RADIOISOTOPIC POWER SOURCE

• US 3,638,023 A
• Filed: 11/07/1969
• Issued: 01/25/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alfred E. Cottam, Chang-Kyo Kim, John W.H. Chi, Robert Flaherty
• Original Assignee: Alfred E. Cottam, Chang-Kyo Kim, John W.H. Chi, Robert Flaherty
• Inventors: Cottam, Alfred E., Chi, John W. H., Kim, Chang-Kyo, Flaherty, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Epstein, Reuben
• Application Number:
  US04/874,750
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 176/39,30 136/202 250/106
• US Class Current: 250/437
• CPC Class Codes: G21C 19/105 with grasping or spreading coupling elements
• CPC Class Codes: G21F 5/015 for storing radioactive sources, e.g. source carriers for irradiation units; Radioisotope containers
• CPC Class Codes: G21G 4/06 characterised by constructional features
• CPC Class Codes: G21H 3/00 Arrangements for direct conversion of radiation energy from radioactive sources into forms of energy other than electric energy, e.g. into light or mechanic energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 30/30 Nuclear fission reactors

Abstract

A power source adapted for refueling during operation including a core structure having longitudinal openings for holding radioisotopic fuel elements and longitudinal passageways for passing process fluid flow. Each fuel element opening is sealing separated from the process fluid flow passageways. The process fluid flow passageways are arranged in an even number of annular patterns or passes such that the process fluid inlet and outlet conduits are located at one end of the core. The fuel element openings are accessible at the opposite end of the core to allow fuel replacement without loss of process fluid. A fuel element shipping and transfer cask is adapted to be attached to the heat source opposite the coolant ports for replacing spent fuel elements within the core structure. A passive, self regulating, and recoverable emergency cooling system prevents core melt down on loss of coolant flow.

Claims

1. A radioisotope power source adapted to be refueled during operation comprising:

a. a core structure having passageways for process fluid flow through said core structure and having openings sealingly separated from said passageways, b. radioisotope fuel elements disposed in said openings, c. a layer of thermal insulation substantially surrounding said core structure, d. emergency cooling means for transferring substantially all the heat generated by said radioisotope fuel elements within said core structure to outside said layer of thermal insulation only when a temperature substantially exceeding the normal operating temperature of said core structure is reached; and

e. detachable refueling means alignable with said openings in said core structure for replacing said radioisotope fuel elements.

2. The power source of claim 1 wherein said core structure includes:

a. An inner core section having longitudinal passageways extending therethrough and having openings for said radioisotope fuel elements, b. an outer tubular core section coaxially disposed about said inner core section and separated therefrom for a substantial portion of the core length, said outer core section having longitudinal passageways extending therethrough, c. port means at one end of said core structure for admitting process fluid into said outer core section passageways and for discharging heated process fluid from said inner core section passageways, and d. plenum means disposed at the opposite end of said core structure from said port means for interconnecting said outer and inner core passageways.

3. The power source of claim 2 wherein said detachable refueling means is removably disposed at the end of said core structure opposite said port means, said refueling means comprising a rotatable drum having at least one longitudinal compartment for containing a radioisotope fuel element, said compartment being alignable with said openings in said core structure, and means for transferring said fuel elements between said core openings and said drum compartment.

4. The power source of claim 1 wherein said emergency cooling means includes a conduit having a first section disposed adjacent to said core structure, and a second section communicating with said first section and extending outside said layer of thermal insulation, said first section containing a wicking material communicating with a volatilizable liquid contained with said conduit.

5. The power source of claim 1 wherein there is included biological shielding means surroundIng said core structure having a central opening over said core structure, a rotatable plug disposed in said central opening, said rotatable plug having a plurality of axially parallel openings arranged in a pattern corresponding to said fuel elements disposed in said core structure, said rotatable plug openings being positionable in and out of alignment with said fuel elements.

6. The power source of claim 1 wherein said radioisotope fuel element includes a plurality of wafer members, said wafer members containing a gamma emitting radioisotope.

7. The power source of claim 6 wherein said gamma emitting radioisotope consists of cobalt-60.