US 12,243,660 B2
Detection apparatus comprising a resonant electrical circuit located within a nuclear fuel rod
Jorge V. Carvajal, Irwin, PA (US); Jeffrey L. Arndt, Pittsburgh, PA (US); Shawn C. Stafford, Scottdale, PA (US); Melissa M. Heagy, Butler, PA (US); John R. Abel, II, Allison Park, PA (US); and Emre Tatli, Pasadena, CA (US)
Assigned to Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, Cranberry Township, PA (US)
Filed by Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, Cranberry Township, PA (US)
Filed on Oct. 5, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/481,740.
Application 18/481,740 is a continuation of application No. 17/074,443, filed on Oct. 19, 2020, granted, now 11,817,221.
Application 17/074,443 is a continuation of application No. 16/214,445, filed on Dec. 10, 2018, granted, now 10,832,825, issued on Nov. 10, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/691,178, filed on Jun. 28, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/596,311, filed on Dec. 8, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2024/0071637 A1, Feb. 29, 2024
Int. Cl. G21C 17/10 (2006.01); G21C 3/16 (2006.01); G21C 17/112 (2006.01); G01L 7/04 (2006.01); G01N 29/036 (2006.01); G21C 17/06 (2006.01); H04Q 9/00 (2006.01)
CPC G21C 17/102 (2013.01) [G21C 3/16 (2013.01); G21C 17/112 (2013.01); G01L 7/041 (2013.01); G01N 29/036 (2013.01); G21C 17/06 (2013.01); H04Q 9/00 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fuel rod for use in a nuclear reactor, the fuel rod comprising:
a cladding defining an interior region;
fuel pellets housed in the interior region;
a pressure transmission apparatus configured to measure pressure within the fuel rod; and
a resonant electrical circuit within the interior region of the cladding,
wherein the resonant electrical circuit is configured to generate a pulse structured to travel wirelessly from the interior region through the cladding,
wherein a frequency of the pulse varies based on pressure within the fuel rod measured by the pressure transmission apparatus, and
wherein the frequency of the pulse is indicative of the pressure within the fuel rod.