Rotary Valve Block Layout for Compact Radionuclide Target Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for harvesting radionuclides in nuclear reactors face challenges such as damage to brittle targets, contamination risks, high costs, limited space, and inefficient use of instrumentation fingers due to complex manual decoupling and recoupling processes, which restrict the capacity for mass production and accurate power density distribution measurements.
Innovation Solution
A compact valve block system with multiple rotary control valves that ensures secure sealing and efficient transfer of radionuclide targets, featuring a torque-proof actuator connection and strategically aligned through-channels to minimize space and weight, while preventing contamination and allowing for selective guidance of targets within the line system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a loading junction with a plunger is used to selectively release paths in a T-junction system, then path selection is achieved, but damage to brittle targets occurs regularly at the loading junction
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the problematic plunger mechanism from the T-junction loading system and replaces it with a valve block system that performs the path selection function without physical contact with the targets, thereby eliminating mechanical damage while maintaining path selection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The valve block acts as an intermediary device between the T-junction and the targets, enabling path selection through valve positioning rather than direct mechanical interaction with the targets, thus preventing target damage
2Productivity
If a known harvesting device is used, then radionuclide target harvesting is achieved, but the device is very large and space within the contamination area is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple functional components (valves, actuators, connectors) into a single integrated valve block assembly, significantly reducing the overall device footprint while maintaining full harvesting capability
Solution Approach 2:
The valve block serves multiple functions simultaneously: path selection, flow control, and target routing, eliminating the need for separate dedicated components and reducing the overall space requirement
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual decoupling and recoupling of instrumentation fingers is performed, then switching between measurement and activation systems is achieved, but the process is complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The valve block provides a universal interface that can route targets to either the measurement system or the activation system through simple valve positioning, eliminating the need for complex manual decoupling and recoupling operations
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static manual reconfiguration to dynamic automated valve control, allowing rapid switching between measurement and activation modes through actuated valve positioning rather than manual physical reconnection
4Quantity of substance
If instrumentation fingers are used for radionuclide activation, then sufficient activation requires dwell times of several days or weeks, but the fingers are unavailable for measurement during this time
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the instrumentation finger usage into dedicated activation slots and measurement slots through the valve block routing system, allowing multiple fingers to be used simultaneously for different purposes, thereby increasing overall system productivity without sacrificing measurement capability
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2f
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
A valve block (2, 200, 300, 400, 500) for a piggable and/or solid-carrying piping system (100) of a process plant, such as a nuclear power plant, comprising at least two rotary control valves, such as a ball valve (11, 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d, 21a, 21b), a plug valve or the like, wherein the rotary control valves each have at least one line inlet (A) and at least one line outlet (C, D, E), as well as each rotatable actuator (13, 23) with at least one through-channel (15c, 15d, 15e, 25), wherein in an open position of the actuator the line inlet (A) is connected to the line outlet (C, D, E) through the through-channel (15c, 15d, 15e, 25) and wherein in In a closed position, the actuator (13, 23) separates the line inlet (A) from the line outlet (C, D, E), wherein the at least two rotary control valves are rotatable about the same axis of rotation (R) and the actuators (13,23) of which at least two rotary control valves are connected to each other in a rotationally fixed manner and wherein the through-channel (15c, 15d, 15e, 25) of the first rotary control valve is preferably plane-parallel to each other in the axial direction (L) of the axis of rotation (R) relative to the through-channel (15c, 15d, 15e, 25) of the second rotary control valve.