Method and apparatus for controlling movement of a capsule containing a cobalt material disposed in a container made of a non-ferromagnetic material by applying an electromagnetic force

Abstract

An apparatus for removing an irradiated Co-60 capsule from a plurality of combustible absorber rodlets. The apparatus includes a solenoid that induces an electromagnetic flux into the Co-60 capsule and locks the Co-60 capsule parallel to the apparatus. The apparatus is slidable along a longitudinal axis of the combustible absorber rodlets and causes the Co-60 capsule to overcome a plurality of forces acting on the Co-60 capsule.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] (Cross - reference to related applications) This application claims the benefit of U.S. Non - Provisional Application No. 17 / 356,309, filed on June 23, 2021, entitled "A METHOD AND DEVICE TO CONTROL THE MOVEMENT OF CAPSULES CONTAINING COBALT MATERIAL LOCATED INSIDE CONTAINERS MADE OF NON - FERROMAGNETIC MATERIALS USING THE APPLICATION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC FORCES", the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Background Art

[0002] Cobalt - 60 (Co - 60) is a radioisotope produced synthetically and is used in multiple industrial applications such as the sterilization of medical devices. In a nuclear reactor, to stabilize the fission reaction, Co - 59 may be used as a burnable absorber in the reactor core, and Co - 60 may be produced as a by - product of reactor operation. Similar to other burnable absorber materials in the nuclear reactor, Co - 59 absorbs excess neutrons in the initial stage of the fission reaction, ensuring that the fissile material provides stable combustion throughout the duration of the reactor operation cycle. During reactor operation, Co - 59 is converted into radioactive Co - 60. After a predetermined duration or after a predetermined number of operation cycles, the Co - 60 capsules in the burnable absorber rodlets reach an equilibrium state and can no longer absorb excess neutrons. The radioactive Co - 60 is removed from the reactor and used in industrial applications.

Summary of the Invention

[0003] In various aspects, the present disclosure describes an apparatus for removing a combustible absorber (BA) capsule irradiated with radiation, the apparatus comprising a control arm and a BA capsule removal module supported by the control arm and positionable around a BA rodlet, the BA rodlet comprising a paramagnetic coating material disposed around an outer surface of the BA rodlet, the BA capsule removal module defining a capsule removal tunnel configured to be slidably disposed around the BA rodlet, the capsule removal tunnel defining first and second tunnel openings at corresponding first and second ends of the capsule removal tunnel, the first and second tunnel openings defining a distal radius R1 that linearly tapers towards a smaller inner radius R2, the BA capsule removal module comprising a plurality of bearing columns spaced equidistantly within the capsule removal tunnel, the bearing columns comprising bearings configured to contact a BA rodlet disposed within the capsule removal tunnel, the capsule removal module being slidably movable along a longitudinal axis of the BA rodlet, and a solenoid disposed around the capsule removal tunnel and configured to electrically induce an electromagnetic flux in a BA capsule comprising a ferromagnetic material, the electromagnetic flux locking the BA capsule comprising the ferromagnetic material to the BA capsule removal module, axial movement of the BA capsule removal module disposed outside the BA rodlet causing axial movement of the BA capsule disposed inside the BA rodlet.

[0004] In various aspects, the present disclosure describes a method of removing a combustible absorber capsule irradiated with radiation from a plurality of combustible absorber rodlets, the method comprising fixing, by a rodlet positioning module, a first combustible absorber (BA) rodlet to a rodlet positioning control arm, the rodlet positioning module being supported by the rodlet positioning control arm; disconnecting, by a cutting module, the first BA rodlet from a combustible absorber assembly, the combustible absorber assembly comprising a plurality of BA rodlets connected by a holding plate in a predetermined arrangement, the cutting module being configured to cut the first BA rodlet at a location where it is connected to the holding plate; positioning, by a BA capsule removal control arm, a BA capsule removal module around the BA rodlet, the BA capsule removal module being supported by the BA capsule removal control arm; selecting, by the BA capsule removal module, a first BA capsule for removal; inducing, by the BA capsule removal module, an electromagnetic flux in a first BA capsule comprising a ferromagnetic material, the electromagnetic flux locking the first BA capsule comprising the ferromagnetic material parallel to the BA capsule removal module; applying, by the rodlet positioning module, a force to the position of the BA rodlet relative to the BA capsule removal module, the force applied by the rodlet positioning module enabling the BA capsule removal module to move the BA capsule along its longitudinal axis; aligning, by the rodlet positioning module, the position of the BA rodlet over a first empty storage slot in a capsule storage cage; and placing, by the capsule removal module, the BA capsule in the first empty storage slot of the capsule storage cage.

[0005] In yet another aspect, the present disclosure describes a system for removing a burnable absorber (BA) capsule irradiated with radiation from a plurality of burnable absorber rodlets, the system comprising a rodlet positioning module, a cutting module, and a control circuit communicatively connected to one or more BA capsule removal modules, the control circuit comprising at least one processor, the rodlet positioning module fixing a first BA rodlet to the rodlet positioning module, positioning a first BA capsule removal module around the BA rodlet, the cutting module removing the first BA rodlet from the BA assembly, wherein the first BA rodlet comprises a plurality of BA capsules, the first BA capsule removal module selecting a first BA capsule from the plurality of BA capsules, the first BA capsule removal module inducing an electromagnetic flux in the first BA capsule comprising a ferromagnetic material, wherein the electromagnetic flux locks the first BA capsule comprising the ferromagnetic material parallel to the first BA capsule removal module, the cutting module removing a bullet-shaped nose plug from the first BA rodlet, the rodlet positioning module applying a force to the position of the first BA rodlet relative to the first BA capsule removal module, wherein the force applied by the rodlet positioning module enables the first BA capsule removal module to move the first BA capsule along the longitudinal axis, the rodlet positioning module aligning the first BA rodlet over a first empty storage slot in a capsule storage cage, and the first BA capsule removal module being configured to place the first BA capsule in the first empty storage slot of the capsule storage cage.

Brief Description of the Drawings

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[0014] The present disclosure describes various aspects for safely removing a plurality of irradiated combustible absorber capsules from a plurality of combustible absorber rodlets. In one aspect of the present disclosure, cobalt-59 isotope (Co-59) is encapsulated in an AC339 capsule, and a plurality of Co-59 capsules are arranged in a stacking direction within a cobalt combustible absorber (COBA) rodlet. The plurality of COBA rodlets are irradiated with radiation in a nuclear reactor, providing benefits to both nuclear reactor operation and the cobalt capsules simultaneously. During nuclear reactor operation, the Co-59 combustible absorber capsules absorb excess neutrons released in the initial stage of the fission reaction. Absorbing excess neutrons provides stable combustion of fissile materials and simultaneously converts Co-59 to radioactive Co-60. When Co-60 reaches an equilibrium state, it no longer absorbs excess neutrons and reaches its service life within the nuclear reactor. The radioactive Co-60 capsules can be recycled and potentially sold as valuable compounds in industrial applications. However, in order to resell the Co-60 capsules, the Co-60 capsules must be removed from the COBA rodlets.

[0015] The present disclosure describes various aspects for safely removing radioactive Co-60 capsules from combustible absorber (BA) rodlets after irradiation in a nuclear reactor. One of the problems that can occur during the removal process is due to various forces acting on the capsules within the rodlet. The combustible absorber (BA) capsules may become immobile or clogged within the BA rodlet due to corrosion, or bending and warping of the rodlet. Additionally, the BA capsules may be removed while the rodlet is immersed in a spent rod pool, and the water may generate backpressure within the rodlet. Finally, even in situations where the capsules can be easily removed, the capsules are still affected by gravity and there is a risk of falling from the rodlet when the bottom bullet-shaped nose plug is removed from the BA capsule.

[0016] The present disclosure describes a ferromagnetic capsule removal device configured to lock and remove a BA capsule disposed within a BA rodlet in a controlled manner. In various aspects, the ferromagnetic lock is configured to overcome at least the forces of corrosion, friction, gravity, or backpressure, or any combination thereof.

[0017] FIG. 1 shows a detailed view of a combustible absorber assembly 100 comprising a plurality of BA rodlets 102 connected to a retaining plate 104. FIG. 2 shows a cutaway view of a portion of a combustible absorber rodlet 102 comprising a plurality of combustible absorber capsules 108 according to at least one aspect of the present disclosure. The plurality of BA rodlets 102 further comprise a plurality of combustible absorber capsules 108 in a stacked arrangement, a rodlet coating 112, and a bullet-shaped nose plug 110. In one aspect, the rodlet coating 112 may comprise a paramagnetic or superparamagnetic material such as a zirconium alloy, while the BA capsule may comprise a ferromagnetic material such as cobalt. In this aspect, the BA assembly 100 comprises eight BA rodlets 102 and sixteen stainless steel thimbles 106 connected to the retaining plate 104. The stainless steel thimbles 106 occupy the empty positions of the retaining plate 104, which may optionally be configured with additional BA rodlets.

[0018] FIG. 3 shows the combustible absorber assembly 100 inserted into a fuel rod bundle 118, and FIG. 4 shows a top view of the fuel rod bundle 118. At various stages of reactor operation, the combustible absorber assembly 100 is configured such that the BA rodlets 102 can absorb excess neutrons emitted by the fuel rods 116. The fuel rod bundle 118 is configured to comprise a combustible absorber channel 114 for slidably receiving the combustible absorber rodlets 102 into the fuel rod bundle 118.

[0019] FIG. 5 shows a combustible absorber assembly 200 immersed in a spent rod pool 236 according to at least one aspect of the present disclosure, where the combustible absorber capsules are removed from the combustible absorber rodlets 202. The spent rod pool 236 comprises water for cooling the spent rods and shielding from the radiation emitted from the combustible absorber rodlets 202. In this aspect, a first combustible absorber rodlet 202a is selected by the control circuit 220 and the combustible absorber capsules removed from the selected combustible absorber rodlet 202a can be removed. In one aspect, the control circuit 220 comprises at least one processor and a memory coupled to the at least one processor, the memory storing instructions executable by the at least one processor to control the removal of the combustible absorber capsules from the combustible absorber rodlets 202. In another aspect, the control circuit 220 comprises at least one logic circuit executable in hardware, such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA), to control the removal of the combustible absorber capsules from the combustible absorber rodlets 202.

[0020] In one aspect, the control circuit 220 is configured to control a plurality of modules 226, 237, 232 and respective control arms 228, 238, 234. The modules include a cutting module 232, a rodlet positioning module 237, and a combustible absorber capsule removal module 226. The cutting module 232 is configured to cut the combustible absorber rodlet from the combustible absorber assembly 200 and to cut the bullet-shaped nose plug 210 on one end of the BA rodlet 202a. Removing the bullet-shaped nose plug 210 provides access to the combustible absorber capsule stored within the BA rodlet 202a. The BA removal module 226 and the rodlet positioning module 237 are configured to act in conjunction to remove the BA capsule from the BA rodlet 202a. The BA capsule may have one or more forces acting on it. In one aspect, the only force acting on the BA capsule is gravity, and the BA removal module is configured to hold the BA capsule in place while the bullet-shaped nose plug 210 is removed and to prevent the BA capsule from dropping out of the BA rodlet 202a before the BA rodlet 202a can be properly aligned with the capsule cage.

[0021] In another aspect, a plurality of opposing forces that impede the easy removal of the BA capsule from the BA rodlet 202a may act on the BA capsule. In this aspect, the control circuit 220 determines the force acting on the BA capsule within the BA rodlet 202a to lock the BA capsule in parallel with the capsule removal module 226 and determines the amount of current necessary to induce an electromagnetic flux in the BA capsule. The control circuit 220 determines the amount of current necessary to "lock" the BA capsule based on the relative forces acting on the rodlet positioning module and the BA capsule removal module 226. The force acting on the BA capsule within the BA rodlet 202a may be measured by one or more force sensors, such as a strain gauge, electrically connected to the control circuit 220.

[0022] In the illustrated embodiment, the control circuit 220 configures the BA rodlet positioning module 237 to fix or hold the BA rodlet 202a in the stationary position with respect to the BA capsule removal module 226. The control circuit 220 configures the BA capsule removal module 226 to select a BA capsule within the BA rodlet 202a and configures the BA removal module 226 to induce an electromagnetic flux by a solenoid. The control circuit 220 provides a command to the BA capsule removal module 226 to move the BA capsule along the longitudinal axis of the BA rodlet 202a. This movement is performed by the removal control arm 228. The BA capsule removal module 226 may transmit a force on the rodlet positioning module 237 to the control circuit 220. In one aspect, the force may be measured by monitoring a current flowing through the BA capsule removal module 226 or by a strain gauge disposed on the BA capsule removal module 226. Based on this feedback communication, the control circuit 220 may modulate a current supplied to the BA capsule removal module 226 necessary to "lock" the BA capsule parallel to the BA capsule removal module 226. The control circuit 220 may be directly operated by a technician in the manual operation mode, or the control circuit may operate in the automatic operation mode.

[0023] In the automatic operation mode, the control circuit 220 receives feedback communication from the BA capsule removal module 226, the rodlet positioning module 237, and the cutting module 232. The control circuit 220 may be encoded with a set of predetermined commands for operating the plurality of modules 226, 237, 232 based on the feedback communication provided by the plurality of modules 226, 237, 232. Description of the Combustible Absorber Capsule Removal Module

[0024] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a combustible absorber capsule removal module 300 according to at least one aspect of the present disclosure. The combustible absorber capsule removal module 300 includes a capsule removal tunnel 350, a first tunnel opening 342, a second tunnel opening 348, a plurality of roller bearing columns 346, and a solenoid 344. The first tunnel opening 342 is tapered from a larger distal radius R1 to a smaller inner radius R2 and guides the BA rodlet 302 to be positioned within the capsule removal tunnel 350. The roller bearing columns 346 are arranged at equal intervals on the inner wall of the capsule removal tunnel 350. The arrangement of the roller bearings 347 contacts the outer coating of the BA rodlet 302 and is configured to guide the combustible absorber capsule removal module 300 to move along the longitudinal axis 349 of the BA rodlet 302. In one aspect, the BA rodlet 302 is in a fixed position relative to the combustible absorber capsule removal module 300. Thereby, the combustible absorber capsule removal module 300 can remove the capsule at the bottom of the BA rodlet 302.

[0025] The solenoid 344 is communicably connected to the control circuit 320, and the solenoid 344 is configured to induce an electromagnetic flux in the BA capsule 308b. The electromagnetic flux "locks" the BA capsule 308b parallel to the BA capsule removal module 300. The solenoid 344 may be configured to induce an electromagnetic flux in only one BA capsule at a time. When the solenoid 344 induces an electromagnetic flux in the BA capsule 308b, it may not be necessary to induce an electromagnetic flux in the BA capsules 308a and 308c. The BA capsule removal module 300 may move along the longitudinal axis 349 to control the relatively lowermost BA capsule 308c. In one aspect, the BA capsule 308c may be disposed closest to one end 311 of the BA rodlet 302 from which the bullet-shaped nose plug 310 is removed and may be the first BA capsule to be removed from the BA rodlet 302. Following the removal of the BA capsule 308c, the BA capsule removal module is configured to move to the next BA capsule 308b along the longitudinal axis by the control circuit 322.

[0026] The BA capsule removal module 300 is configured to lock the BA capsule using the electromagnetic field generated by the solenoid 344 and move the BA capsule integrally with the movement of the BA removal module. In one aspect, a plurality of forces that prevent the removal of the BA capsule act on the BA capsule. In this aspect, the control circuit 322 configures the rodlet positioning module 237 (FIG. 2) to hold the BA rodlet and configures the BA capsule removal module to move along the longitudinal axis toward the opening 310 of the BA rodlet. The control circuit 322 adjusts the amount of relative force between the rodlet positioning module and the BA capsule removal module to overcome the force acting on the BA capsule and remove the BA capsule.

[0027] In another aspect, the plurality of BA removal modules may control the plurality of BA capsules simultaneously. When the lowermost BA capsule is removed from the BA rodlet, the control of the next BA capsule to be removed is transferred to the lowermost BA capsule removal module, and the process continues until all BA capsules are removed from the BA rodlet.

[0028] FIG. 7 is a top view of a combustible absorber capsule removal module 300 connected to a combustible absorber removal control arm 328 according to at least one aspect of the present disclosure. The combustible absorber capsule removal module 300 includes a plurality of roller bearing columns 346a-d and a first funnel opening 322. In this aspect, there are four roller bearing columns 346a-d, with roller bearing column 346a disposed opposite roller bearing column 346c, and roller bearing column 346b disposed opposite roller bearing column 346d. In various aspects, at least three roller bearing columns spaced equidistantly apart are used to centrally position the combustible absorber rodlet within the capsule removal tunnel 350, enabling the BA capsule removal module to be repositioned near the BA capsule.

[0029] FIG. 8 shows a capsule storage cage 400 for removed BA capsules, comprising a plurality of BA capsules 408 and a plurality of empty storage slots 450, according to at least one aspect of the present disclosure. The dimensions of the empty storage slots 450 correspond to the dimensions of the BA capsules. For example, the dimensions of the empty storage slots may be configured to accommodate AC339 capsules. In one aspect, the BA rodlet is disposed above the next available empty storage slot 450, and the BA capsule closest to the bottom of the BA rodlet is assisted by the BA capsule removal module to move to the empty slot.

[0030] Various aspects of the subject matter described herein are illustrated in the following numbered examples. Example 1

[0031] An apparatus for removing a combustible absorber (BA) capsule irradiated with radiation, the apparatus comprising: a control arm; and a BA capsule removal module supported by the control arm and positionable around a BA rodlet by the control arm, the BA rodlet comprising a paramagnetic coating material disposed around an outer surface of the BA rodlet, the BA capsule removal module defining a capsule removal tunnel configured to be slidably disposed around the BA rodlet, the capsule removal tunnel defining first and second tunnel openings at corresponding first and second ends of the capsule removal tunnel, the first and second tunnel openings defining a distal radius R1 that linearly tapers towards a smaller inner radius R2, the BA capsule removal module comprising a plurality of bearing columns spaced equidistantly within the capsule removal tunnel, the bearing columns comprising bearings configured to contact a BA rodlet disposed within the capsule removal tunnel, the capsule removal module being slidably movable along a longitudinal axis of the BA rodlet, a solenoid disposed around the capsule removal tunnel and configured to electrically induce an electromagnetic flux in a BA capsule comprising a ferromagnetic material, the electromagnetic flux locking the BA capsule comprising the ferromagnetic material to the BA capsule removal module, axial movement of the BA capsule removal module disposed outside the BA rodlet causing axial movement of the BA capsule disposed inside the BA rodlet. Example (Exhibit) 2

[0032] The apparatus for removing a combustible absorber (BA) capsule irradiated with radiation according to Example 1, wherein the plurality of bearing columns comprises at least three columns spaced equidistantly within the capsule removal tunnel, and the plurality of bearing columns is configured to position a BA rodlet at a center of the capsule removal tunnel along a longitudinal axis. Example 3

[0033] The BA capsule removal module is a device for removing a radiation-irradiated burnable absorber (BA) capsule as described in Example 1, which is configured to remove the BA capsule from a plurality of BA rodlets immersed in a spent rod pool. Example 4

[0034] The control circuit is a device for removing a radiation-irradiated burnable absorber (BA) capsule as described in Example 1, which is configured to provide a control command to the BA capsule removal module from outside the spent rod pool. Example 5

[0035] The control circuit is a device for removing a radiation-irradiated burnable absorber (BA) capsule as described in Example 4, which is configured to position the BA capsule removal module with respect to the BA rodlet. Example 6

[0036] The control circuit is configured to send a command to the BA capsule removal module, and the command induces an electromagnetic flux in the BA capsule. It is a device for removing a radiation-irradiated burnable absorber (BA) capsule as described in Example 4. Example 7

[0037] The control circuit is a device for removing a radiation-irradiated burnable absorber (BA) capsule as described in Example 6, which is configured to receive a feedback response from the BA capsule removal module and use the feedback response to modulate the current of the solenoid. Example 8

[0038] The control circuit is a device for removing a radiation-irradiated burnable absorber (BA) capsule as described in Example 1, which is manually operated by a technician. Example 9

[0039] The control circuit is automatically operated by a processor, and the processor automatically evaluates the feedback response from the BA capsule removal module, a device for removing a radiation-irradiated burnable absorber (BA) capsule as described in Example 1. Example 10

[0040] The burnable absorber material contains cobalt-60 isotope, a device for removing a radiation-irradiated burnable absorber (BA) capsule as described in Example 1. Example 11

[0041] A method for removing a combustible absorber capsule irradiated with radiation from a plurality of combustible absorber rodlets, the method comprising: fixing, by a rodlet positioning module, a first combustible absorber (BA) rodlet to a rodlet positioning control arm, the rodlet positioning module being supported by the rodlet positioning control arm; disconnecting, by a cutting module, the first BA rodlet from a combustible absorber assembly, the combustible absorber assembly comprising a plurality of BA rodlets connected by a pressing plate in a predetermined arrangement, the cutting module being configured to cut the first BA rodlet at a position where it is connected to the pressing plate; positioning, by a BA capsule removal control arm, a BA capsule removal module around the BA rodlet, the BA capsule removal module being supported by the BA capsule removal control arm; selecting, by the BA capsule removal module, a first BA capsule for removal; inducing, by the BA capsule removal module, an electromagnetic flux in the first BA capsule comprising a ferromagnetic material, the electromagnetic flux locking the first BA capsule comprising the ferromagnetic material parallel to the BA capsule removal module; applying, by the rodlet positioning module, a force to the position of the BA rodlet relative to the BA capsule removal module, the force applied by the rodlet positioning module enabling the BA capsule removal module to move the BA capsule along the longitudinal axis; aligning, by the rodlet positioning module, the position of the BA rodlet above a first empty storage slot in a capsule storage cage; and placing, by the capsule removal module, the BA capsule in the first empty storage slot of the capsule storage cage. Example 12

[0042] A method for removing a combustible absorber capsule irradiated with radiation from a plurality of combustible absorber rodlets as described in Example 11, wherein the plurality of BA rodlets comprise a paramagnetic coating material disposed around the outer surface of the BA rodlets. Example 13

[0043] A method for removing a combustible absorber capsule irradiated with radiation from a plurality of combustible absorber rodlets as described in Example 11, wherein the plurality of BA rodlets comprise a ferromagnetic coating material disposed around the outer surface of the BA rodlets. Example 14

[0044] A method for removing a combustible absorber capsule irradiated with radiation from a plurality of combustible absorber rodlets as described in Example 11, wherein the control circuit is manually operated by a technician. Example 15

[0045] A method for removing a combustible absorber capsule irradiated with radiation from a plurality of combustible absorber rodlets as described in Example 11, wherein the control circuit is automatically operated by a processor, and the processor automatically evaluates feedback responses from a BA capsule removal module, a rodlet positioning module, and a cutting module. Example 16

[0046] A method for removing a combustible absorber capsule irradiated with radiation from a plurality of combustible absorber rodlets as described in Example 11, wherein the combustible absorber material contains cobalt-60 isotope. Example 17

[0047] A system for removing a combustible absorber (BA) capsule irradiated with radiation from a plurality of combustible absorber rodlets, the system comprising a rodlet positioning module, a cutting module, and a control circuit communicatively connected to one or more BA capsule removal modules, the control circuit comprising at least one processor, wherein the rodlet positioning module fixes a first BA rodlet to the rodlet positioning module, positions a first BA capsule removal module around the BA rodlet, the cutting module removes the first BA rodlet from the BA assembly, wherein the first BA rodlet comprises a plurality of BA capsules, the first BA capsule removal module selects a first BA capsule from the plurality of BA capsules, the first BA capsule removal module induces an electromagnetic flux in the first BA capsule comprising a ferromagnetic material, wherein the electromagnetic flux locks the first BA capsule comprising the ferromagnetic material parallel to the first BA capsule removal module, the cutting module removes a bullet-shaped nose plug from the first BA rodlet, the rodlet positioning module applies a force to the position of the first BA rodlet relative to the first BA capsule removal module, wherein the force applied by the rodlet positioning module enables the first BA capsule removal module to move the first BA capsule along the longitudinal axis, the rodlet positioning module aligns the first BA rodlet over a first empty storage slot in a capsule storage cage, and the first BA capsule removal module is configured to place the first BA capsule in the first empty storage slot of the capsule storage cage. Example 18

[0048] The plurality of BA rodlets comprises a plurality of combustible absorber (BA) capsules irradiated with radiation from the plurality of combustible absorber rodlets according to Example 17, comprising a superparamagnetic coating material disposed around the outer surface of the BA rodlet, for a system for removing the combustible absorber (BA) capsules irradiated with radiation from the plurality of combustible absorber rodlets. Example 19

[0049] A system for removing a burnable absorber (BA) capsule irradiated with radiation from a plurality of burnable absorber rodlets according to Example 17, wherein the plurality of BA rodlets comprise a paramagnetic coating material disposed around the outer surface of the BA rodlets. Example 20

[0050] A system for removing a burnable absorber (BA) capsule irradiated with radiation from a plurality of burnable absorber rodlets according to Example 17, wherein the control circuit is manually operated by a technician. Example 21

[0051] A system for removing a burnable absorber (BA) capsule irradiated with radiation from a plurality of burnable absorber rodlets according to Example 17, wherein the control circuit autonomously gives commands to a first BA capsule removal module, a rodlet positioning module, and a cutting module without human intervention, and the control circuit automatically evaluates feedback responses from the first BA capsule removal module, the rodlet positioning module, and the cutting module. Example 22

[0052] A system for removing a burnable absorber (BA) capsule irradiated with radiation from a plurality of burnable absorber rodlets according to Example 17, wherein the burnable absorber material contains cobalt-60 isotope. Example 23

[0053] A system for removing a burnable absorber (BA) capsule irradiated with radiation from a plurality of burnable absorber rodlets according to Example 17, further comprising a second BA capsule removal module communicably connected to the control circuit, wherein the control circuit is configured to select a second BA capsule from the plurality of BA capsules by the second BA capsule removal module and induce an electromagnetic flux in the second BA capsule, and the control circuit transmits movement control of the second BA capsule from the second capsule removal module to the first capsule removal module.

[0054] Numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the overall structure, function, manufacture, and use of the aspects as described in this disclosure and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Well-known operations, components, and elements are not described in detail so as not to obscure the aspects described in this disclosure. The reader will understand that the aspects described and illustrated herein are non-limiting examples, and thus it can be understood that the specific structural and functional details disclosed herein can be representative and exemplary. Modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the claims. Further, it should be understood that terms such as "front", "rear", "left", "right", "above", and "below" are for convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms.

[0055] In this disclosure, like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the views of several drawings.

[0056] All patents, patent applications, publications, or other disclosure materials referred to herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety as if each individual reference were explicitly incorporated by reference. All references, materials, or portions thereof that are hereby incorporated by reference are incorporated only to the extent that the incorporated materials do not conflict with existing definitions, descriptions, or other disclosure materials described in this disclosure. Therefore, to the extent necessary, the disclosure described herein prevails over conflicting materials incorporated by reference herein, and the disclosure explicitly described in this application controls.

[0057] The present disclosure has been described with reference to various embodiments and exemplary aspects. The aspects described herein are understood to provide exemplary features of various details of the various aspects of the disclosed invention, and thus, unless otherwise specified, to the extent possible, one or more features, elements, components, constituents, ingredients, structures, modules, and / or aspects of the disclosed aspects may be combined with, separated from, exchanged with, and / or rearranged with one or more other features, elements, components, constituents, ingredients, structures, modules, and / or aspects of the disclosed aspects without departing from the scope of the disclosed invention. Accordingly, those skilled in the art will recognize that various substitutions, changes, or combinations of any of the exemplary aspects may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. In addition, those skilled in the art will be able to recognize or confirm many equivalents to the various aspects of the present invention described herein without performing more than routine experimentation when considering the present disclosure. Accordingly, the present disclosure is limited not by the description of the various aspects, but rather by the claims.

[0058] Furthermore, it should be noted that the implementation of the control circuit 220 described above is for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting in any sense. The control circuit 220 can be utilized in various different processing contexts.

[0059] Although several forms are illustrated and described, it is not the applicant's intention to limit or restrict the appended claims in such detail. Numerous modifications, variations, changes, substitutions, combinations, and equivalents to these forms may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure and will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Further, the structure of each element associated with the described forms can alternatively be described as a means for providing the function performed by that element. Also, where a material is disclosed for a particular component, other materials may be used. Accordingly, it should be understood that the foregoing description and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications, combinations, and variations as fall within the scope of the disclosed forms. Also, the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications, variations, changes, substitutions, modifications, and equivalents.

[0060] The foregoing detailed description has shown various forms of apparatus and / or processes through the use of block diagrams, flowcharts, and / or examples. As long as such block diagrams, flowcharts, and / or examples include one or more functions and / or operations, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that each function and / or operation in such block diagrams, flowcharts, and / or examples can be implemented individually and / or collectively by a wide variety of hardware, software, firmware, or substantially any combination thereof. Some aspects of the forms disclosed herein can be implemented equivalently in integrated circuits as one or more computer programs executed on one or more computers (e.g., as one or more programs executed on one or more computer systems), as one or more programs executed on one or more processors (e.g., as one or more programs executed on one or more microprocessors), as firmware, or as substantially any combination thereof, and that designing such circuits and / or writing code for software and / or firmware is within the skill of those in the art in light of this disclosure. Additionally, those skilled in the art will recognize that the mechanisms of the subject matter described herein can be distributed as one or more program products in various forms, and that the exemplary forms of the subject matter described herein apply regardless of the particular type of signal transmission medium used to actually carry out that distribution.

[0061] The instructions used to program the logic for executing the various disclosed aspects can be stored in memory within a system such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM), cache, flash memory, or other storage. Further, the instructions can be distributed via a network or by other computer-readable media. Accordingly, a machine-readable medium is any mechanism for storing or transmitting information in a form readable by a machine (e.g., a computer), such as a floppy disk, optical disk, compact disk, read-only memory (CD-ROM), magneto-optical disk, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), magnetic or optical card, flash memory, or any tangible, machine-readable storage used for transmitting information on the Internet via electrical, optical, acoustic, or other forms of propagated signals (e.g., carrier waves, infrared signals, digital signals, etc.). Accordingly, a non-transitory computer-readable medium includes any kind of tangible, machine-readable medium suitable for storing or transmitting electronic instructions or information in a form readable by a machine (e.g., a computer).

[0062] When used in any aspect of this specification, the term "control circuit" may refer to, for example, a hardwired circuit, a programmable circuit (e.g., a computer processor, a processing unit, a processor, a microcontroller, a microcontroller unit, a controller, a digital signal processor (DSP), a programmable logic device (PLD), a programmable logic array (PLA), or a field programmable gate array (FPGA) including one or more individual instruction processing cores), a state machine circuit, firmware storing instructions executed by a programmable circuit, a quantum processor, spiking neural network hardware, and any combination thereof. The control circuit may be embodied collectively or individually as a circuit forming part of a larger system, such as, for example, an integrated circuit (IC), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a system on chip (SoC), a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a server, a smartphone, etc. Thus, the "control circuit" as used herein includes, but is not limited to, an electrical circuit having at least one discrete electrical circuit, an electrical circuit having at least one integrated circuit, an electrical circuit having at least one application specific integrated circuit, an electrical circuit forming a general purpose computing device configured by a computer program (e.g., a general purpose computer configured by a computer program that at least partially executes the processes and / or devices described herein, or a microprocessor configured by a computer program that at least partially executes the processes and / or devices described herein), an electrical circuit forming a memory device (e.g., in the form of RAM), and / or an electrical circuit forming a communication device (e.g., a modem, a communication switch, or an optoelectronic device). Those skilled in the art will recognize that the subject matter described herein may be implemented in an analog fashion, a digital fashion, or some combination thereof.

[0063] When used in any aspect of this specification, the term "logic" may refer to an app, software, firmware, and / or circuitry configured to perform any of the foregoing operations. The software may be embodied as a software package, code, instructions, instruction set, and / or data recorded on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. The firmware may be embodied as code, instructions, instruction set, and / or data hard-coded (e.g., non-volatile) in a memory device.

[0064] When used in any aspect of this specification, terms such as "component", "system", "module" may refer to a computer-related entity, either hardware, a combination of hardware and software, software, or software in execution.

[0065] When used in any aspect of this specification, an "algorithm" refers to a non-contradictory series of steps leading to a desired result, and a "step" refers to an operation of a physical quantity and / or a logical state that can take the form of an electrical or magnetic signal capable of storage, transfer, combination, comparison, and other operations, although not necessarily required. It is common usage to refer to these signals as bits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers, etc. These and similar terms may be associated with appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities and / or states.

[0066] Unless otherwise specified, as is apparent from the foregoing disclosure, throughout the foregoing disclosure, discussions using terms such as "process", "operation", "calculation", "decision", "display" refer to the operations and processes of a computer system, or the operations and processes of a similar electronic computing device, that manipulate and transform data represented as physical (electronic) quantities in the registers and memories of the computer system into other data similarly represented as physical quantities in the memories or registers of the computer system, or in other information storage, transmission, or display devices.

[0067] One or more components may, in this specification, refer to "configured", "configurable", "operable / operating", "applied / applicable", "able to", "adaptable / adapted", etc. Those skilled in the art will recognize that, unless otherwise required by the context, "configured" can generally include components in an active state and / or components in an inactive state and / or components in a standby state.

[0068] Generally, terms used in this specification, particularly in the appended claims (e.g., the body of the appended claims), are generally intended to be "open" terms (e.g., the term "comprising" should be construed as "comprising but not limited to", the term "having" should be construed as "having at least", the term "comprises" should be construed as "comprises but not limited to", etc.). Those skilled in the art will recognize that if a specific number of introductions of a claim is intended, such intention is explicitly stated in the claim, and if there is no such statement, such intention does not exist. For example, for the sake of understanding, in the following appended claims, the introductory phrases "at least one" and "one or more" may be used to introduce the description of the claims. However, even if the same claim contains an indefinite article such as the introductory phrase "one or more" or "at least one" and "a" or "an", the use of such a phrase should not be construed as limiting a particular claim including the description of the claim introduced by such an indefinite article to a claim including only one such introduced description of the claim (e.g., for example, "a" and / or "an" should generally be construed as meaning "at least one" or "one or more"), and the same applies to definite articles used in the introduction of the description of the claims.

[0069] In addition, even if a specific number of the introduced claims is explicitly recited, such a recitation should generally be construed to mean at least the recited number (e.g., a minimal recitation of "two recitations" without other modifiers generally means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations), which one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize. Further, when a convention similar to "at least one of A, B, and C, etc." is used, generally, such a configuration is intended in the sense that one of ordinary skill in the art understands the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, and C" includes, but is not limited to, a system having A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and / or A, B, and C together). When a convention similar to "at least one of A, B, or C, etc." is used, generally, such a configuration is intended in the sense that one of ordinary skill in the art understands the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, or C" includes, but is not limited to, a system having A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and / or A, B, and C together). Typically, separate words and / or phrases presenting two or more alternative terms should be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to contemplate the possibility of including either one of the terms, any of the terms, or both terms, in the context of the specification, claims, or drawings, unless otherwise indicated. For example, the expression "A or B" is generally understood to include the possibilities of "A" or "B" or "A and B".

[0070] Regarding the appended claims, those skilled in the art will understand that the operations described therein may generally be performed in any order. Also, although the claims are presented in an ordered manner, it should be understood that the various operations may be performed in an order other than the one described, or simultaneously. Examples of such alternative orders include, without further indication in the context, sequential order, interleaved order, interrupted order, reordered order, incremental order, preparatory order, supplementary order, simultaneous order, reverse order, or other modified orders. Further, terms such as past participle adjectives like "in response to", "related to", etc. generally do not intend to exclude such modifications without further indication in the context.

[0071] Note that any reference to "one aspect", "an aspect", "an illustration", "an illustration" etc. means that the specific features, structures, or characteristics described in relation to that aspect are included in at least one aspect. Accordingly, throughout this specification, the expressions "in one aspect", "in an aspect", "in an illustration", and "in an illustration" appear in various places, but they do not necessarily all refer to the same aspect. Further, the specific features, structures, or characteristics may be appropriately combined in one or more aspects.

[0072] As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0073] Expressions regarding directions used herein, for example, but not limited to, up, down, left, right, downward, upward, front, back, and their modifications, relate to the directions of the elements shown in the appended drawings and do not limit the claims unless otherwise explicitly stated.

[0074] As used herein, the terms "about" or "approximately" mean, unless otherwise specified, an acceptable error with respect to a particular value determined by one of ordinary skill in the art, which depends in part on how that value is measured or determined. In certain embodiments, the terms "about" or "approximately" mean within 1, 2, 3, or 4 standard deviations. In certain embodiments, the terms "about" or "approximately" mean within 50%, 200%, 105%, 100%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1%, 0.5%, or 0.05% of a given value or range.

[0075] In this specification, unless otherwise indicated, all numerical parameters are understood to be modified by the term "about" in all instances. In this case, the numerical parameters have inherent variability particular to the underlying measurement technique used to determine the numerical value of that parameter. Without limiting the application of the doctrine of equivalents, at least, each numerical parameter set forth herein should be construed in light of at least the number of significant digits reported and by applying ordinary rounding procedures.

[0076] The numerical ranges referred to in this specification include all sub-ranges included in the referred range. For example, the range of "1 to 100" includes all sub-ranges between the stated minimum value of 1 and the stated maximum value of 100 (and including 1 and 100), that is, all sub-ranges having a minimum value of 1 or more and a maximum value of 100 or less. Also, all ranges referred to in this specification include the endpoints of the referred range. For example, the range of "1 to 100" includes the endpoints 1 and 100. All the maximum numerical limitations described in this specification are intended to include all lower numerical limitations subsumed therein, and all the minimum numerical limitations described in this specification are intended to include all upper numerical limitations subsumed therein. Accordingly, the applicant reserves the right to amend this specification, including the claims, to expressly recite any sub-ranges subsumed within the expressly recited ranges. All such ranges are essentially described in this specification.

[0077] Any patent application, patent, non-patent literature, or other disclosure material referred to in this disclosure and / or described in the application data sheet is incorporated herein by reference to the extent that the incorporated material does not conflict with this specification. Therefore, to the extent necessary, the disclosure expressly set forth in this specification prevails over conflicting material incorporated herein by reference. Even if a material or a part thereof is to be incorporated herein by reference, a material that conflicts with an existing definition, description, or other disclosure material described in this specification is incorporated only to the extent that no conflict occurs between the incorporated material and the existing disclosure material.

[0078] The terms "comprise" (and any form of "comprise" such as "comprises" or "comprising"), "have" (and any form of "have" such as "has" or "having"), "include" (and any form of "include" such as "includes" or "including"), and "contain" (and any form of "contain" such as "contains" or "containing") are open-ended conjunctive verbs. As a result, a system that "comprises", "has", "includes", or "contains" one or more elements has those one or more elements, but is not limited to having only those one or more elements. Similarly, an element of a system, device, or apparatus that "comprises", "has", "includes", or "contains" one or more features has those one or more features, but is not limited to having only those one or more features.

[0079] In summary, numerous advantages resulting from adopting the concepts described herein have been described. The foregoing description of one or more forms has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the exact forms disclosed. Modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. One or more forms have been selected to explain the principles and practical applications, thereby enabling one skilled in the art to utilize various forms with various modifications as suitable for the particular uses contemplated. The claims presented herein are intended to define the overall scope of the rights. The following items are the contents described in the claims of the international application at the time of filing. (Item 1) An apparatus for removing a combustible absorber (BA) capsule irradiated with radiation, the apparatus comprising: a control arm; a BA capsule removal module supported by the control arm and positionable around a BA rodlet, the BA rodlet comprising a paramagnetic coating material disposed around an outer surface of the BA rodlet, the BA capsule removal module; comprising; the BA capsule removal module defines a capsule removal tunnel configured to be slidably disposed around the BA rodlet, the capsule removal tunnel defining first and second tunnel openings at corresponding first and second ends of the capsule removal tunnel, the first and second tunnel openings defining a distal radius R that tapers linearly towards a smaller inner radius R 2 ; 1 defining; the BA capsule removal module comprises: a plurality of bearing columns spaced equidistantly within the capsule removal tunnel, the bearing columns comprising bearings configured to contact a BA rodlet disposed within the capsule removal tunnel, the capsule removal module being slidably movable along a longitudinal axis of the BA rodlet, the bearing columns; a solenoid disposed around the capsule removal tunnel and configured to electrically induce an electromagnetic flux in a BA capsule comprising a ferromagnetic material, the electromagnetic flux locking the BA capsule comprising the ferromagnetic material to the BA capsule removal module, axial movement of the BA capsule removal module disposed outside the BA rodlet causing axial movement of the BA capsule inside the BA rodlet, the solenoid; comprising, an apparatus. (Item 2) The plurality of bearing columns includes at least three columns spaced equidistantly within the capsule removal tunnel. The apparatus for removing a radiation-irradiated burnable absorber (BA) capsule according to item 1, wherein the plurality of bearing columns are configured to position the BA rodlet at the center of the capsule removal tunnel along the longitudinal axis. (Item 3) The apparatus for removing a radiation-irradiated burnable absorber (BA) capsule according to item 1, wherein the BA capsule removal module is configured to remove the BA capsule from the plurality of BA rodlets immersed in the used rod pool. (Item 4) The apparatus for removing a radiation-irradiated burnable absorber (BA) capsule according to item 1, wherein the control circuit is configured to provide a control command to the BA capsule removal module from outside the used rod pool. (Item 5) The apparatus for removing a radiation-irradiated burnable absorber (BA) capsule according to item 4, wherein the control circuit is configured to position the BA capsule removal module with respect to the BA rodlet. (Item 6) The control circuit is configured to transmit a command to the BA capsule removal module. The command is to induce an electromagnetic flux in the BA capsule, for the apparatus for removing a radiation-irradiated burnable absorber (BA) capsule according to item 4. (Item 7) The apparatus for removing a radiation-irradiated burnable absorber (BA) capsule according to item 6, wherein the control circuit receives a feedback response from the BA capsule removal module and uses the feedback response to modulate the current of the solenoid. (Item 8) The apparatus for removing a radiation-irradiated burnable absorber (BA) capsule according to item 1, wherein the control circuit is manually operated by a technician. (Item 9) The control circuit is automatically operated by a processor. The processor automatically evaluates the feedback response from the BA capsule removal module, for the apparatus for removing a radiation-irradiated burnable absorber (BA) capsule according to item 1. (Item 10) The combustible absorber material is a device for removing a combustible absorber (BA) capsule irradiated with radiation as described in item 1, which contains cobalt-60 isotope. (Item 11) A method for removing a combustible absorber capsule irradiated with radiation from a plurality of combustible absorber rodlets, the method comprising: fixing a first combustible absorber (BA) rodlet to a rodlet positioning control arm by a rodlet positioning module, the rodlet positioning module being supported by the rodlet positioning control arm, the fixing; disconnecting the first BA rodlet from the combustible absorber assembly by a cutting module, the combustible absorber assembly comprising the plurality of BA rodlets connected by a pressing plate in a predetermined arrangement, the cutting module being configured to cut the first BA rodlet at a position connecting to the pressing plate, the disconnecting; positioning a BA capsule removal module around the BA rodlet by a BA capsule removal control arm, the BA capsule removal module being supported by the BA capsule removal control arm, the positioning; selecting a first BA capsule for removal by the BA capsule removal module; inducing an electromagnetic flux in the first BA capsule provided with a ferromagnetic material by the BA capsule removal module, the electromagnetic flux locking the first BA capsule provided with the ferromagnetic material parallel to the BA capsule removal module, the inducing; applying a force to the position of the BA rodlet relative to the BA capsule removal module by the rodlet positioning module, the force applied by the rodlet positioning module enabling the BA capsule removal module to move the BA capsule along the longitudinal axis, the applying; aligning the position of the BA rodlet with a first empty storage slot in a capsule storage cage by the rodlet positioning module; The capsule removal module places the BA capsule on the first empty storage slot of the capsule storage cage, A method including (Item 12) The method for removing a combustible absorber capsule irradiated with radiation from the plurality of combustible absorber rodlets according to item 11, wherein the plurality of BA rodlets are provided with a paramagnetic coating material disposed around the outer surface of the BA rodlet. (Item 13) The method for removing a combustible absorber capsule irradiated with radiation from the plurality of combustible absorber rodlets according to item 11, wherein the plurality of BA rodlets are provided with a superparamagnetic coating material disposed around the outer surface of the BA rodlet. (Item 14) The method for removing a combustible absorber capsule irradiated with radiation from the plurality of combustible absorber rodlets according to item 11, wherein the control circuit is manually operated by a technician. (Item 15) The control circuit is automatically operated by a processor, The processor automatically evaluates feedback responses from the BA capsule removal module, the rodlet positioning module, and the cutting module, and is a method for removing a combustible absorber capsule irradiated with radiation from the plurality of combustible absorber rodlets according to item 11. (Item 16) The method for removing a combustible absorber capsule irradiated with radiation from the plurality of combustible absorber rodlets according to item 11, wherein the combustible absorber material contains a cobalt-60 isotope. (Item 17) A system for removing a combustible absorber (BA) capsule irradiated with radiation from a plurality of combustible absorber rodlets, the system comprising: A rodlet positioning module, a cutting module, and a control circuit communicably connected to one or more BA capsule removal modules, The control circuit includes at least one processor, The rodlet positioning module fixes a first BA rodlet to the rodlet positioning module, Positions a first BA capsule removal module around the BA rodlet, The cutting module removes the first BA rodlet from the BA assembly, where the first BA rodlet comprises a plurality of BA capsules. The first BA capsule removal module selects a first BA capsule from a plurality of BA capsules, The first BA capsule removal module induces an electromagnetic flux in the first BA capsule provided with a ferromagnetic material, where the electromagnetic flux locks the first BA capsule provided with the ferromagnetic material parallel to the first BA capsule removal module, The cutting module removes a bullet-shaped nose plug from the first BA rodlet, The rodlet positioning module applies a force to the position of the first BA rodlet relative to the first BA capsule removal module, where the force applied by the rodlet positioning module enables the first BA capsule removal module to move the first BA capsule along the longitudinal axis, The rodlet positioning module aligns the first BA rodlet over a first empty storage slot in the capsule storage cage, A system configured such that the first BA capsule removal module places the first BA capsule in the first empty storage slot of the capsule storage cage. (Item 18) A system for removing combustible absorber (BA) capsules irradiated with radiation from a plurality of combustible absorber rodlets according to item 17, wherein the plurality of BA rodlets comprise a superparamagnetic coating material disposed around the outer surface of the BA rodlets. (Item 19) A system for removing combustible absorber (BA) capsules irradiated with radiation from a plurality of combustible absorber rodlets according to item 17, wherein the plurality of BA rodlets comprise a paramagnetic coating material disposed around the outer surface of the BA rodlets. (Item 20) A system for removing combustible absorber (BA) capsules irradiated with radiation from a plurality of combustible absorber rodlets according to item 17, wherein the control circuit is manually operated by a technician. (Item 21) The control circuit autonomously gives commands to the first BA capsule removal module, the rodlet positioning module, and the cutting module without human intervention, The control circuit automatically evaluates feedback responses from the first BA capsule removal module, the rodlet positioning module, and the cutting module, and is a system for removing a burnable absorber (BA) capsule irradiated with radiation from a plurality of burnable absorber rodlets according to item 17. (Item 22) The burnable absorber material contains cobalt-60 isotope, and is a system for removing a burnable absorber (BA) capsule irradiated with radiation from a plurality of burnable absorber rodlets according to item 17. (Item 23) The system further includes a second BA capsule removal module communicably connected to the control circuit. The control circuit is configured to select a second BA capsule from a plurality of BA capsules by the second BA capsule removal module and induce electromagnetic flux in the second BA capsule. The control circuit transmits control of movement of the second BA capsule from the second capsule removal module to the first capsule removal module, and is a system for removing a burnable absorber (BA) capsule irradiated with radiation from a plurality of burnable absorber rodlets according to item 17.

Claims

1. An apparatus for removing a combustible absorber (BA) capsule irradiated with radiation, the apparatus comprising: a BA capsule removal module supported by a control arm; the BA capsule removal module is positionable around a BA rodlet having a paramagnetic outer coating material via the control arm; The BA capsule removal module defines a capsule removal tunnel configured to be slidably disposed around the BA rodlet, the capsule removal tunnel defining first and second tunnel openings at corresponding first and second ends of the capsule removal tunnel, the first and second tunnel openings having a distal radius R that linearly tapers toward a smaller inner radius R ２ defining a distal radius R that linearly tapers toward a smaller inner radius R １ defining, the BA capsule removal module includes: a plurality of bearing columns spaced equidistantly within the capsule removal tunnel, the bearing columns comprising bearings configured to contact the BA rodlet disposed within the capsule removal tunnel, the bearings enabling the BA capsule removal module to slide and move along the longitudinal axis of the BA rodlet; the bearing columns; a solenoid disposed around the capsule removal tunnel and configured to electrically induce an electromagnetic flux into a BA capsule disposed within the BA rodlet, the BA capsule comprising a ferromagnetic material, the electromagnetic flux magnetically locking the BA capsule to the BA capsule removal module, and in the locked state, axial movement of the BA capsule removal module disposed outside the BA rodlet results in axial movement of the BA capsule inside the BA rodlet; the solenoid; An apparatus comprising.

2. The apparatus for removing a combustible absorber (BA) capsule irradiated with radiation according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of bearing columns are configured to position the BA rodlet at the center of the capsule removal tunnel along the longitudinal axis.

3. The apparatus for removing a combustible absorber (BA) capsule irradiated with radiation according to claim 1, wherein the BA capsule removal module is configured to remove a plurality of BA capsules from each BA rodlet of a plurality of BA rodlets immersed in a spent rod pool.

4. Further comprising a control circuit, The apparatus for removing a combustible absorber (BA) capsule irradiated with radiation according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured to provide a control command to the BA capsule removal module from outside the spent rod pool.

5. The control circuit is configured to position the BA capsule removal module with respect to the BA rodlet, for the apparatus for removing a combustible absorber (BA) capsule irradiated with radiation according to claim 4.

6. The control circuit is configured to transmit a command to the BA capsule removal module, wherein the command induces the electromagnetic flux in the BA capsule, for the apparatus for removing a combustible absorber (BA) capsule irradiated with radiation according to claim 4.

7. The BA capsule removal module is configured to convey a feedback response to the control circuit, wherein the control circuit receives the feedback response from the BA capsule removal module and is configured to modulate the current of the solenoid using the feedback response, for the apparatus for removing a combustible absorber (BA) capsule irradiated with radiation according to claim 6.

8. further comprising a control circuit communicably connected to the BA capsule removal module, wherein the control circuit is manually operated by a technician, for the apparatus for removing a combustible absorber (BA) capsule irradiated with radiation according to claim 1.

9. further comprising a control circuit communicably connected to the BA capsule removal module, wherein the control circuit is automatically operated by a processor, wherein the processor automatically evaluates a feedback response from the BA capsule removal module, for the apparatus for removing a combustible absorber (BA) capsule irradiated with radiation according to claim 1.

10. Further comprising a BA rodlet and a BA capsule inside the BA rodlet, wherein the BA capsule contains a cobalt-60 isotope, for the apparatus for removing a combustible absorber (BA) capsule irradiated with radiation according to claim 1.

11. A method for removing a combustible absorber capsule irradiated with radiation from a plurality of combustible absorber rodlets, the method comprising: fixing, by a rodlet positioning module, a first combustible absorber (BA) rodlet among the plurality of combustible absorber rodlets to a rodlet positioning control arm, wherein the rodlet positioning module is supported by the rodlet positioning control arm, The cutting module disconnects the first BA rodlet from the combustible absorber assembly, where the combustible absorber assembly comprises the plurality of BA rodlets connected by a pressing plate in a certain arrangement, and the cutting module is configured to cut the first BA rodlet from the pressing plate. The BA capsule removal control arm positions the BA capsule removal module around the first BA rodlet, where the BA capsule removal module is supported by the BA capsule removal control arm. The BA capsule removal module selects a first BA capsule for removal from the first BA rodlet, where the first BA capsule comprises a ferromagnetic material. The BA capsule removal module induces an electromagnetic flux in the first BA capsule, where the electromagnetic flux magnetically locks the first BA capsule parallel to the BA capsule removal module. The rodlet positioning module applies a force to the position of the first BA rodlet relative to the BA capsule removal module, and due to the force applied by the rodlet positioning module, the BA capsule removal module can move the first BA capsule along the longitudinal axis of the first BA rodlet. The rodlet positioning module aligns the position of the first BA rodlet over a first empty storage slot in the capsule storage cage. The BA capsule removal module places the BA capsule in the first empty storage slot of the capsule storage cage. A method comprising the above steps. Claim 12 A method for removing a combustible absorber capsule irradiated with radiation from a plurality of combustible absorber rodlets according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of BA rodlets comprise a paramagnetic coating material disposed around the outer surface of each BA rodlet among the plurality of BA rodlets. Claim 13 A method for removing a combustible absorber capsule irradiated with radiation from the plurality of combustible absorber rodlets according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of BA rodlets comprise a superparamagnetic coating material disposed around the outer surface of each of the plurality of BA rodlets.

14. Further comprising controlling the BA capsule removal module by a control circuit, The control circuit is a method for removing a combustible absorber capsule irradiated with radiation from the plurality of combustible absorber rodlets according to claim 11, which is manually operated by a technician.

15. Further comprising controlling the BA capsule removal module by a control circuit, The control circuit is automatically operated by a processor, The processor automatically evaluates feedback responses from the BA capsule removal module, the rodlet positioning module, and the cutting module, and is a method for removing a combustible absorber capsule irradiated with radiation from the plurality of combustible absorber rodlets according to claim 11.

16. The first BA capsule contains a cobalt-60 isotope, and is a method for removing a combustible absorber capsule irradiated with radiation from the plurality of combustible absorber rodlets according to claim 11.

17. A system for removing a combustible absorber (BA) capsule irradiated with radiation from a plurality of combustible absorber rodlets, the system comprising: A rodlet positioning module, a cutting module, and a control circuit communicatively connected to one or more BA capsule removal modules, The control circuit comprises at least one processor, The control circuit, Fix the first BA rodlet to the rodlet positioning module by the rodlet positioning module, Position a first BA capsule removal module around the first BA rodlet, Remove the first BA rodlet from the BA assembly by the cutting module, wherein the first BA rodlet comprises a plurality of BA capsules, Select a first BA capsule from the plurality of BA capsules by the first BA capsule removal module, wherein the first BA capsule comprises a ferromagnetic material. The first BA capsule removal module induces electromagnetic flux in the first BA capsule, where the electromagnetic flux locks the first BA capsule parallel to the first BA capsule removal module. The cutting module removes the bullet-shaped nose plug from the first BA rodlet. The rodlet positioning module applies a force to the position of the first BA rodlet relative to the first BA capsule removal module, where the force applied by the rodlet positioning module enables the first BA capsule removal module to move the first BA capsule along the longitudinal axis of the first BA rodlet. The rodlet positioning module aligns the first BA rodlet over the first empty storage slot in the capsule storage cage. A system configured such that the first BA capsule removal module places the first BA capsule in the first empty storage slot of the capsule storage cage.

18. The system for removing a combustible absorber (BA) capsule irradiated with radiation from a plurality of combustible absorber rodlets according to claim 17, wherein the plurality of BA rodlets comprise a superparamagnetic coating material disposed around the outer surface of each of the plurality of BA rodlets.

19. The system for removing a combustible absorber (BA) capsule irradiated with radiation from a plurality of combustible absorber rodlets according to claim 17, wherein the plurality of BA rodlets comprise a paramagnetic coating material disposed around the outer surface of each of the plurality of BA rodlets.

20. The system for removing a combustible absorber (BA) capsule irradiated with radiation from a plurality of combustible absorber rodlets according to claim 17, wherein the control circuit is manually operated by a technician.

21. The control circuit autonomously gives commands to the first BA capsule removal module, the rodlet positioning module, and the cutting module without human intervention. The control circuit automatically evaluates feedback responses from the first BA capsule removal module, the rodlet positioning module, and the cutting module, for a system for removing a burnable absorber (BA) capsule irradiated with radiation from a plurality of burnable absorber rodlets according to claim 17.

22. The burnable absorber capsule contains a cobalt-60 isotope, for a system for removing a burnable absorber (BA) capsule irradiated with radiation from a plurality of burnable absorber rodlets according to claim 17.

23. The system further comprises a second BA capsule removal module communicably connected to the control circuit, The control circuit is configured to: select a second BA capsule from the plurality of BA capsules by the second BA capsule removal module and induce an electromagnetic flux in the second BA capsule, and transmit control of movement of the second BA capsule from the second BA capsule removal module to the first BA capsule removal module, for a system for removing a burnable absorber (BA) capsule irradiated with radiation from a plurality of burnable absorber rodlets according to claim 17.

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