Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
VALVE BLOCK FOR A PIGGABLE AND/OR
SOLID-STATE CONDUCTING LINE SYSTEM AND
DISTRIBUTION LINE SYSTEM
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This patent application claims priority to German Patent Application No. 10
2017 125 606.7,
filed November 2, 2017, which is incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.
BACKGROUND
The disclosure relates to a valve block for a piggable and/or solid-state
conducting line system of
a process technical plant, such as a nuclear power plant. The disclosure also
relates to a
distribution line system for a process technical plant, such as a nuclear
power plant, in particular
for harvesting radionuclides.
Radionuclides are used in many areas of technology and medicine, especially in
nuclear
medicine. To generate radionuclides, suitable stable nuclides are typically
irradiated with
neutrons. This results in unstable nuclides due to neutron capture, which are
transformed back
into stable nuclides by emitting alpha, beta, gamma or proton radiation via
radioactive decay
series. The irradiation with neutrons, also called nuclide activation, takes
place mostly in
research reactors, which are however mostly limited in capacity for the mass
production of
radionuclides. Alternatively, it was proposed to use commercial nuclear
reactors used for energy
generation as neutron sources for radionuclide production. To this end, it is
planned to introduce
so-called nuclide activation targets into one or more instrumentation fingers
of a commercial
nuclear reactor in order to be activated there by the radiation emitted by the
nuclear fuel rods.
An example device and method for introducing and removing nuclide activation
targets into and
from a nuclear reactor is described in US 2013/0170927 Al. Accordingly, a
loading branch is to
be provided between a single instrumentation finger in the reactor core and a
target reservoir and
radionuclide harvest container arranged at a distance from the reactor core in
order to provide a
path from the instrumentation finger within the reactor core to either the
target reservoir or the
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harvest container. The optional release of either one or the other path shall
be adjustable by the
position of a plunger with respect to a 900 T-junction. With the known device,
it has turned out
to be problematic that damage to the relatively brittle targets regularly
occurs at this loading
intersection, so that less material can be harvested and the distribution line
system is
.. contaminated by abrasion or fragments of the targets. Furthermore, the
known device for
harvesting nuclide activation targets is not economically viable, as the
device is very large and
the available space within the contamination area of the reactor building is
limited. A further
problem of the known device when used in existing reactors is that the
building statics of the
existing reactor building is only suitable to a very limited extent for the
accommodation of
additional devices. In the case of a reactor whose reactor core can be
equipped with 10 to 50
instrumentation fingers, it is only possible with the known devices to set up
a very small
proportion of the existing instrumentation fingers with the known system for
harvesting nuclide
activation targets.
The instrumentation fingers used to pick up the targets are usually already
existing tubes which
run parallel to the nuclear fuel rods within the reactor core and are usually
part of a so-called
spherical or spherical shot measuring system for determining the power density
distribution in
the reactor core. In such a system, measuring spheres with activatable matter,
for example
vanadium, are filled into the instrumentation fingers of the reactor core for
irradiation. Because
their diameter is only slightly smaller than that of the instrumentation
finger, the spheres in the
fingers lie directly on or on top of each other like a chain. The spheres are
activated by the
radiation emitted by the nuclear fuel rods and, after a predetermined dwell
time, are transported
via a piping system from the reactor core area to a measuring device, the so-
called measuring
table, for the purpose of determining their activity. The pipe system
including the
instrumentation finger is self-contained and has a diameter in the area of the
ball diameter, so
that the sequence of the ball chain in the instrumentation finger is
maintained during transfer to
the measuring table. In this way, the spheres in the chain can be assigned to
a respective
longitudinal position of the nuclear fuel rods, which in turn allows
conclusions to be drawn about
the axial power density distribution of the neutron flux in the reactor core.
Such a measuring
system, also called ball measuring system or ball shot measuring system, with
measuring device
and corresponding pipe system is known from US 3 711 714, for example. The
knowledge
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gained from ball measurement serves reactor safety and is therefore usually
mandatory at regular
intervals. Basically, other measuring systems with instrumentation fingers and
corresponding
measuring bodies are also known which are used to measure other parameters
which characterize
the properties of the fuel rods and the conditions inside the reactor core.
While the measuring bodies for determining a specific property of the fuel
rods or the conditions
inside the reactor core, e.g. for determining the power density distribution,
only dwell in the
instrumentation finger for a few minutes each month, sufficient nuclide
activation of the targets
requires dwell times of several days or weeks. During this time, the
instrumentation fingers used
for radionuclide production are not available for measurement in the nuclide
activation systems
proposed so far. In addition, the nuclide activation systems proposed so far
require an elaborate
manual uncoupling and uncoupling of the respective instrumentation finger from
the
measurement system to the nuclide activation system and back again. Switching
between nuclide
activation and measurement is only possible with increased technical effort
and creates an
additional contamination risk when uncoupling and decoupling.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS/FIGURES
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of
the specification,
illustrate the embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the
description, further
serve to explain the principles of the embodiments and to enable a person
skilled in the pertinent
art to make and use the embodiments.
Figure I illustrates a schematic view of a distribution line system for a
process plant which
includes several valve blocks according to an exemplary embodiment of the
disclosure;
Figures 2a-2f illustrates schematic diagrams of different positions of a
rotary control valve with
two or three through channels according to exemplary embodiments of the
disclosure;
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Figure 3a illustrates a cross-sectional view of a distributor valve block
according to an exemplary
embodiment of the disclosure;
Figure 3b illustrates a sectional view along section line II through a rotary
control valve of the
distributor valve block according to Fig. 3a; and
Figure 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of s closing block valve according
to an exemplary
embodiment of the disclosure.
The exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with
reference to the
accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same or similar reference signs
are used for
identical or similar components.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order
to provide a
thorough understanding of the embodiments of the present disclosure. However,
it will be
apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiments, including
structures, systems, and
methods, may be practiced without these specific details. The description and
representation
herein are the common means used by those experienced or skilled in the art to
most effectively
convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. In other
instances, well-known
methods, procedures, components, and circuitry have not been described in
detail to avoid
unnecessarily obscuring embodiments of the disclosure.
It is an object of the disclosure to provide a valve block and a distribution
line system that
requires only small space and low weight, and provides a particularly
economical harvesting
device for radionuclide targets with the lowest possible contamination risk at
the same time.
Accordingly, in an exemplary embodiment, a valve block is provided for a
piggable and/or solid-
state conducting line system of a process technical plant, e.g. a nuclear
power plant. In an
exemplary embodiment, the valve block comprises at least two rotary control
valves. A rotary
control valve can, for example, be designed as a ball valve, plug valve or the
like. A ball valve
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has a rotatable valve member with a truncated ball or ball outer surface which
is rotationally
symmetrical at least in sections. In an exemplary embodiment, a plug valve
comprises a control
member in the form of a rotationally symmetric truncated cone-shaped rotary
body. Rotary
control valves may also have other rotary control bodies with other outer
surfaces which are at
least partially rotationally symmetrical, e.g. cylindrical, truncated cone
shaped, etc. The rotary
control valves of the valve block each have at least one line input and at
least one line output
each, as well as a rotatable control member with at least one through channel.
The control
member with at least one through channel is arranged between the line input
and the line output
in order to connect the line input with the line output or to effect a
separation between the line
input and the line output. In an open position of the control member, the line
input and the line
output are connected through the through channel. In the open position, media
carried by the line
system, such as solids, pigs, fluids, such as conveying fluids, such as
pneumatic fluids, in
particular nitrogen, can move from the line outlet into the through-channel,
through the through-
channel, and out of the through-channel into the line outlet. In a closed
position of the valve
block, the control member separates the line input from the line output. In
the closed position,
the control member prevents the medium, such as a solid, a pig, or a fluid,
such as a pumping
fluid, such as nitrogen, carried in the line system from passing from the line
input to the line
output. In the closed position, the control member forms a solid-state and/or
fluid-tight, in
particular gas-tight, separation between the line input and the line output of
the valve body.
In an exemplary embodiment, the at least two rotary control valves are
rotatable about the same
rotation axis and the control members of the at least two rotary control
valves are non-rotatably
connected to each other. If one of the rotary control valves of the valve
block rotates by an angle,
e.g. 100, 30 , 45 or 90 , the second and any other rotary control valves of
the valve block also
rotate by the same angle with the same direction of rotation. In an exemplary
embodiment, the at
least one (first) through-channel of the first rotary valve is offset relative
to the (first) through-
channel of the second rotary valve in axial direction with respect to the axis
of rotation. In an
exemplary embodiment, the through channel of the first rotary control valve
may be axially
offset plane-parallel to the through channel of the second rotary control
valve. In a valve block
that includes three rotary control valves, four rotary control valves, or even
more rotary control
valves, the respective through channel(s) of each rotary control valve may
also be offset axially
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to the through channel(s) of the remaining rotary control valves. For example,
a first rotary
control valve may have multiple through channels arranged in one plane and a
second rotary
control valve may have multiple through channels in a second plane, with the
through channel
planes of the first rotary control valve and the second rotary control valve
offset from each other
in the axial direction of the rotation axis. In an exemplary embodiment, the
respective through-
channel plane of a rotary control valve extends transversely (e.g.
perpendicularly) to the axial
direction of the axis of rotation.
A valve block according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure allows a
compact and
relatively simple design to provide a means within the piping system of a
process technical plant,
such as a nuclear power plant, of selectively guiding, for example,
activatable and/or activated
radionuclide targets, while at the same time providing secure protection
against contamination by
ensuring a secure seal of the piping system relative to the environment in
both the open and
closed positions of the rotary valve control member. The integration of
multiple rotary control
valves in a single valve block allows the number of actuators to be reduced to
use multiple rotary
control valves, simplifying both installation and operation of the system and
significantly
reducing space requirements compared to conventional systems.
According to an embodiment of a valve block, at least one of the rotary
control valves has at
least two line inputs and at least one control member with at least two
through-channels, one of
the through-channels being assigned to each of the at least two line inputs.
The line inputs can be
arranged offset relative to one another in the circumferential direction
relative to the rotation axis
of the rotary control valve and/or in the axial direction relative to the
rotation axis of the rotary
control valve. For example, a first line input of a rotary control valve can
be offset by 90
relative to its second line input with respect to the axis of rotation and/or
offset in the axial
direction. With such a design, the two through channels, one of which is
assigned to the first line
input and the other to the second line input, can run through the control
member without contact
and/or obliquely to each other. In an exemplary embodiment, the through
channels of a rotary
control valve do not intersect or touch each other. The through channels can
be arranged offset in
axial direction and/or have a channel curvature so that they do not intersect
each other.
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According to an advanced configuration, the line inputs of the at least two
rotary control valves
of the valve block and the corresponding through channels can be arranged in
such a way that the
at least two through channels offset in axial direction connect their
respective line inputs with a
respective line output in the same position of the control member. This design
allows further
.. compacting of a valve block compared to conventional valve arrangements.
According to an embodiment of a valve block, in an active open position, an
active through
channel connects a line input to a line output. For example, the rotary
control valve may have
two, three or more line outputs, whereby in a first active open position, a
first active through
channel associated with the first line output connects the line output to a
line input. In a second
active open position, a second line output can connect the second line output
to the second line
input through an active through channel, which can be the first active through
channel or a
second through channel. In a third active open position, a third line output
can be connected to a
line input by an active through channel, which can be the first through
channel, the second
through channel or a third through channel of the rotary valve. In an
exemplary embodiment, in
.. the first active opening position, no through channel is available to
connect a possible second,
third or further line output to a line input. In each active open position,
exactly one line output
can be assigned to exactly one line input through an active through channel.
For example, a
rotary valve can be provided with a line input, three adjacent through
channels and three line
outputs, whereby depending on the position of the control member of the rotary
valve, either the
line input is connected to the first line output via a first through channel
or to the second line
output via the second through channel or to the third line output via the
third through channel,
whereby in the respective first, second or third position the line input is
not connected to any
further line output.
According to further embodiment of the valve block, the active through channel
is especially
dimensioned so that it is aligned with the line input and/or line output. In
an exemplary
embodiment, the through channel and the line input or through channel and the
line output or
line input and output have the same cross-section. In an exemplary embodiment,
the through
channel is aligned with the line input and/or line output without dead volume.
In an exemplary
embodiment, the through channel is coaxial to the line output and/or to the
line input at the
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respective interface between through channel and line input or through channel
and line output.
It is conceivable that the line output is coaxial to the complete through
channel and the line input.
The advantage of a valve block for a piggable and/or solid-state conducting
line system is that
the transition from the line input to the through-channel or through-channel
to the line output
must be aligned as accurately as possible. This transition is particularly
good sealing and
therefore safe, and avoids wear and the accumulation of dirt in the transition
area. Particularly
with regard to radionuclides to be activated, which are frequently conveyed in
the form of solid-
state balls, it may be advantageous to design the through channel, the line
input and/or the line
output with, for example, a circular opening cross-section of the same size,
slightly larger than
the outer diameter of the (radionuclide) balls, in order to ensure efficient
and low-wear
conveyance of the balls through a coaxial and dead-volume free transition from
the through
channel to the line input and/or the line output. Such an alignment of the
through-channel with
the line input and/or the line output (e.g. of the same cross-section),
coaxial and/or free of dead
volume, can be realized in several rotary control valves of the valve block,
in particular in all
rotary control valves of the valve block.
When a rotary control valve is configured with one line input and two or three
line outputs, it
may be provided that one of the through channels extends in a straight line
through the rotatable
control member. The second through duct may extend with a curvature to connect
the first line
input in a second active open position to a second line input located relative
to the first line input,
.. offset, for example, 30 or 60 relative to the control member rotation
axis. A third through
channel may be configured to connect the line input to a third line output in
a third active open
position and to form a curved through channel for this purpose which extends
to a third line
output which is offset, for example, 30 or 60 from the first line output in
the other direction. In
the case of a rotary control valve with only two line outputs, it may be
sufficient to provide a first
and a second through channel, whereby only one of these two through channels
can be curved
and the other can be curved in a straight line or, in particular, mirror-
inverted. In an exemplary
embodiment, the radius of curvature of a through channel is considerably
larger than the
diameter of a radionuclide sphere, for example twice, five times, ten times or
at least twenty
times as large.
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According to an embodiment of a valve block, at least one of the rotary
control valves of the
valve block is a distributor valve with at least one line input, at least two
line outputs and at least
two separate through-channels, in particular arranged in the same plane. The
through channels of
one rotary valve of the valve block are in particular separate in such a way
that they do not cross,
tangle, touch or the like. In an exemplary embodiment, the fluidic systems of
the through
channels are completely separated from each other in the rotatable control
member of the valve
block. In the distributor valve, the at least two line outputs are each
assigned to the same line
input or to different line inputs via a through channel. The distributor valve
can have a first
active open position in which the first through channel connects the line
output with a first line
.. output. The distributor valve may have a second active open position, in
which a second flow
channel connects one or other line input to a second line output. The manifold
valve can have
other third, fourth, etc. positions. The distributor valve may have opening
positions in which a
further third, fourth, etc. is provided. The third, fourth, etc. are provided
with a respective third,
fourth, etc. through channel, which connects the line input with a respective
third, fourth, line
I5 output.
The disclosure also relates to a distribution line system for a process plant,
such as a nuclear
power plant, in particular for harvesting radionuclides, with at least one
valve block according to
one of the above requirements. The distribution line system may also comprise
several valve
blocks and specially designed valve blocks. For example, the distribution line
system may
.. include one or more distributor valves as described above. Alternatively or
additionally, the
distribution line system may include one or more valve blocks which have a
pure open/close
function without a distribution function (emergency closing valve). Purely
closing rotary control
valves are designed in such a way that the at least one through channel in the
control member of
the rotary control valve can assume a predetermined position in which a
through channel from a
line input to a line output is enabled and a second position in which none of
the line inputs is
connected to any line output. In particular, pure closing rotary control
valves are designed in
such a way that they do not connect a line input to a line output or to
another line output.
It is conceivable, for example, that a distribution line system according to
one or more exemplary
embodiments of the disclosure has a distributor valve as described above,
which, for example,
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has three line outputs per rotary control valve. In an exemplary embodiment,
the valve block is
equipped with several, for example two or three rotary control valves (e.g. of
the same type). For
example, the valve block comprises two or three distributor valves of the same
type. The three
line outputs of the rotary distributor valves of the valve block can each be
followed by several
closing rotary control valves, particularly in the form of a further valve
block, for example three
closing valve blocks each with exactly two or exactly three closing rotary
control valves. With
such a distributor line system, nine line outputs, for example nine individual
receivers, such as
instrumentation fingers of a reactor core, can be operated from three
individual line inputs of the
upstream distributor valve block. With such a distribution line system, a
single distributor rotary
control valve of an upstream distributor valve block can each be assigned to a
downstream
closing valve block, so that the instrumentation fingers or other receivers
can be operated
individually.
Alternatively, it is conceivable that the downstream closing valve blocks are
arranged
downstream of the upstream distributor valve block in such a way that, in the
first active open
position of the upstream distributor valve block, all the first line outputs
of the plurality of
distributor rotary control valves offset in the axial direction are actively
assigned to the
respective line input of the distributor rotary control valve of the first
valve block, and that a
three-strand closing valve block is assigned to the three first line outputs
of the distributor valve
block, so that three of nine instrumentation fingers are each simultaneously
operated. In the same
form, a second closing valve block is assigned to the three second line
outputs of the manifold
block, and a third closing valve block is assigned to the third line outputs
of the manifold block.
According to a further embodiment of a distribution line system with at least
one valve block as
described above, the several, for example three, line outputs of this valve
block are in fluid
communication with an inner line system section, such as a high pressure
section, for example a
reactor core section. The several, for example three, line inputs of the valve
block are in fluid
communication with an outer line system section, such as a low pressure
section, for example a
reactor outer section, which may be provided within a contamination zone, for
example a reactor.
This valve block can, in particular, be realized as an emergency closing valve
block for
separating the inner line system section from the outer line system section.
In an exemplary
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embodiment, metal seals are provided for an emergency closing valve block. The
high pressure
section may, for example, be intended for pipe pressures above 40 bar, in
particular about 175
bar and/or a maximum of 500 bar or a maximum of 200 bar. The high pressure
section can be
designed for high temperatures from about 200 C to about 500 C, in particular
up to about
370 C. The high pressure section can be designed for high temperatures from
about 200 C to
about 500 C. For example, a high-pressure section can be designed to withstand
a leak between
the reactor core and the instrumentation finger. The low-pressure section can,
for example, be
designed for pipe pressures up to 20 bar or up to 40 bar and/or for
temperatures up to about
100 C or up to about 200 C. The low-pressure section can also be designed for
pipe pressures up
to 20 bar or up to 40 bar and/or for temperatures up to about 100 C or up to
about 200 C. The
low-pressure section can also be designed for pipe pressures up to 20 bar or
up to 40 bar and/or
for temperatures up to about 100 C or up to about 200 C. A valve block
designed as an
emergency closing valve block of a distribution line system in accordance with
the disclosure
may be specially designed to reliably separate the area outside the reactor
core from the area
inside the reactor core in the event of a leakage at a receiver, for example
an instrumentation
finger in a reactor core, so that contamination of the area outside the
reactor core by boiling
water, steam or the like from the reactor core, in particular contaminated
with highly radioactive
particles, can be avoided.
Conventional devices, such as those described in US 2013/0170927 Al, do not
have emergency
closing valves or even an emergency closing valve block at a transition from a
reactor high-
pressure section to a reactor low-pressure section, so that a leakage at only
one instrumentation
finger can make it necessary to shut down the entire reactor system completely
due to a
malfunction. Only when the reactor is completely shut down can the pipe system
connected with
a leaking instrumentation finger in the area of a reactor boundary, in
particular a reactor cover
and/or a so-called cable bridge, be sealed, especially by manually attaching a
sealing closing cap
to a pipe connection. If, for example, a group of instrumentation fingers are
in fluidic
communication with each other through the fluidic connections, the leak at a
single
instrumentation finger will affect several fingers at once, all of which must
be sealed, requiring
individual seals of actually intact instrumentation fingers. If, in a system
in which a distribution
line system in accordance with the disclosure is used, several receivers, such
as instrumentation
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fingers, are in fluid communication with each other, it may be advantageous to
design
distribution valve blocks and/or closing valve blocks in such a way that the
line outputs of the
distribution valve blocks and/or closing valve blocks are adjusted to
receiving groups
communicating with each other in fluid communication in such a way that the
actuation of the
.. receiver reduces the number of receivers as far as possible (e.g. only
one), distribution valve
blocks or as few as possible, or only one or only two, closing valve blocks,
all receivers which
are fluidically connected to one another are separated simultaneously (e.g.
all the remaining
receivers or at least the predominant part of the remaining receivers
remaining unaffected by the
separation of faulty receivers), such as a group of instrumentation fingers
which are fluidically
connected and one of which is leaking.
According to a further embodiment of the distribution line system, the valve
block, in particular
the emergency closing valve block, comprises several rotary control valves, in
particular metal-
sealing ball valves. In particular, the valve block can include less than ten,
less than six,
particularly less than five, in particular exactly two, exactly three or
exactly four line outputs in
fluid communication with the inner line system section. In an exemplary
embodiment, the
number of line outputs of the valve block in fluid communication with the
inner line system
section corresponds to a number of receivers communicating fluidly with each
other, such as
instrumentation fingers. A small number of less than ten line outputs, in
particular six or four line
outputs, can be realized in particular with a rotary control valve or
emergency closing rotary
control valve with exactly two integrated rotary control valves or exactly
three integrated rotary
control valves with exactly one or exactly two through channels each. It has
been found that
metal-sealing rotary control valves require a relatively high actuating force
due to the very high
static and sliding friction of a metal seal, so that it can be ensured that an
actuator for actuating
the (emergency-closing) valve block can be provided for a number of line
outputs with assigned
through channels as described above, which on the one hand ensures a safe
movement from an
active opening state and a closed (emergency-closing) state while at the same
time ensuring
relatively small installation space and weight.
According to a further embodiment of a distribution line system this includes
at least one
distributor valve block. In a process plant, such as a nuclear power plant,
several such
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distribution line (sub)systems may be arranged in parallel and form a larger,
branched
distribution line system if more than nine receivers are to be served. For
example, the parallel
connection of three such distribution line (sub)systems may be provided to
serve up to 27
receivers, such as instrumentation fingers. It is clear that not all line
outputs need to be equipped
with a receiver, but instead, for example, a seal, such as a lead seal, can
also be provided as a
bottleneck end, for example if the process plant to be operated has a smaller
number of receivers
than the distribution line system could serve. It is also conceivable that
distribution line systems
of different dimensions are connected side by side, for example two
distribution line systems
each with an upstream distributor valve block with three line inputs and nine
line outputs (three
first, three second and three third line outputs each). In addition, a
further, differently
dimensioned distribution line system may be provided, for example with a
distributor valve
block which has two or three line inputs and only six line outputs (either
three first line outputs
and three second line outputs according to a first alternative or two first
line outputs, two second
line outputs and two third line outputs according to a second alternative).
Two closing valve
blocks can be assigned to these six line outputs to operate six receivers,
such as instrumentation
fingers. Such a distribution line system would be designed for 24 receivers.
In such a distribution
line system - as described above - with 27 or 24 line outputs, the three
distributor valve blocks
upstream of the closing valve blocks can be preceded by a further distributor
valve block, which
can also be designed according to the disclosure, in order to serve the total
of, for example, nine
or eight line inputs of the distributor valve blocks described above, starting
from, for example,
three system line inputs. In the case of a distribution line system, it is
also conceivable to arrange
a further distribution device upstream of a distributor valve block or the
line inputs of several
distributor valve blocks, which need not be designed according to the
disclosure.
According to a further embodiment of a distribution line system with at least
one distributor
.. valve block, at least one second distributor valve block may be provided.
The second distributor
valve block can be arranged parallel to the first distributor valve block as
described above.
Alternatively or additionally, an additional second or third distributor valve
block can be
connected in cascade with the first or second distributor valve block.
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According to a further configuration of a distribution line system comprising
at least one
distributor valve, a distributor valve block as described above, or a
distributor valve which does
not necessarily have to be part of a distributor valve block, at least one
line output of the at least
one distributor valve block or distributor valve is in fluid communication
with a ball measuring
table and at least one other line output is in fluid communication with a
radionuclide test station
or a radionuclide bearing device. This additional distributor valve or
distributor valve block has
at least one line input which is aligned in the direction of the receiver, in
particular the
instrumentation finger(s), and serves for the targeted distribution of
(radionuclide) balls from the
receiver, such as the instrumentation finger(s) arranged in the reactor core,
to the above-
mentioned ball measuring table, the line output and/or the radionuclide
harvesting station of the
process plant.
Although the exemplary embodiments of a valve block or a distribution line
system according to
exemplary embodiments are described with regard to the use in a nuclear power
plant, one of
ordinary skill in the art will understand that other piggable and/or solid-
state conducting line
systems are also relevant and applicable to the present disclosure. A valve
block according to one
or more exemplary embodiments of the disclosure and/or a distribution line
system according to
one or more exemplary embodiments of the disclosure can, for example, also be
used in a
process plant, such as a chemical plant, e.g. a refinery, in particular an oil
refinery, an oil
pipeline, a food processing plant, a bulk material processing plant, a drug
production plant or the
like.
The solids to be conveyed from the line system or the distributor line system
or the valve block
can be, for example, balls, in particular balls with an outside diameter of 1
mm to 3 mm, for
example about 1.7 mm. The line system or the through channel can have a clear
width adapted to
the material to be conveyed. The clear width is at least as large as,
preferably slightly larger than,
the material to be conveyed. For example, the clear width is at least 5 %, at
least 10 % or at least
15 % larger and/or not more than 50 % larger, not more than 40 % larger or not
more than 30 %
larger than the outer diameter of a material unit. For example, the internal
diameter of the pipe
system and/or of a through channel may have an internal diameter of
approximately 2 mm, in
particular for conveying radionuclide spheres with a diameter of 1.7 mm. The
line system can in
14
CA 3030885 2019-01-22
particular be provided for the tubular mail-like conveyance of the solid body
medium to be
conveyed, such as balls, with a fuel, such as nitrogen, ambient air or the
like, wherein the line
system in such a configuration can be double-walled with an inner clear width
which is matched
to the conveyed material and an outer clear width for guiding the conveyed
medium which is
greater than the inner clear width. For example, the double-walled pipe may
have an inner
diameter of 2 mm and an outer diameter of 4 mm.
In a process plant in the form of a radionuclide activation plant, for
example, balls containing or
consisting of at least one of the following (not yet activated) nuclides may
be provided as the
solid medium to be conveyed: Mo-98, Yb-176, V-51.
The materials described in WO 2016/120120 Al may also be considered as solid
materials for
conveyance in such a plant. Furthermore, the materials described in WO
2016/119862 Al can be
considered as solid materials for guidance in such a plant. In addition, the
materials described in
WO 2016/119864 Al may be considered as solids for such a plant.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of
the specification,
illustrate the embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the
description, further
serve to explain the principles of the embodiments and to enable a person
skilled in the pertinent
art to make and use the embodiments.
Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a distribution system 100 according
to an exemplary
embodiment of the disclosure for a process plant, for example for the optional
transfer of nuclide
activation targets and measuring bodies into or from an instrumentation finger
of a commercial
nuclear reactor (not shown in detail). For example, the system allows, on the
one hand, to
comply with the operational regulations for carrying out so-called ball-shot
measurements, which
serve to determine the power density distribution or neutron flux in the
reactor core, and, on the
other hand, to use the radiation emitted by the nuclear fuel rods to irradiate
nuclide activation
targets in the intermediate measurement-free periods.
CA 3030885 2019-01-22
In an exemplary embodiment, the line system 100 for receiving and transporting
the measuring
bodies and targets includes several line branches 110, 120, 130, 140 which
lead into a multi-way
fitting 160 and which can optionally be brought into flow connection with one
another via the
switchable multi-way fitting 160. In this example, the line system 100
comprises a reactor branch
110 which is coupled to (not shown in detail) receivers, such as
instrumentation fingers, in a
reactor core via end couplings in the form of the closing valve blocks 2
described below. In an
exemplary embodiment, the line system 100 further includes a reservoir branch
120 for
intermediate storage of the measuring bodies or targets, as well as a
measuring branch 130
coupled to a measuring device 300, in particular a so-called measuring table
known from US 3
711 714, for determining the activity of the measuring bodies. Furthermore,
the line system 100
can include an insertion branch (not shown in detail) which can be coupled to
an insertion
device, such as a transport container, in order to introduce new, unirradiated
targets into the line
system 100.
For the removal of irradiated targets, the line system 100 also has a removal
branch 140, via
.. which the irradiated targets can be transferred to a removal container 400.
All branches 110, 120,
130, 140 of the line system flow into the distributor valve or the multiway
fitting 160 like a node
point. For pneumatic transport of the measuring bodies and targets, the
distributor system 100
has a pneumatic transport device (not shown in detail). In an exemplary
embodiment, nitrogen is
the transport gas, but is not limited thereto.
.. To activate the targets, i.e. to convert them into radionuclides, they are
held in the
instrumentation finger, typically for several days to weeks. If a ball shot
measurement becomes
necessary during this time due to operational safety regulations, the targets
can be temporarily
parked in the reservoir branch 120. For this purpose, transport gas is
introduced into a finger gas
line, whereby the partially activated targets are transferred from the
instrumentation finger via
the reactor branch 110 and the multiway valve 160 into the reservoir branch
120. In an
exemplary embodiment, for radiation protection reasons, section 122 of the
storage branch 120,
in which the partially irradiated targets are parked, is equipped with a
shielding 123 against
ionizing radiation.
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CA 3030885 2019-01-22
For the ball-shot measurement to be carried out, the multi-way fitting 160 is
then moved to the
second switching position. Transport gas is then introduced into the measuring
device 300 in
order to transfer the measuring bodies via the measuring branch 130, the
multiway fitting 160
and the reactor branch 110 into the instrumentation fingers. After irradiating
the measuring
bodies, they are transferred from the instrumentation finger via the reactor
branch 110, the multi-
way valve 160 and the measuring branch 130 back to the measuring device 300 by
means of
transport gas. There the activity of the irradiated measuring bodies can be
measured to determine
the power density profile of the reactor.
As soon as the measuring bodies are in the measuring device 300, the
activation of the partially
irradiated targets can be continued. The targets are transferred from the
reservoir branch 120
back into the instrumentation finger 1010 according to the procedure described
above.
After complete activation of the targets, they are first transferred to a
section of the reactor
branch 110, the length of which corresponds at least to the length of the
chain of the targets lined
up in the line system, in order to be removed from the line system. Then the
multiway fitting 160
is set to connect the reactor branch 110 with the extraction branch 140. In an
exemplary
embodiment, the targets are transferred pressurelessly and exclusively
gravitationally driven
from the reactor branch 110 via the multiway armature 160 and a sampling
branch 140, which
can be arranged vertically underneath, and in particular falls monotonously,
into the sampling
vessel 400.
The reactor branch 110, which starts from the multiway fitting 160, branches
out to the
instrumentation fingers, which are not shown in more detail. In this example,
the receivers of the
distribution line system 100 are realized in such a way that, for example, 24
individual
instrumentation fingers can be operated from the multiway fitting 160. The
ramification of the
reactor branch 110 is realized by a cascade-like series connection of
distribution components
arranged one behind the other.
In an exemplary embodiment, the multi-way fitting 160 is initially followed by
a distributor
valve 170, which in the embodiment shown only includes a single rotary valve.
This rotary valve
17
CA 3030885 2019-01-22
is essentially formed like the multi-way fitting 160. For example, a 170A line
input can be
provided on the 170 distributor valve to lead from the 160 multiway fitting
further into the 110
reactor branch. In an exemplary embodiment, the distributor valve 170 has
three through
channels 171, 172, 173 located in the same control member of the single rotary
valve (e.g. in the
same horizontal plane). Each of these three through channels 171, 172, 173 is
specifically
assigned a line output 170C, 170D, 170E of the manifold valve 170.
In an exemplary embodiment, the distributor valve 170 includes a line input
170A, which can be
fluidically connected to exactly one of the three line outputs 170C, 170D or
170E, depending on
the position of the control member of the distributor 170, in order to convey
solids to be
conveyed in the distributor line system 100, for example radionuclide balls.
The valve member
of the distributor valve 170 can assume several conveying positions, in the
example shown
exactly three. In the first conveying position, the first through channel 171
connects the line
input 170A with the first line output 170D. In the second position, the second
through channel
172 connects the line input 170A to the second line output 170C. In the third
position, the third
through channel 173 connects the line input 170A with the third line output
170E. The 170
distributor valve of the 110 reactor branch can be described as a 1/3-way
valve. The distributor
valve 170 is equipped with an actuator 175, for example a pneumatic or
electric adjusting drive,
which actuates the valve 170 to take one of the positions described above. A
first distributor
valve block 200 is connected to the line outputs 170C, 170D and 170E of the
distributor valve
170.
The first valve block 200 comprises three coupled rotary control valves 210,
220, 230. The
structure of an exemplary distributor valve block is described in detail below
with regard to Figs.
3a and 3b. The three distributor valves 210, 220, 230, which are assembled to
form the
distributor valve block 200, have essentially the same design as the previous
distributor valve
170.
The first line output 170D of the distributor valve 170 leads to the line
input 220A of the first
distributor valve 210 of the distributor valve block 200. The second line
output 170C of the
distributor valve 170 leads to the second distributor valve 220 of the
distributor valve block 200.
18
CA 3030885 2019-01-22
The third line output 170E of the distributor valve 170 leads to the third
distributor valve 230 of
the distributor valve block 200. Each of the distributor valves 210, 220 and
230 of the distributor
valve block 200 has a similar design. The control members of valves 210, 220
and 230 are non-
rotatably connected to each other by a common control rod and are actuated by
a common
actuator 250. The actuator 250 of the first distributor valve block 200 can,
for example, be a
pneumatic or electric actuator. It is conceivable that the actuator 250 (or
175) has a limited range
of rotation, for example up to 60 , up to 90 or up to 120 . In an
exemplary embodiment,
the actuator 250 of the distributor valve block 200 is more powerful than the
actuator 175 of the
distributor valve 170 in order to take into account the significantly
increased sliding resistances
of the several jointly actuated rotary actuators of the valve block 200 in
comparison with the
individual rotary actuators of the simple 1/3-way valve 170.
Like the distributor valve 170 described above, the distributor valves 210,
220 and 230 of the
distributor valve block 200 have a respective line input 201, 202, 203 and
three respective line
outputs, as well as a corresponding number of through channels in the
respective control member
of a distributor valve. Depending on the position of the control member, a
through channel of the
control member connects one of the respective line outputs with the respective
line input. The
valve block 200 has nine line outputs.
In an exemplary embodiment, due to the torsionally rigid connection between
the control
members, the individual control valves 210, 220 and 230 of valve block 1 to be
matched to each
other in such a way that they assume corresponding positions. Fig. 1 shows
different positions of
the valve elements for the individual control valves of the control valve
block 200 for illustration
purposes only. In an exemplary embodiment, the individual control valves of a
control valve
block 200 are matched to one another in such a way that in a first block
switching position the
line input 201, 202 or 203 of all control valves 210, 220, 230 is connected to
a first line output
211, 221 or 231, in a second block switching position the line input 201, 202
or 203 is connected
to a second line output 212, 222 or 232 and in a third block switching
position the line input 201,
202 or 203 is connected to a third line output 213, 223 or 233.
19
CA 3030885 2019-01-22
In an exemplary embodiment, three further distributor valve blocks 300, 400,
500 of the same
type are connected to the line outputs of the first distributor valve block
200. In an exemplary
embodiment, the distributor valve blocks 300, 400, 500 are structured exactly
like the previous
distributor valve block 200 and function in the same way. Consequently, there
is no redundant
description of the individual components and functions of the second valve
blocks 300, 400, 500.
The same components have reference signs increased by the number 100.
As shown in Fig. 1, a distribution line system 100 according to an exemplary
embodiment may
be configured such that the line inputs of one of the second distribution
valve blocks 300, 400,
500 are connected to the line outputs of a single distribution valve 210, 220
or 230 of the first
distribution valve block 200. In an exemplary embodiment, a different
arrangement or
connection of the valve block and the second valve blocks may be used. For
example, a first
downstream (second) valve block (e.g. 300) may be connected (not shown) to the
three first
outputs 211, 221, 231 of different distributor valves of the first valve block
200. A second
downstream (second) valve block (e.g. 400) can be connected to the second
outputs 212, 222,
232 of the first valve block 200 and a third downstream (second) valve block
(e.g. 500) can be
connected to the third line outputs 213, 223, 233 of the first valve block
200.
The second distributor valve blocks 300, 400 and 500 can also be configured
differently from the
first distributor valve block 200. For a simplified illustration, an example
illustration has been
selected in Fig. 1 in which all distributor valve blocks 200, 300, 400 and 500
are identical. The
distribution valve blocks 300, 400 and 500, arranged in the second cascade
row, each have three
line inputs 301, 302, 303; 401, 402, 403; as well as 501, 502 and 503. Three
line outputs are
assigned to each of the line inputs via a respective rotary control valve. In
total, the distributor
valve blocks arranged in the second cascade row provide 27 line outputs, from
which individual
receivers, for example instrumentation finger 1010 in a reactor core 1001 can
be operated (an
instrumentation finger is shown schematically).
In the example shown, 24 individual receivers are provided. Therefore,
several, here three, line
outputs are sealed, namely the line outputs of the second rotary control valve
320 of the first
distributor valve block 300 in the second cascade row. Alternatively, it would
be conceivable to
CA 3030885 2019-01-22
provide a seal directly at the second output 222 of the second control valve
of the first valve
block 200 and to provide a smaller control valve block with, for example, only
two control valve
levels instead of the illustrated control valve block 300.
Between the outputs of the distributor valve blocks of the second cascade
stage 300, 400 and 500
and the respective receiver, for example a reactor core instrumentation
finger, an emergency
closing valve, for example in the form of an inventive emergency closing valve
block 2 as
described in detail below with respect to Fig. 4, can be provided for
providing a system boundary
(here only schematically illustrated for an instrumentation finger 1010).
Figures 2a, 2b. 2a, 2b and 2c show switching positions for a control valve
according to the
positions shown for valve blocks 200, 300, 400 and 500 in Fig. 1. In an
exemplary embodiment,
in contrast to the figure according to Fig. 1, it is conceivable that, in
addition to one line input A,
further line inputs B, F are provided. In the example shown in Fig. 2a to Fig.
2c, three line
outputs C, D and E are provided. Fig. 2a shows a first active position in
which the first valve
input A is connected to the first valve output D by a first through channel
15d, which extends
through the actuator 13 of the control valve 200. The other two through
channels 15c and 15e in
valve member 13 are not connected to a line input or line output in this first
active position.
Fig. 2b shows a second switching position in which the first line input A is
connected to a second
line output E via a curved through channel 15e. The curvature corresponds
approximately to the
radius of the actuator 50%. The first through channel 15d is neither in
contact with a line input
nor with a line output. The third through channel 15c, which runs mirror-
inverted with reversed
curvature relative to the second through channel 15e through the actuator 13,
connects a second
line input B with the first line output D. The second line input B is in
contact with the first line
output D. The first line output D is connected to the second line input B. The
control member 13
closes the third line input F and the third line output C. The second line
input B is connected to
the first line output D by the control member 13.
In the third switching position of the valve shown in Fig. 2c, the third
through channel 15c
connects the first line input A with the third line output C. The third line
input F is connected to
21
CA 3030885 2019-01-22
the third line output D with the through channel 15e. The third line input F
is connected to the
through channel 15e with the first line output D. The second line input B is
connected to the third
line output C. The second line input B and the second line output E are
closed. There are no line
inputs and/or outputs in contact with the first through channel 15d.
Figs. 2d, 2e and 2f show an alternative embodiment of a rotary control valve
with three line
inputs A, B and F and three line outputs D, C and E and one control member 13*
in which
exactly two through channels 15d' and 15c' are provided. The through channels
15d' and 15c'
correspond to the previously described through channels 15d and 15c of Figs.
2a to 2c. With
regard to the switching positions illustrated in Fig. 3d to 3f, reference is
made to the switching
position described above.
In the positions illustrated in Figs. 2d, 2e and 2f, the third line input F is
always closed, as is the
second line output E. It is conceivable that only the first and second line
inputs A and B and the
first and third line outputs D and C, i.e. only two line inputs and two line
outputs, are provided
for such a control valve. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the control
valve can assume further
positions (not illustrated) similar to those illustrated in Figs. 2d and 2f,
but with the valve
element 13* in a mirror image switching position, in order to connect the
third line input F or the
second line output E with at least one of the other line inputs or line
outputs.
Fig. 3a and Fig. 3b show the valve block 200 according to an exemplary
embodiment, which
includes four axially offset rotary control valves in the form of ball valve
valves 11. The valve
.. block 1 comprises four ball valve valves Ila, 1 1 b, 11c, lid which are
rigidly connected to each
other.
It is conceivable that the ball valves II are manufactured by 3D printing or
the like. The
illustrated ball valves 11 are manufactured according to the principle of the
split ball, i.e. each
ball valve is split in a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis R (e.g. the
section plane II), and at
the section plane the surfaces of one half of the ball or the surfaces of both
halves of the ball are
machined, for example by milling, into the through channels 15d, 15c and 15e.
22
CA 3030885 2019-01-22
As shown in Fig. 3a, the ball valve elements 13 are stacked on top of each
other along the axis of
rotation R. The valve block 200 has a composite control member for the four
ball valves I la to
11d. The valve block 200 has an assembled control member for the four ball
valve valves Ila to
lid, which is composed of five parts, namely above and below a hemisphere 13",
13" and
three in particular similar double ball halves 13', which each have a flat
side on their upper side
and their lower side in which the through channel can be formed.
The cover hemisphere 13", the three double hemispheres 13" and the base
hemisphere 13" are
non-rotatably connected to each other by connecting screws which extend
transversely through
all hemisphere halves and/or by form-fit pairs.
In the horizontal plane, in which the through channels 15c, 15d, 15e extend,
the ball halves have
their largest outer diameter. In the direction of the longitudinal axis L
above and below this
respective plane, the outer circumference of the ball halves narrows relative
to the rotation axis
R. In the circumferential area surrounding the inlet or outlet of the through
channels 15c, 15d or
15e, the valve members 13 are each equipped with at least one sealing element
16. The sealing
element 16 extends around a respective ball valve member and/or annularly
around an inlet or
outlet of the through channel 15c, 15d, 15e. In an exemplary embodiment, the
seals 16 are non-
rotatably connected to the housing 17, which surrounds the control members 13.
The seals 16 are
used to transfer a conveying fluid loss-free between line inputs A, B, F and
line outputs C, D, E.
They are also used for the purpose of a rotationally fixed connection to the
housing 17. They also
serve the purpose of ensuring a sealing closure in a closed position of the
control member 13.
The housing 17 surrounding the ball valve members 13 has a substantially
hollow cylindrical
shape. For the line inputs A, B, F and the line outputs C, D and E, passages
are provided through
the wall of the housing 17. For example, the housing 17 can have threaded
holes 18, into each of
which a cable connector 19 is screwed. At the radially inner end of a line
connector 19, there can
be a receptacle for the annular sealing element 16. A mounting adapter can be
provided at a line
connector 19 for easier attachment of lines from an existing distribution line
system of a nuclear
power plant or the like. At each end of the housing 17 in axial direction L, a
closing flange 20
can be attached on one side and a drive adapter flange 21 on the other side.
The closing flange 20
23
CA 3030885 2019-01-22
can, for example, be fastened to the sleeve body of the housing 17 by means of
screws and have
a plain bearing receptacle for fixing the ball valve body 13 in the axial and
radial directions.
A screw connection can be provided on the drive adapter flange 21 to fasten
the drive adapter
flange 21 to the valve housing 17. In an exemplary embodiment, the drive
adapter flange 21 is
equipped with a bearing, such as a slide bearing, for axial and/or radial
holding of the frontal ball
valve hemisphere 13". In an exemplary embodiment, the drive adapter flange 21
includes one or
more receptacles for seals and a passage for a drive shaft 22 for actuating
the valve elements 13.
The drive shaft 22 extends into the valve housing 17 and is positively engaged
with the ball
valve elements 13. In particular, the end face hemisphere 13" can have a
positive receptacle for
one end of the drive shaft 22.
The ball valve halves 13', 13" and 13" in the embodiment shown in Fig. 3a are
solid bodies.
With the exception of the through channels 15c, I 5d and 15e and the through
holes for the
fastening screws as well as any recesses to accommodate positive locking
projections of other
ball sections, they are solid without recesses. Such a solid and robust
structure is particularly
suitable for high-pressure and/or high-temperature conditions, for example in
a nuclear power
plant.
It is conceivable that for other fields of operation, the control members of a
ball valve are formed
less solidly, for example in a lightweight design, or are even formed merely
from through-duct
pipes with structural and/or connecting components such as struts, ribs or the
like.
Sealing elements 16 can be formed, for example in the low-pressure range (e.g.
below 40 bar,
below 100 C) of a nuclear power plant, as soft seals, e.g. from PTFE or
another suitable plastic.
For a high-temperature and/or high-pressure range (e.g. over 40 bar, over 100
C), seals which
can withstand higher pressures and/or temperatures, such as metal seals,
graphite seals or similar,
are to be preferred.
24
CA 3030885 2019-01-22
Fig. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of a valve block 2, which is designed as
an emergency
closing valve block. In an exemplary embodiment, the emergency closing valve
block 2 includes
two rigidly connected, solid ball valve elements 23, through each of which a
through channel 25
is drilled. With this design, the passage 25 can extend in a straight line and
purely radially, i.e.
crossing the axis of rotation R, across the center of the valve member 23.
With the emergency closing valve block 2 shown in Fig. 4, the ball valve
elements are
manufactured in one piece with the drive shaft 32, for example forged, rolled,
milled and/or
machined from one piece.
Such an emergency closing valve block 2, for example, is well suited as an
emergency closing
valve block 2 for the safe fluidic separation of instrumentation fingers (not
shown), so that no
radioactively contaminated fluids, gases and/or vapors can penetrate from a
leaking
instrumentation finger into the rest of the system.
For this purpose, an emergency closing valve block 2 may be formed close to an
inner shell of a
reactor core 1001 immediately adjacent to the inner shell of the reactor core
or even as part of the
shell of the reactor core. In an exemplary embodiment, in order to safely
withstand high
pressures, for example above about 40 bar and/or high temperatures above 200
C, in particular
300-400 C, the seals 36 of the emergency closing valve block 2 are formed as
metal seals. The
metal seals 36 are pressed against the ball valve control members 23 with a
high radial contact
pressure, so that high contact pressures and friction forces occur at the
spherical circumference
of the ball valve 2. The high friction forces act in the form of torsional
forces against the
actuating force applied to the control member shaft 32. In an exemplary
embodiment, therefore
less than five, less than three, or only exactly two ball valve elements 23
are formed on one
control member shaft 32. The number of ball valve elements 23 formed are not
limited to these
example quantities.
In an exemplary embodiment, the ball valve elements 23 of the ball valves 21a
and 21b of the
emergency closing valve block 2 are equipped with straight through channels
25. It is
conceivable that in the axial direction L there is an offset with respect to
each other and with
CA 3030885 2019-01-22
respect to the axis of rotation R there is an angular offset with respect to
each other of several
through-channels, for example two, in a single ball valve member (not shown in
detail). For
example, two through channels 25 extending in a straight line through the
center of the ball valve
control member 23 may be provided which are offset by 900 from each other in
the axial
direction over more than one channel diameter and/or relative to the axis of
rotation R.
In an exemplary embodiment, the housing 37 of the emergency closing valve
block 2 is realized
similar to the housing 17 of the distributor valve block 200 described above.
For example, it can
be composed of a multi-part sleeve body 37, in particular, as well as a
closing cover attached to
the axial foot end and a drive adapter end 31 attached to the opposite front
end, similar to the
flange parts 20, 21 described above. In an exemplary embodiment, the end
pieces 30, 31 are
equipped with an axial and/or radial bearing for the output shaft 32.
In a multi-part sleeve body of the housing 37, connection pieces and in
particular distribution
line system duct connections can be fitted in the radial direction, for
example screwed in.
The features disclosed in the above description, the figures and the claims
may be relevant, either
individually or in any combination, to the realization of the disclosure in
its various
embodiments.
26
CA 3030885 2019-01-22
Conclusion
The aforementioned description of the specific embodiments will so fully
reveal the
general nature of the disclosure that others can, by applying knowledge within
the skill of the art,
readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific
embodiments, without undue
experimentation, and without departing from the general concept of the present
disclosure.
Therefore, such adaptations and modifications are intended to be within the
meaning and range
of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments, based on the teaching and
guidance presented
herein. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology herein is
for the purpose of
description and not of limitation, such that the terminology or phraseology of
the present
specification is to be interpreted by the skilled artisan in light of the
teachings and guidance.
References in the specification to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," "an
exemplary
embodiment," etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a
particular feature,
structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include
the particular
feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not
necessarily referring to the
same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or
characteristic is described in
connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge
of one skilled in
the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection
with other embodiments
whether or not explicitly described.
The exemplary embodiments described herein are provided for illustrative
purposes, and
are not limiting. Other exemplary embodiments are possible, and modifications
may be made to
the exemplary embodiments. Therefore, the specification is not meant to limit
the disclosure.
Rather, the scope of the disclosure is defined only in accordance with the
following claims and
their equivalents.
27
CA 3030885 2019-01-22
Reference List
2 emergency closing valve block
11a, b, c, d ball valve
13, 13*, 13', 13", 13" control member
15c, d, e, c', d', e', 25 through channel
16 sealing element
17, 37 housing
18 threaded hole
19 lines connector
closing flange
21 drive adapter flange
21a, 21b ball valve member
22, 32 drive shaft
15 20 reservoir branch
23 valve member
31 drive adapter end
32 adjusting shaft
100 distribution system
20 110, 120, 130, 140 line branches
122 section
123 shielding
160 multiway fitting
170 distribution valve
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CA 3030885 2019-01-22
170c, d, e line output
170A line input
171, 172, 173 through channel
175 actuator
200, 300, 400, 500 distributor valve block
201, 202, 203; 301, 302, 303 line input
401, 402, 403; 501, 502, 503 line output
210, 220, 230 rotation control valve
211, 221, 231 line output
212, 222, 232 line output
213, 223, 233 line output
220A line input
222 output
250 actuator
1001 reactor core
1010 instrumentation finger
A, B, F line input
C, D, E line output
longitudinal axis
R rotation axis
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CA 3030885 2019-01-22
