fragments passing through the filter pad 50 will be further restricted by the first end plug 10, and finally ensure that they are sealed in the irradiation test sample rod.

[0043] In summary, the double isolation provided by the filter pad 50 and the first end plug 10 ensures that the fragments generated by the irradiated test sample 40 are contained within the irradiated test sample rod as much as possible.

[0044] The above description is merely an embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the patent scope of the present invention. Any equivalent structural or procedural transformations made based on the content of the present invention's specification and drawings, or direct or indirect applications in other related technical fields, are similarly included within the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An irradiation sample testing rod, characterized in that, Includes a casing tube, a first end plug, a second end plug, an irradiation test sample, a filter pad, and a compression spring; The first end plug and the second end plug are respectively fitted and sealed at opposite ends of the casing tube. The irradiation test sample, the filter pad, and the compression spring are sequentially arranged inside the casing tube along the axial direction of the casing tube, wherein the compression spring abuts between the first end plug and the filter pad. The first end plug is provided with a first flow channel connecting the inner and outer spaces of the casing tube, and the second end plug is provided with a second flow channel connecting the inner and outer spaces of the casing tube. The first flow channel is connected to the second flow channel through the inner space of the casing tube to form a coolant flow channel for coolant circulation.

2. The irradiation sample testing rod according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer peripheral surface of the filter pad is provided with at least one side groove, and the side groove and the corresponding inner wall of the casing tube form a water flow channel; The first flow channel, the inner cavity of the casing tube where the compression spring is located, the water flow tank, the gap between the irradiated test sample and the inner wall of the casing tube, and the second flow channel are connected in sequence to form the coolant flow channel.

3. The irradiation sample testing rod according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first end plug has a through hole on its end face facing the casing tube, and the through hole extends into the first end plug; the first end plug has at least one side hole on its side, and the side hole extends into the first end plug to connect with the through hole; the side hole and the through hole are connected to form the first flow channel.

4. The irradiation sample testing rod according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first flow channel is an L-shaped flow channel.

5. The irradiation sample testing rod according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second end plug is provided with a central through hole that penetrates its opposite two end faces, and the central through hole forms the second flow channel.

6. The irradiation sample testing rod according to claim 5, characterized in that, The second end plug has at least one radially extending through groove on its end face facing the casing tube. The through groove communicates with the central through hole to form the second flow channel.

7. The irradiation sample testing rod according to claim 5, characterized in that, The second end plug has a cross-shaped through groove on its end face facing the casing tube. The cross-shaped through groove communicates with the central through hole to form the second flow channel.

8. The irradiated sample test bar according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The filter pad is a stainless steel pad.

9. A method for operating the irradiated sample test bar according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The coolant enters the cladding tube from the second flow channel of the second end plug, flows sequentially through the gap between the irradiated test sample and the inner wall of the cladding tube, the gap between the filter pad and the inner wall of the cladding tube, then enters the space where the compression spring is located, and finally flows out after entering the first flow channel of the first end plug.

10. The working method of the irradiated sample test bar according to claim 9, characterized in that, The fragments generated by the irradiated test sample are confined within the casing tube by the filter pad and the first end plug.

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