Integral Anti-Seismic Support Plate for Nuclear Reactor Control Drives

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing anti-seismic support systems for control element drive mechanisms in nuclear reactors face challenges such as inconvenient manufacturing and installation, thermal expansion issues leading to misalignment, and unstable transmission of impactive forces during earthquakes due to individually installed anti-seismic support plates.

Innovation Solution

An integral anti-seismic support plate with insertion holes and bushings is used to support control element drive mechanisms, featuring a one-piece design with upper and lower support plates connected by a flange, and bushings with varying diameters to maintain constant gaps and accommodate thermal expansion, ensuring stable impact transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If anti-seismic support plates are individually installed on respective control element drive mechanisms, then each mechanism can be supported separately, but manufacturing and installing processes become inconvenient and complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupport reliabilityVSAvoidinstallation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple separate anti-seismic support plates are merged into a single integral anti-seismic support plate that can simultaneously support multiple control element drive mechanisms. This combining approach maintains the support function for each mechanism while eliminating the complexity of individual installation processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupport reliabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If anti-seismic support plates are individually installed, then each plate can be positioned independently, but thermal expansion causes misalignment and inclination of control element drive mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning flexibilityVSAvoidalignment stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Ease of manufacture

If gaps between anti-seismic support plates are not constant, then installation is easier, but impactive forces cannot be stably transmitted during earthquakes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation easeVSAvoidimpact transmission reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Bushings are introduced as intermediary components between the control element drive mechanisms and the integral anti-seismic support plate. These bushings maintain constant gaps and ensure stable transmission of impactive forces during earthquakes, while still allowing for thermal expansion and contraction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

5Reliability

If anti-seismic support plates are individually installed, then each mechanism can be supported separately, but the overall system becomes more complex and harder to maintain

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupport reliabilityVSAvoidmaintenance ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution simplifies manufacturing and installation, maintains constant impact transmission paths, reduces transverse movements, and effectively protects control element drive mechanisms from excessive forces during earthquakes, enhancing structural stability and preventing wear through gasket placement.

Implementation Method 1

due to thermal expansion of the anti-seismic support plates, the control element drive mechanisms may be inclined

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Implementation Method 2

bushings inserted between outer surfaces of the control element drive mechanisms and inner surfaces of the insertion holes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS9847146B2Anti-seismic apparatus for control element drive mechanisms

Publication Date: 2017.12.19 KEPCO ENG & CONSTR CO INC

AI summary

An anti-seismic apparatus for control element drive mechanisms of a nuclear reactor includes: an anti-seismic support plate including a plurality of insertion holes in which the control element drive mechanisms are respectively inserted; and bushings inserted between outer surfaces of the control element drive mechanisms and inner surfaces of the insertion holes. The support plate includes an upper support plate comprising a plurality of first insertion holes, a lower support plate comprising a plurality of second insertion holes at positions corresponding to the first insertion holes, and a connection part connecting the upper support plate and the lower support plate. The connection part includes a support beam vertically extending from an end portion of the lower support plate, an inner flange extending inward from an upper end portion of the support beam, and an outer flange extending outward from the upper end portion of the support beam.