Nuclear reactor sample collection device

Abstract

The present invention provides a reactor sampling device that prevents the sample from mixing with contaminated water inside the reactor and enables the acquisition of samples from different depths of the reactor's inner wall. [Solution] A reactor sample collection device for collecting a sample from the inner wall of a nuclear reactor is provided, comprising: a main body having a containment space with an opening and the opening being in close contact with the inner wall; a sampling tool unit being located in the containment space of the main body and equipped with a tool head for collecting a sample from the inner wall of the reactor through the opening; a lifting unit connected to the main body for raising and lowering the main body; and a sample discharge unit communicating with the containment space and for discharging the sample collected by the sampling tool unit to the outside of the main body.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a reactor sample collection device for collecting depth-specific samples on the inner wall of a reactor during the decommissioning of a nuclear power plant.

Background Art

[0002] Generally, during the decommissioning of a nuclear power plant, for the evaluation of the characteristics of the site and radiated equipment and structures, sample collection for radionuclides, chemical analysis, etc. on the metal surfaces of radiated structures such as reactors and primary system equipment must be carried out.

[0003] As a method for collecting internal samples, there is a method of collecting samples using smear paper and then measuring them using a detector. However, since the smear paper is used to directly wipe the contaminated site by humans to collect contaminated samples, the risk of exposure is high.

[0004] Therefore, recently, a collection device for recovering samples cut in one-piece form by electrical discharge machining (EDM) has been used.

[0005] However, in the case of a collection device that cuts and collects samples by electrical discharge machining, when collecting samples in the water inside the reactor, it is difficult to accurately measure the samples because the samples and contaminated water are mixed, and there is also a problem of limitations in collecting samples for different depths of the inner wall of the reactor.

[0006] Related technology regarding such a sample collection device for radiated structures is presented in Korean Registered Patent No. 10-1646598 (August 2, 2016).

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a reactor sample collection device that prevents samples from mixing with contaminated water inside the reactor and enables the acquisition of samples for different depths of the inner wall of the reactor. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The present invention provides a reactor sampling apparatus for collecting a sample from the inner wall of a nuclear reactor, comprising: a main body having a containment space with an opening and the opening being in close contact with the inner wall; a sampling tool section located in the containment space of the main body and equipped with a tool head for collecting a sample from the inner wall of the reactor through the opening; a lifting section connected to the main body for raising and lowering the main body; and a sample discharge section communicating with the containment space and for discharging the sample collected by the sampling tool section to the outside of the main body.

[0009] Furthermore, the main body may be provided with an air intake port and a sample outlet that communicate with the containment space.

[0010] Furthermore, the main body may include an intake injection space that communicates with the intake port and is equipped with a plurality of nozzle holes.

[0011] Furthermore, the inner bottom of the main body may include a discharge guide with a downwardly sloping section.

[0012] Furthermore, the discharge guide may be positioned below the opening.

[0013] Furthermore, the system may include a fixing part connected to the main body and used to maintain the main body, which is in close contact with the inner wall of the reactor, in a fixed state.

[0014] Furthermore, the fixing portion may include a fixing body with adjustable length and a fixing drive means connected to the fixing body and generating a driving force to adjust the length of the fixing body.

[0015] Furthermore, the main body may further include sealing means for sealing the space between the main body and the inner wall of the reactor.

[0016] Furthermore, the sampling tool unit may include a tool body that rotatably supports the tool head and is arranged to slide horizontally within the housing space of the main body; a sampling drive means connected to the tool head and generating a driving force to rotate the tool head; and a sampling move means generating a driving force to slide the tool body within the housing space.

[0017] Furthermore, the sample discharge unit may include an intake line communicating with the containment space, an exhaust line communicating with the containment space, an outside air supply means disposed on the intake line for supplying outside air to the containment space of the main body, and a sample discharge means disposed on the exhaust line for generating back pressure so that the sample in the containment space of the main body is discharged via the exhaust line.

[0018] Furthermore, the system may include a control unit that controls the driving of the sampling tool unit and the sample discharge unit.

[0019] Furthermore, the control unit can control the depth to which the sampling tool is inserted into the inner wall of the reactor, depending on the material of the inner wall.

[0020] Furthermore, when collecting a sample from the inner wall of the reactor, the control unit can control the drive of the sampling tool so as to adjust the insertion depth of the tool head of the sampling tool into the inner wall of the reactor, and after the sampling of the sample from the inner wall of the reactor via the tool head is completed, it can control the drive of the sample discharge unit so as to discharge the sample to the outside of the main unit.

[0021] Furthermore, when the control unit takes samples from different target depths on the inner wall of the reactor, it can perform a cleaning operation to discharge any remaining sample from the containment space of the main unit to the outside. [Effects of the Invention]

[0022] The reactor sample collection device according to the present invention is arranged such that the main body is in close contact with the inner wall of the reactor, and samples at different depths on the inner wall of the reactor are obtained through a sampling tool arranged in the accommodation space of the main body. The samples collected by the sampling tool in this way can be discharged outside the reactor through the sample discharge part without mixing with the contaminated water in the reactor.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0023] [Figure 1] It is a configuration diagram of a reactor sample collection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a diagram of the usage state of a reactor sample collection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] It is an enlarged view of the "A" part shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] It is a partial cross-sectional view of a reactor sample collection device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0024] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Prior to this, the terms and words used in this specification and the claims should not be construed as being limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings. In accordance with the principle that the inventor can appropriately define the concept of the terms in order to explain his invention in the best way, they should be construed in a meaning and concept consistent with the technical idea of the present invention.

[0025] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the reactor sample collection device according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a main body 100, a sampling tool 200, a lifting part 300, and a sample discharge part 400.

[0026] The main body 100 can be arranged in close contact with the inner wall of the reactor 10.

[0027] Such a main body 100 may be provided with an accommodation space 100a for storing the samples collected by the driving of the sampling tool 200 while accommodating the sampling tool 200.

[0028] The main body 100 may have a hexahedral shape, or an opening 100b that communicates with the containment space 100a may be provided in the portion facing the inner wall of the reactor 10. Such an opening 100b allows the tool head 211 of the sampling tool 200 to protrude from the containment space 100a to the outside of the main body 100, thereby enabling sampling from the inner wall of the reactor 10 via the tool head 211 and enabling the sampling sample to be contained in the containment space 100a.

[0029] Furthermore, the main body 100 may be provided with an air intake port 110 and a sample discharge port 120 that communicate with the containment space 100a.

[0030] For example, the air intake port 110 may be located on the upper surface of the main body 100, and the sample discharge port 120 may be located on the lower surface of the main body 100.

[0031] Referring to Figure 4, the upper surface of the main body 100 may be provided with an intake air injection space 110a that communicates with the intake port 110.

[0032] Furthermore, a plurality of nozzle holes 110b that communicate with the intake injection space 110a are provided, so that outside air flowing into the intake injection space 110a via the intake port 110 can be evenly injected into the containment space 100a of the main body 100 via the nozzle holes 110b. Such nozzle holes 110b can inject outside air flowing into the containment space 100a into the entire containment space 100a, thereby ensuring that the sample contained in the containment space 100a does not remain adhering to the inner surface of the main body 100, but is cleanly discharged via the sample discharge port 120.

[0033] Furthermore, the inner bottom of the main body portion 100 may be provided with a downwardly sloping portion 130.

[0034] As an example, the inclined portion 130 is positioned below the opening 100b and guides the sample collected via the tool head 211 of the sampling tool portion 200 to move toward the sample discharge port 120 when it is free-falling due to gravity.

[0035] In addition, the main body portion 100 may be provided with a fixing portion 140 connected to the main body portion 100. Such a fixing portion 140 maintains the main body portion 100, which is positioned in close contact with the inner wall of the reactor 10, in a fixed state.

[0036] As an example, the fixing part 140 may include a fixing body 141 and a fixing drive means 142.

[0037] The fixed body 141 has a length-adjustable structure. For example, the fixed body 141 may have a telescopic structure.

[0038] One longitudinal side of the fixed body 141 can be connected to the main body 100. The other longitudinal side of the fixed body 141 may be positioned in contact with the inner wall of the reactor 10.

[0039] The fixed drive means 142 can be connected to the fixed body 141.

[0040] The aforementioned fixed drive means 142 generates a driving force to adjust the length of the fixed body 141.

[0041] As an example, the fixed drive means 142 may be a hydraulic cylinder. When the fixed drive means 142 is a hydraulic cylinder, the body portion of the hydraulic cylinder may be located on one side in the longitudinal direction of the fixed body 141, and the end of the hydraulic cylinder rod may be connected to the other side in the longitudinal direction of the fixed body 141. This allows the length of the fixed body 141 to be adjusted in accordance with the change in the length of the rod due to the driving of the hydraulic cylinder, and the change in the length of the fixed body 141 of the hydraulic cylinder pressurizes the main body portion 100 toward the inner wall of the reactor 10, thereby maintaining a stable fixed state.

[0042] Furthermore, the main body portion 100 may be provided with a sealing means 150 that seals the space between the main body portion 100 and the inner wall of the reactor 10 when the main body portion 100 is placed in close contact with the inner wall of the reactor 10.

[0043] As an example, the sealing means 150 may be an adsorption pad positioned around the contact surface of the main body 100 that is in close contact with the inner wall of the reactor 10.

[0044] In addition, the main body portion 100 may be provided with a horizontal guide 160 inside to guide the tool body 210 of the sampling tool portion 200 so that it can move horizontally within the storage space 100a.

[0045] The sampling tool unit 200 can be placed in the storage space 100a of the main body unit 100.

[0046] The aforementioned sampling tool unit 200 collects samples from the inner wall of the reactor 10 while drilling through it.

[0047] Such a sampling tool unit 200 may include a tool body 210, a sampling drive means 220, and a sampling movement means 230.

[0048] The tool body 210 may be arranged in the housing space 100a of the main body 100 so as to be slidable horizontally. That is, the tool body 210 may be slidably connected to the horizontal guide 160 of the main body 100.

[0049] Furthermore, the tool body 210 may be rotatably equipped with a tool head 211 that drills into the inner wall of the reactor 10 by rotation.

[0050] For example, the tool head can be used as either a drill bit or an end mill.

[0051] The sampling drive means 220 can be positioned on the tool body 210 so as to be connected to the tool head 211.

[0052] The aforementioned sampling drive means 220 generates a driving force to rotate the tool head 211, enabling the tool head 211 to drill into the inner wall of the reactor 10 while sampling.

[0053] For example, the sampling drive means 220 may be a motor.

[0054] The sampling and moving means 230 can be connected to the tool body 210.

[0055] The aforementioned sampling and moving means 230 generates a driving force to slide the tool body 210 on the horizontal guide 160 within the storage space 100a.

[0056] The sampling and moving means 230 slides the tool body 210 onto the horizontal guide 160, allowing adjustment of the depth to which the tool head 211 is inserted into the inner wall of the reactor 10.

[0057] As an example, the sampling and moving means 230 may be a hydraulic cylinder. When the sampling and moving means 230 is a hydraulic cylinder, the body portion of the hydraulic cylinder may be arranged on the main body portion 100, and the end of the rod of the hydraulic cylinder may be connected to the tool body 210. This allows for horizontal position adjustment of the tool body 210 in accordance with the change in the length of the rod due to the driving of the hydraulic cylinder.

[0058] As another example, the sampling and moving means 230 may be applied as a rack and pinion gear and a motor. In this case, the rack gear may be positioned on the horizontal guide 160, and the pinion gear may be positioned on the tool body 210 so as to mesh with the rack gear. The motor can then be connected to the pinion gear while positioned on the tool body 210. This allows the tool body 210 to be repositioned on the horizontal guide 160 according to the direction of rotation of the pinion gear generated by the motor.

[0059] The lifting section 300 can be connected to the main body section 100.

[0060] The aforementioned lifting unit 300 raises and lowers the main body 100 so that its vertical position on the inner wall of the reactor 10, where the sampling tool unit 200 takes samples, can be adjusted.

[0061] As an example, the lifting unit 300 may be a hydraulic cylinder connected to the main body 100. When the lifting unit 300 is used as a hydraulic cylinder, the body portion of the hydraulic cylinder may be located on the upper outside of the reactor 10, and the end of the hydraulic cylinder rod may be connected to the main body 100. This allows for vertical position adjustment of the main body 100 in accordance with the change in the length of the rod due to the driving of the hydraulic cylinder.

[0062] As another example, the lifting section 300 may be applied as a rack and pinion gear and a motor. In this case, the rack gear may be arranged vertically, with its lower end connected to the main body 100 and its upper end positioned on the upper outside of the reactor 10. The pinion gear may be positioned on the main body 100 so as to mesh with the rack gear. The motor can be connected to the pinion gear while positioned on the main body 100. This allows the main body 100 to move up and down on the rack gear in accordance with the direction of rotation of the pinion gear generated by the motor.

[0063] As yet another example, the lifting unit 300 may be applied as a lifting reel and a lifting wire.

[0064] In this configuration, the lifting reel may be positioned on the upper exterior side of the reactor 10, and the lifting wire may be wound around the lifting reel with one end in the longitudinal direction connected to the main body 100. This allows the main body 100 to move up and down as the lifting wire is wound or unwound according to the rotation direction of the lifting reel.

[0065] The sample discharge section 400 is in communication with the storage space 100a of the main body section 100.

[0066] The sample discharge unit 400 discharges the sample collected by the sampling tool unit 200 to the outside of the main body unit 100.

[0067] The sample discharge unit 400 may include an intake line 410, an exhaust line 420, an outside air supply means 430, and a sample discharge means 440.

[0068] The intake line 410 and exhaust line 420 are tubular members that communicate with the containment space 100a of the main body 100. The intake line 410 guides outside air from outside the reactor 10 to be supplied to the containment space 100a of the main body 100, and the exhaust line 420 guides the air inside the main body 100 and the sample taken from the sampling tool unit 200 to be discharged to the outside of the reactor 10.

[0069] One longitudinal side of the intake line 410 may communicate with the intake port 110 of the main body 100, and the other longitudinal side of the intake line 410 may be connected to an outside air supply means 430 located outside the reactor 10.

[0070] Furthermore, one longitudinal side of the exhaust line 420 may communicate with the sample discharge port 120 of the main body 100, and the other longitudinal side of the exhaust line 420 may be connected to a sample discharge means 440 located outside the reactor 10.

[0071] Furthermore, a sample storage cylinder (not shown) for storing samples may be detachably provided on the other longitudinal side of the exhaust line 420.

[0072] The outside air supply means 430 may be located on the intake line 410. The outside air supply means 430 can be connected to the intake line 410 located outside the reactor 10.

[0073] For example, the outside air supply means 430 may be a fan or a pump.

[0074] The sample discharge means 440 may be located on the exhaust line 420. The sample discharge means 440 can be connected to the exhaust line 420 located outside the reactor 10.

[0075] For example, the sample discharge means 440 may be a suction pump.

[0076] Herein, the reactor sample collection apparatus of one embodiment may further include a control unit 500 that controls the driving of the sample collection tool unit 200 and the sample discharge unit 400.

[0077] The control unit 500, by controlling the drive of the sampling tool unit 200 and the sample discharge unit 400, can vary the sample collected by controlling the depth to which the sampling tool unit 200 is inserted into the inner wall of the reactor 10 via the tool head 211, depending on the material of the inner wall of the reactor 10.

[0078] In this manner, when collecting a sample from the inner wall of the reactor 10, the control unit 500 controls the driving of the sampling drive means 220 and sampling moving means 230 of the sampling tool unit 200 so as to adjust the insertion depth of the tool head 211 of the sampling tool unit 200 into the inner wall of the reactor. After the sampling of the sample from the inner wall of the reactor 10 via the tool head 211 of the sampling tool unit 200 is completed, the control unit 500 controls the driving of the outside air supply means 430 and sample discharge means 440 of the sample discharge unit 400 so as to discharge the sample to the outside of the main unit 100.

[0079] Furthermore, the control unit 500 can perform a cleaning operation to discharge any remaining sample from the containment space 100a of the main body 100 after a sample has been taken from the inner wall of the reactor 10. This increases the accuracy of sample collection by preventing samples taken from different depths from mixing.

[0080] Thereafter, the control unit 500 drives the sampling drive means 220 and the sampling moving means 230 so that the tool head 211 is inserted into the inner wall of the reactor 10 while rotating, thereby enabling the sampling of the target sample from the inner wall of the reactor 10. The collected sample is then discharged to the outside of the main body 100 by driving the outside air supply means 430 and the sample discharge means 440 of the sample discharge unit 400, thus completing the sample sampling operation.

[0081] As described above, in one embodiment of the reactor sampling apparatus, the main body 100 is positioned so that the opening 100b is in close contact with the inner wall of the reactor 10, and samples are obtained from different depths of the inner wall of the reactor 10 via a sampling tool unit 200 located in the containment space 100a of the main body 100. The samples collected by the sampling tool unit 200 in this manner can be discharged to the outside of the reactor 10 via a sample discharge unit 400 without mixing with the contaminated water inside the reactor 10.

[0082] Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings, these are merely illustrative, and a person with ordinary skill in the art will understand that a variety of modifications and equivalent other embodiments are possible therefrom. Therefore, the true scope of technical protection of the present invention must be determined by the technical idea of ​​the appended claims. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0083] 10: Nuclear reactor, 100: Main body 100a: Storage space, 100b: Open section 110: Intake port, 110a: Intake injection space 110b: Nozzle hole, 120: Sample discharge port 130: Inclined part, 140: Fixed part 141: Fixed body, 142: Fixed drive means 150: Sealing means, 160: Horizontal guide 200: Collection tool part, 210: Tool body 211: Tool head, 220: Picking drive means 230: means of collection and transport, 300: lifting / lowering section 400: Sample discharge section, 410: Intake line 420: Exhaust line, 430: Outside air supply means 440: Sample discharge means, 500: Control unit

Claims

1. In a reactor sampling device that collects samples from the inner wall of a nuclear reactor, A storage space having an opening is provided, and the main body is positioned in close contact with the inner wall of the opening, A sampling tool unit is provided, which is located in the housing space of the main body and has a tool head for taking a sample of the inner wall of the reactor through an opening. A lifting mechanism connected to the main body and used to raise and lower the main body, A reactor sample collection apparatus comprising a sample discharge unit that communicates with the aforementioned containment space and discharges the sample collected by the sampling tool unit to the outside of the main body.

2. The reactor sample collection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the main body is provided with an air intake port and a sample discharge port that communicate with a containment space.

3. The reactor sample collection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the main body includes an intake injection space that communicates with an intake port and is provided with a plurality of nozzle holes.

4. The reactor sample collection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inner bottom of the main body includes a discharge guide with a downwardly sloping section.

5. The reactor sample collection apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the discharge guide is located below the opening.

6. The reactor sample collection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a fixing part connected to the main body and for maintaining the main body, which is in close contact with the inner wall of the reactor, in a fixed state.

7. The aforementioned fixing part is A fixed body with adjustable length, The reactor sample collection apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a fixed drive means connected to the fixed body and generating a driving force to adjust the length of the fixed body.

8. The reactor sample collection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the main body further includes a sealing means for sealing the space between the main body and the inner wall of the reactor.

9. The aforementioned sampling tool section is The tool body rotatably supports the tool head and is arranged to slide horizontally within the housing space of the main body, A sampling drive means connected to the tool head and generating a driving force to rotate the tool head, The reactor sample collection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sampling moving means that generates a driving force to cause the tool body to slide within a housing space.

10. The sample discharge unit is, An intake line communicating with the aforementioned containment space, An exhaust line communicating with the aforementioned containment space, An outside air supply means is positioned on the intake line and supplies outside air to the housing space of the main body, The reactor sample collection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sample discharge means disposed on the exhaust line and generating back pressure so that the sample in the containment space of the main body is discharged through the exhaust line.

11. The reactor sample collection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising a control unit for controlling the driving of the sampling tool unit and the sample discharge unit.

12. The reactor sample collection apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the control unit controls the depth to which the sampling tool is inserted into the inner wall of the reactor according to the material of the inner wall of the reactor.

13. The control unit, When taking a sample from the inner wall of the reactor, the drive of the sampling tool is controlled so that the insertion depth of the tool head of the sampling tool into the inner wall of the reactor can be adjusted. The reactor sample collection apparatus according to claim 12, wherein after the collection of a sample from the inner wall of the reactor via the tool head is completed, the drive of the sample discharge unit is controlled so that the sample is discharged to the outside of the main body.

14. When the control unit takes samples from different target depths of the inner wall of the reactor, The reactor sample collection apparatus according to claim 13, which performs a cleaning operation to discharge residual samples from the containment space of the main body to the outside.

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