Nuclear Fuel Channel Seating Tool with Pivoting Lever Arms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for seating a channel over a fuel bundle in a boiling water nuclear reactor require significant force, often resulting in injury, improper seating, debris contamination, or damage to the fuel bundle, due to the engagement of finger springs on the lower tie plate.
Innovation Solution
A tool with a cap plate and pivoting lever arms is used to apply a downward force evenly across the channel's upper edge, allowing a single person to easily slide the channel over the fuel bundle assembly by engaging the handle and distributing force parallel to the axis of the fuel bundle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional methods are used to push the channel over the finger springs, then the channel can be seated on the fuel bundle assembly, but it causes injury to persons, damage to the fuel bundle assembly, or improper seating
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a specialized tool as an intermediary device between the operator and the channel. This tool includes a cap plate that distributes force evenly across the channel's upper edge, and lever arms that provide mechanical advantage. The intermediary tool allows safe seating of the channel without direct manual contact, preventing injury to persons and damage to the fuel bundle assembly while ensuring proper seating.
2Force
If significant force is applied to seat the channel, then the channel can be forced over the finger springs, but it results in debris falling into the fuel bundle assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The cap plate of the tool is designed with a localized seating surface that matches the geometry of the channel's upper edge. This local quality ensures that force is applied precisely where needed - across the entire perimeter of the channel edge - rather than at concentrated points. The distributed force application prevents debris generation while maintaining sufficient downward force to overcome the finger springs engagement.
3Force
If two persons push on the upper edge of the channel, then substantial force can be applied to seat the channel, but it increases complexity and risk of injury
Solution Approach 1:
The tool incorporates lever arms that pivot about a fulcrum point, creating a dynamic mechanical advantage system. When a single person applies force to the lever arm, the pivoting motion amplifies the applied force and transfers it through the cap plate to the channel. This dynamic lever mechanism allows one person to generate the substantial downward force that would otherwise require two persons, while the pivoting action provides control and reduces the risk of injury.
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 tool enables safe and proper seating of the channel without injury or damage, reducing the risk of debris contamination and allowing for efficient assembly by a single person, while ensuring equal force distribution across the channel's perimeter.
Implementation Method 1
an arm attached to a pivot on the support post and having a first arm end for pushing down on the channel and a second arm end adapted to engage the handle of the fuel bundle
Implementation Method 2
The lever arms of the tool may be aligned to be substantially perpendicular to the slot. The tips of the first end section of each of the lever arms may cross under the upper handle of the fuel bundle.
Data Source
AI summary
A tool to slide a channel on a nuclear reactor fuel bundle assembly, the tool includes: a plate having a slot to receive a handle of the fuel bundle and a lower surface that engages an upper edge of the channel; at least one post extends up from the plate, and an arm is attached to a pivot on the post and includes a first end to receive a downward force and a second end adapted to engage the handle of the fuel bundle to apply an upward force to the handle and push down on the channel.