Automated Cleaning Apparatus for Nuclear Fuel Cladding Tubes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional manual cleaning methods for nuclear fuel-cladding tubes are inefficient, time-consuming, and lead to musculoskeletal disorders due to high labor demands, and require extensive manual handling and inspection, which hampers productivity and cleanliness standards.

Innovation Solution

An automated cleaning apparatus and method that includes a pre-cleaning, primary cleaning, secondary cleaning, inspection, and post-cleaning process, utilizing pneumatic systems and optical sensors to automatically prepare, inject, and discharge cleaning materials, and inspect the tubes, reducing manual intervention and enabling rapid cleaning of multiple tubes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual cleaning methods are used with wool plugs and air guns, then cleaning can be performed, but productivity is degraded and musculoskeletal diseases occur due to excessive manual handling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning throughputVSAvoidmanual labor intensity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical cleaning operations with an automated cleaning apparatus that uses a cleaning material supply device, transfer device, and cleaning section. The system automatically supplies cleaning materials, transfers them to the cleaning position, and performs cleaning without manual intervention, thereby improving productivity while reducing manual labor intensity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning apparatus is designed to automatically supply cleaning materials from a storage container, transfer them through an aligning passageway to the cleaning position, and perform cleaning operations without requiring continuous manual intervention. The system serves itself by maintaining automatic operation throughout the cleaning process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If cleaning materials are manually charged and discharged, then cleaning can be performed, but process time is extended and efficiency is degraded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning efficiencyVSAvoidcleaning process time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning material supply device maintains a continuous supply of cleaning materials from the storage container through the aligning passageway to the cleaning position. The cleaning materials are continuously transferred and supplied without interruption, eliminating the time loss associated with manual charging and discharging operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The aligning passageway pre-aligns cleaning materials in a single file before they reach the cleaning position, and the supply device prepares cleaning materials for transfer in advance. This preliminary preparation eliminates delays during the actual cleaning operation, as materials are ready for immediate use

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If visual inspection is performed one by one after cleaning, then cleanliness can be verified, but extensive time is required for inspection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleanliness verificationVSAvoidinspection time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual visual inspection with an optical inspection device that uses light to automatically detect cleaning material residues inside the cladding tube. The optical device captures images and analyzes them to verify cleanliness, providing reliable verification without the time consumption of manual one-by-one inspection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

Significantly reduces work time, improves productivity, maintains high cleanliness standards, and prevents musculoskeletal disorders by automating the cleaning and inspection processes, allowing for efficient and rapid cleaning of a large number of cladding tubes.

Implementation Method 1

an air gun is used to blow a compressed air to carry out a primary internal cleaning

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCompressed air: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

an optical device may be used to inspect the inside of the cleaned cladding tube

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical detection: Optical Tweezers

Data Source

PatentUS8537960B2Automated cleaning equipment and method for the nuclear fuel-cladding tube

Publication Date: 2013.09.17 KEPCO NUCLEAR FUEL CO LTD

AI summary

Disclosed is an apparatus for performing an automated cleaning of nuclear fuel cladding-tubes. The apparatus comprises a pre-cleaning holding section disposed at a first side of the apparatus, a primary cleaning-material supplying section and a primary cleaning section disposed at a second side of the apparatus, a secondary cleaning section and a secondary cleaning material supplying section disposed at the second side of the apparatus and beside the primary cleaning section, an inspection section disposed at a third side of the apparatus that is opposite to the second side, and a post-cleaning holding section disposed at the fourth side of the transferring section. The pre-cleaning holding section and the post-cleaning holding section includes a cladding-tube guide where the cladding-tube is loaded before and after cleaning. Primary and secondary cleaning material supply sections are disposed at a lateral side of the primary and secondary cleaning sections respectively.