Radiation Shielding Overlay for Valve Controller Housing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Nuclear power plants face challenges with radiation exposure affecting the longevity of valve controller components, and existing materials for enclosures lack sufficient radiation-shielding ability, leading to costly and complex manufacturing processes.
Innovation Solution
A radiation shielding overlay is developed, comprising a layer with a metallic base material and a second material infused within it, having a higher density than the base material, which is additively manufactured using a 3D printer to enhance radiation resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If commercially manufactured materials for enclosures are used, then manufacturing cost is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but radiation-shielding ability deteriorates due to lower density material
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining a base metal material with high-density radiation-shielding material particles (such as tungsten, tantalum, or depleted uranium) to create a composite overlay material. This composite structure provides both the manufacturability of metal materials and the radiation-shielding capability of high-density materials, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and radiation-shielding ability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the density parameter of the enclosure material by infusing high-density particles into the base material matrix. This parameter change enables the material to achieve sufficient radiation-shielding ability while maintaining compatibility with standard manufacturing processes like additive manufacturing, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and radiation protection.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If high-density radiation-shielding materials are used, then radiation-shielding ability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By creating a composite material where high-density particles are distributed within a standard metal matrix, the patent enables radiation shielding without requiring entirely new manufacturing processes. The composite can be manufactured using conventional additive manufacturing or casting techniques, thus improving radiation-shielding ability while avoiding excessive manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The base metal material acts as an intermediary matrix that binds the high-density radiation-shielding particles together. This intermediary structure allows the high-density material to achieve its radiation-shielding function while being processed through standard manufacturing workflows, reducing the complexity that would otherwise result from using pure high-density materials.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If high-density radiation-shielding materials are used, then radiation-shielding ability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The composite structure allows only the necessary volume fraction of expensive high-density particles to be used, while the remainder is standard metal matrix material. This significantly reduces material cost compared to using pure high-density materials, while still achieving sufficient radiation-shielding ability through the localized presence of high-density particles in the overlay.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies radiation-shielding material specifically as an overlay or coating on the enclosure surfaces that are most exposed to radiation. This local application of high-density material provides radiation protection where needed most, while minimizing the overall quantity of expensive material used, thus improving radiation-shielding ability while controlling manufacturing cost.
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 radiation shielding overlay effectively blocks radiation from reaching sensitive components, extending their lifespan and reducing manufacturing costs by utilizing high-density materials with improved radiation resistance.
Implementation Method 1
The base material has a first density and the second material has a second density higher than the first density, increasing a density of the layer. The layer is adapted to be disposed over a surface of a housing of a valve controller or a valve assembly, such that the layer blocks radiation from reaching a component disposed within the housing.
Data Source
AI summary
A radiation shielding overlay for a portion of a valve controller or a valve assembly. The radiation shielding overlay includes a layer including a base material and a second material infused within the base material. The base material has a first density and the second material has a second density higher than the first density, increasing a density of the layer. The layer is adapted to be disposed over a surface of a housing of a valve controller or a valve assembly, such that the layer blocks radiation from reaching a component disposed within the housing.