Radioactive Component Disposal System with Vertical Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for disposing of radioactive components from nuclear reactors, such as Boiling Water Reactors, face challenges in reducing critical path time during plant outages, minimizing horizontal transfer, and reducing radiation exposure for personnel.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a receptacle and a frame configured to support it within the reactor, along with a device to separate radioactive components into portions, allowing for vertical or horizontal support and enabling efficient removal and storage of these components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If traditional horizontal transfer methods are used for radioactive components, then personnel can access and remove components, but radiation exposure to personnel increases and critical path time during outages extends

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveradiation exposure to personnelVSAvoidcritical path time during plant outage

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from horizontal transfer to vertical lowering of radioactive components. The receptacle system is positioned vertically within the reactor vessel, and components are lowered from the core region directly into the receptacle below, eliminating the need for horizontal movement through high-radiation zones and reducing personnel exposure while accelerating removal time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The receptacle acts as an intermediary container that receives radioactive components directly within the reactor vessel. This intermediary system allows components to be transferred from the core to the receptacle without personnel entering high-radiation areas, and the entire assembly can be rapidly removed together, reducing both radiation exposure and outage time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If radioactive components are removed as single units, then the removal process is simpler, but the components may be too large to handle and require more complex equipment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of removal processVSAvoidequipment complexity for handling large components

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device includes a cutting mechanism that divides radioactive components into smaller segments during the lowering process. This segmentation occurs automatically within the reactor vessel, transforming large, difficult-to-handle components into manageable pieces that can be easily stored in the receptacle, thereby simplifying the overall removal process while maintaining operational ease.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cutting device is pre-positioned within the receptacle assembly before insertion into the reactor. As components are lowered into the receptacle, they are automatically cut into smaller pieces without requiring additional manual intervention or complex external equipment, thus maintaining simplicity while reducing component size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If multiple separate systems are used for support, separation, and storage, then each function can be optimized, but the overall system complexity increases and assembly time during outages extends

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional optimization of support and separationVSAvoidoverall system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the support frame, receptacle, cutting device, and storage function into a single integrated assembly that is inserted as one unit into the reactor vessel. This merged system performs all functions (support, separation, and storage) simultaneously without requiring multiple separate systems, thereby reducing overall complexity while maintaining functional reliability through proper design of each integrated component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The receptacle assembly serves multiple functions: it supports the radioactive components during lowering, houses the cutting device for separation, and provides storage for the processed components. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate systems for each operation, reducing complexity while ensuring reliable performance of all functions through a unified structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10090071B2Systems and methods for disposing of one or more radioactive components from nuclear reactors of nuclear plants

Publication Date: 2018.10.02 GE HITACHI NUCLEAR ENERGY AMERICAS LLC

AI summary

A system for disposing of one or more radioactive components from a nuclear reactor may include a first receptacle configured to receive the one or more radioactive components, a frame configured to support the first receptacle in the nuclear reactor, and a device configured to separate the one or more radioactive components into two or more portions during lowering of the one or more radioactive components into the first receptacle. A method for disposing of one or more radioactive components from a nuclear reactor may include assembling a system for disposing of the one or more radioactive components, and moving the assembled system to an area of a reactor core. A method for disposing of one or more radioactive components from a nuclear reactor may include assembling a system for disposing of the one or more radioactive components in an area of a reactor core.