US 12,322,519 B2
System and method for local resistivity measurement and critical heat flux calculation for nuclear reactor cladding tubing
Guoqiang Wang, Murrysville, PA (US); William A. Byers, Murrysville, PA (US); Stephen J. Harding, Leechburg, PA (US); and Kevin A. Harding, Saxonburg, PA (US)
Assigned to Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, Cranberry Township, PA (US)
Filed by Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, Cranberry Township, PA (US)
Filed on Nov. 10, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/454,374.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/112,719, filed on Nov. 12, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0148747 A1, May 12, 2022
Int. Cl. G21C 17/10 (2006.01); G21C 3/06 (2006.01)
CPC G21C 17/10 (2013.01) [G21C 3/06 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
a portion of a nuclear reactor cladding, wherein the portion of the nuclear reactor cladding has a first end and a second end, wherein the portion of the nuclear reactor cladding is physically divided into multiple segments, wherein each segment of the multiple segments extends between the first end and the second end, wherein each of the multiple segments of the portion of the nuclear reactor cladding comprises an outer surface extending between the first end and the second end;
two electrically conductive plugs, wherein a first electrically conductive plug of the two electrically conductive plugs is attached to the first end and a second electrically conductive plug of the two electrically conductive plugs is attached to the second end;
a power supply electrically coupled to each of the two electrically conductive plugs and configured to apply an electrical current to the portion of the nuclear reactor cladding through the two electrically conductive plugs;
a voltmeter; and
two needle probes electrically coupled to the outer surface of one of the segments of the multiple segments and to the voltmeter, wherein the two needle probes are spaced apart by a distance L,
wherein the voltmeter is configured to measure a voltage difference between the two needle probes to calculate a resistivity for the one of the segments of the multiple segments, wherein the needle probes are configured to be coupleable to each of the segments, wherein the voltmeter is configured to measure a voltage difference between the two needle probes to calculate a resistivity for each segment of the multiple segments using the voltage difference.