US 12,073,952 B2
Fail-safe reactivity compensation method for a nuclear reactor
Erik T. Nygaard, Lynchburg, VA (US); Peter L. Angelo, Oak Ridge, TN (US); and Scott B. Aase, Aiken, SC (US)
Assigned to BWXT Technical Services Group, Inc., Lynchburg, VA (US)
Filed by BWXT Technical Services Group, Inc., Charlotte, NC (US)
Filed on Jun. 16, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/349,595.
Application 17/349,595 is a division of application No. 15/679,721, filed on Aug. 17, 2017, granted, now 11,043,309, issued on Jun. 22, 2021.
Application 15/679,721 is a division of application No. 13/649,419, filed on Oct. 11, 2012, granted, now 9,875,818, issued on Jan. 23, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0313081 A1, Oct. 7, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G21C 1/24 (2006.01); G21C 7/30 (2006.01); G21C 3/24 (2006.01)
CPC G21C 7/30 (2013.01) [G21C 1/24 (2013.01); G21C 3/24 (2013.01); Y02E 30/30 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for controlling the reactivity in a solution nuclear reactor, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) supplying a solution nuclear reactor having a nuclear reactor vessel therein;
(b) placing one or more standpipes located in at least one low worth area of the nuclear reactor vessel, each of the one or more standpipes having a top end and an opening for passage of the solution located at a level below a solution level of the solution contained in the nuclear reactor vessel of the solution nuclear reactor;
(c) supplying at least one gas system, wherein the at least one gas system is in fluidic communication with one or more of the standpipes; and
(d) controlling a fluid level of the solution in the one or more standpipes via gas of the least one gas system such that the solution nuclear reactor is maintained in a fail-safe mode, wherein the gas is selected from nitrogen, helium, oxygen, hydrogen, air, or combinations of two or more thereof.