Nuclear Fuel Gripper Damping System for Impact Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing gripper systems for fuel elements in nuclear facilities face damage risks due to additional dynamic loads when fuel elements slip off and fall into the gripper, causing overload situations that can damage the fuel element, the gripper, or the fuel element loading machine.
Innovation Solution
A gripper with a damping system that includes a first and second connecting member connected to the housing and inner part, respectively, featuring a spring member to counteract movement from an intermediate position to a second end position, thereby damping the impact of a falling fuel element and preventing damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the gripper uses a rigid mechanical connection between the inner part and housing, then the structural strength is improved, but the impact load from a falling fuel element causes damage to the gripper and loading machine
Solution Approach 1:
A damping system with a damper element is integrated into the gripper between the inner part and housing to provide beforehand cushioning. This damper element absorbs the impact energy when a fuel element falls into the gripper, preventing damage to the rigid mechanical connection and the loading machine while maintaining structural strength during normal operation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the gripper is designed with a damping system, then the impact load is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The damping system uses a damper element that can be implemented as a relatively simple mechanical component, possibly a spring or dashpot assembly, that is inexpensive and does not require complex control systems. This disposable-like approach provides impact protection without adding significant complexity to the overall gripper design.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the gripper uses hydraulic or pneumatic damping components, then the impact absorption is improved, but the space requirement and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The damping system replaces complex hydraulic or pneumatic components with a purely mechanical damper element. This mechanical substitution provides effective impact absorption while significantly reducing the space requirement and eliminating the need for fluids, motors, or control systems associated with hydraulic or pneumatic damping.
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 damping system effectively reduces the impact of a falling fuel element, preventing damage to the support structure, gripper, and fuel element loading machine by absorbing the load through a mechanical mechanism that operates without hydraulic or pneumatic components, ensuring a space-saving design without affecting the gripper's functionality.
Implementation Method 1
at least one spring member which is arranged on the first and/or the second connecting member such that it counteracts a movement of the inner part relative to the housing and/or the fuel element loading machine from the intermediate position to the second end position
Data Source
AI summary
A gripper a fuel element, comprises a housing, an inner part arranged inside the housing, the inner part and the housing being displaceable relative to one another in an axial direction, with the inner part movable between a first end position and a second end position, a catch member movable between a gripping position and a release position, a gripper spring between the housing inner part counteracting movement of the inner part from the second end position, or an intermediate position (Z) between the first and second end position, to the first end position, and a damping system comprising a first and second connecting member for connecting the damping system to the housing, inner part and/or the fuel element loading machine, and a spring member arranged on the first and/or the second connecting member counteracting movement of the inner part from an intermediate position (Z) to the second end position.