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http://dx.doi.org/10.3795/KSME-A.2014.38.4.443

Development of Disassembly Tool for Intermediate Examination of Nuclear Fuel Rods  

Hong, Jintae (Dept. of Research Reactor Applications, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute)
Heo, Sung-Ho (Dept. of Research Reactor Applications, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute)
Kim, Ka-Hye (Dept. of Research Reactor Applications, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute)
Park, Sung-Jae (Dept. of Research Reactor Applications, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute)
Joung, Chang-Young (Dept. of Research Reactor Applications, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute)
Publication Information
Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A / v.38, no.4, 2014 , pp. 443-449 More about this Journal
Abstract
To check the characteristics of nuclear fuels during an irradiation test, the nuclear fuel rod needs to be disassembled from the test rig located in the pool of the research reactor. Then, the disassembled fuel rod is delivered to the hot cell for intermediate examination. A fuel rod that passes the intermediate examination is delivered to the reactor pool to be reassembled into the test rig. The irradiation test is resumed with the reassembled test rig. Because nuclear fuel rods irradiated by neutrons are highly radioactive, all the disassembly and reassembly processes should be carried out in the pool of the research reactor to prevent operators being exposed to radiation. In particular, because a test rig is 5.4-m long and the reactor pool of HANARO is 6-m deep, special tools need to be developed for performing the disassembly and reassembly processes. In this study, a new assembly design of nuclear fuel rods for intermediate examination is introduced. Furthermore, tools for treating the irradiated fuel rod assembly are introduced, and their performance is verified by an out pile test.
Keywords
Intermediate Examination of Nuclear Fuel Rod; Nuclear Fuel Irradiation Test; Assembly/Disassembly of Nuclear Fuel Rod;
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