METHOD AND DEVICE FOR THE CONTROL OF VERTICALLY ARRANGED FUEL RODS OF WATER-COOLED NUCLEAR REACTORS UNITED AS A FUEL ASSEMBLY

摘要

A method for testing vertically disposed fuel rods combined in fuel rod clusters or fuel assemblies in rack positions of a fuel assembly rack of a water-cooled nuclear reactor includes inserting a holding device into first and second unoccupied rack positions while maintaining an unoccupied third rack position therebetween, inserting a fuel assembly to be tested into the third rack position with a lifting device, locking the fuel assembly to the holding device while the fuel assembly is in the third rack position, moving the fuel assembly vertically upward with the holding device, interrupting the upward motion of the fuel assembly, subsequently inserting a probe with a test device into spaces between the fuel rods in a testing operation, moving the fuel assembly vertically downward with the holding device after completing the testing operation until the fuel assembly is deposited in the third rack position, removing the fuel assembly with the lifting device, and depositing another fuel assembly to be tested into the third rack position.