Multi-Axis Erosion Head for Deep Reactor Wall Sampling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for removing material samples from the inner wall of reactor pressure containers in nuclear power plants are limited to small samples up to 10mm depth, restricting material testing capabilities, and existing eroding devices lack the flexibility to produce samples of varying geometry and size.
Innovation Solution
An eroding device with a movement control system allowing for simultaneous control of four axes, enabling combination movements of linear and rotary motions to produce samples of arbitrary geometry, along with a fastening system for secure attachment to the reactor wall, facilitating the removal of larger samples up to 100mm depth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If grinding techniques are used to take material samples, then the sampling process is simple, but the sample depth is limited to 10 mm
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical grinding techniques with spark erosion (electrical discharge machining). This substitution enables deeper material removal (up to 100 mm) by using electrical discharges instead of mechanical contact, avoiding the depth limitations and mechanical stress issues of grinding while achieving the required sample depths for material testing.
Solution Approach 2:
The erosion device incorporates a movement control system with multiple axes that enables dynamic positioning and movement of the erosion electrode during the erosion process. This dynamic capability allows the electrode to follow complex trajectories and produce samples of various geometries and depths, resolving the contradiction between sample depth and device complexity by making the device adaptable rather than statically limited.
2Shape
If traditional erosion devices are used, then the device structure is simple, but the sample geometry is limited to boat-shaped samples
Solution Approach 1:
The movement control system with multiple axes enables the erosion electrode to perform complex movements including linear movements along three axes and rotational movements, allowing the production of samples with arbitrary geometries (cylindrical, rectangular, irregular shapes) rather than just boat-shaped samples. The dynamic control capability directly addresses the geometry limitation.
Solution Approach 2:
The erosion device is designed with universal capabilities to produce various sample geometries and depths through its multi-axis movement control system. The same basic device structure can generate different sample types (cylindrical, rectangular, irregular shapes, various depths) by programming different electrode trajectories, making the device multi-functional and adaptable to different sampling requirements.
3Quantity of substance
If larger material samples are required for testing, then more comprehensive material testing becomes possible, but existing methods cannot remove samples deeper than 10 mm
Solution Approach 1:
The substitution of spark erosion for mechanical grinding enables the removal of larger volume samples (up to 100 mm depth) without the mechanical constraints and precision loss associated with deep grinding. The electrical discharge process maintains precision while achieving the required sample volumes for comprehensive material testing.
Solution Approach 2:
The movement control system incorporates feedback mechanisms to precisely control the erosion electrode's position and movement during the erosion process. This feedback control ensures manufacturing precision is maintained even when removing large volumes of material to depths of 100 mm, resolving the contradiction between sample quantity and precision.
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
Enables the removal of material samples of any contour and size, allowing for accurate sampling of metallic components, including deep samples, and accommodating different material qualities, with a flexible and modular design suitable for use in challenging environments like nuclear power plants.
Implementation Method 1
The erosion device according to the invention comprises an erosion head, wherein the erosion head has at least one erosion electrode... Spark erosion is the preferred erosion process.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to an erosion device (10) for performing an erosion process for taking material samples of metal components of nuclear power plants, particularly from the wall, preferably the inner wall, of a reactor pressure vessel, said device comprising an erosion head (11), the erosion head (11) comprising at least one erosion electrode (12), the erosion electrode (12) having a convex or angular outer shape at least in sections, and the erosion head (11) comprising a positioning and/or movement guidance system (13) for positioning and/or moving the erosion electrode (12), the positioning and/or movement guidance system (13) comprising at least four axes (X; Y; Z; R) for performing movements of the erosion electrodes (12) in order to produce a provided material sample geometry (21), the movement or movements also being able to be performed during the erosion process. The invention also relates to the use of an erosion device (10) and to a method for taking material samples from metal components of nuclear power plants, particularly from the wall, preferably the inner wall, of a reactor pressure vessel.