Molten Salt Sampling Assembly With Inert Gas Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Collecting a sample of molten salt from a reactor system poses safety issues due to nuclear radiation and the risk of undesirable chemical reactions with contaminants, which can alter the salt composition and cause system corrosion.
Innovation Solution
A molten salt sampling system with a collection assembly, elongated shaft, and gas management system that uses inert gas purging and vacuum to isolate and extract a controlled sample, maintaining the sample in an inert environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a sample is collected from the molten salt reactor system, then the composition can be monitored, but nuclear radiation and contamination reactions create safety issues and undesirable chemical reactions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary collection assembly that acts as a mediator between the molten salt reactor system and the external monitoring environment. This assembly includes a hermetically sealed container with inert atmosphere, allowing the sample to be collected without direct exposure to air and contaminants while enabling subsequent analysis outside the reactor system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs an inert atmosphere (nitrogen or argon) within the collection assembly to displace air and prevent oxidative contamination reactions between the molten salt sample and atmospheric contaminants. This creates a controlled environment that preserves the chemical integrity of the sample during collection and storage.
2Ease of operation
If the collection assembly is exposed to air during sampling, then the sampling process is simplified, but contaminants cause undesirable chemical reactions in the molten fuel salt
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-establishing an inert atmosphere within the collection assembly before introducing the molten salt sample. The inert gas is introduced and the atmosphere is purged of air contaminants prior to sampling, ensuring that when the sample is introduced, no contaminant reactions can occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The hermetically sealed collection assembly serves as an intermediary barrier between the sample and the external environment. This sealed container allows the sampling operation to be performed with minimal exposure to air while maintaining a controlled inert environment throughout the collection and storage period.
3Reliability
If the collection assembly is isolated from the process fluid, then safety is improved, but the sample cannot be collected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic isolation through a movable isolation component (valve or gate) that can transition between open and closed positions. When open, the collection assembly is exposed to the molten salt process fluid for sampling; when closed, the assembly is isolated to ensure safety during retrieval and storage. This dynamic control allows both safe isolation and effective sample collection.
Solution Approach 2:
The isolation component acts as a dynamic intermediary that controls the connection between the collection assembly and the process fluid. This mediator can be positioned to allow sample collection when needed and to provide isolation for safety during handling and storage, thus resolving the contradiction between safety and productivity.
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 system safely collects a representative sample of molten salt while minimizing contamination and reducing safety risks, allowing for accurate analysis without system corrosion.
Implementation Method 1
deliver a supply of the inert gas to the collection assembly
Implementation Method 2
draw a vacuum about an environment of the collection assembly
Implementation Method 3
induce the sample into the collection assembly using the vacuum drawn from the collection assembly
Data Source
AI summary
The salt sampling system may be utilized to collect molten fuel salt samples from a molten salt reactor. The salt sampling system keeps the fuel salt isolated from the environment outside the molten salt reactor system, until the salt sampling system is utilized to collect the salt sample. The salt sampling system may utilize one or more isolation components to position a collection assembly within the reactor system to collect the salt sample, and upon removing the collection assembly from the reactor system, closing the one or more isolation components so that the reactor system is once again isolated. The salt sampling system may additionally utilize a purge gas system and a vacuum system to remove unwanted contaminants from the components in fluid connection within salt sampling system prior to inserting the collection assembly into the molten salt reactor system.