CRD Flashcards
What is the purpose of the CRD system?
- To provide short-term reactivity control by positioning neutron absorbing control rods within the core.
- To furnish a quick reactor shutdown mechanism through rapid control rod insertion
- To provide position indication of the control rods within the core
Housing pressure and temperature design?
Internal conditions:
- 2485 psig
- 650°F
Ambient conditions:
- 250°F
- 9.7 to 14.7 psia
- 0 to 100% humidity,
- 50 REM/Hr gamma radiation
What is weight capcity, stroke length and stroke speed?
- Control weight of 215 pounds
- Stroke of 132”.
- Rod speed is 46” per minute.
What is the drop time?
- From receiving a trip signal to 90% of the full-in position of the rod is less than 2½ seconds.
- Accelerates to about 11 ft/s
Describe the seal package.
- PCS pressure boundary prevents PCS from leaking into upper housing.
- Seal leakage cup, located above seal, collects any leakage past the seal and contains a thermocouple to monitor for cooling water (CCW) or seal failure.
- CRDM leak off is directed to the containment sump,
- Cooling jacket surrounds seal area to maintain temperature of seal and O-rings below 250°F. Cooled by CCW.
Describe the drive motor and brake?
- Motivating force for withdrawal of a control rod and also insures that a control rod is inserted on a reactor trip if the magnetic clutch fails
- Brake functions to hold the control rod in the desired position. Energized (90V DC) it releases. De-energized, the brake engages
- Mechanical failure of the brake, results in rod “coasting” into core.
- Brakes tend to grab somewhat differently, seen as control rod “drift” when the joystick is released.
- Mechanical or electrical failure of the brake, that prevents the brake from disengaging, the motor will probably burn up.
- The joystick control switch, located on C-02, energizes the motor and brake causing control rod movements.
What are the motor power supplies?
- Breaker 52-125 powers CRDM transformer #2, EX-46 (120 VAC)
- Breaker 52-226 powers CRDM transformer #1, EX-45 (120 VAC)
- Transformer #1 or 2 is selected by selector switch behind C-15 panel (in Cable Spreading room).
- Loss of power to the CRDM motor will not affect the control rod position. The CRDM will not move unless it is tripped. The brake engages when de-energized.
Describe the funtion of the magnetic clutch?
- When energized, connects the motor to the vertical drive shaft to allow raising and lowering of:
- Shutdown rods (Groups A and B)
- Regulating rods (Groups 1, 2, 3 and 4)
- De-energized, the drive shaft is disconnected from the motor and brake,
Gravity pulls shutdown and regulating rods into the core.
- Anti-reverse feature functions when the clutch is de-energized. Ensures a control rod is forced down into the core by the motor if necessary,
- Limit switch at full insertion de-energizes the motor and the brake
- Anti- reverse and brake prevent any outward motion of the control rod.
What are the clutch power supplies?
- Y-30 and Y-40
- Transformers located in the Cable Spreading Room, reduce the voltage to 28 VAC.
- Rectifier changes to 24 V DC for magnetic clutch
- Individual rod clutches (except part length) can be de-energized with toggle switches
- Transformers located in the Cable Spreading Room, reduce the voltage to 28 VAC.
- Either Y-30 or Y-40 can supply all the Clutches. A loss of one will not cause a loss of power to any clutches.
What decelerates rod on trip?
Buffer Piston: PCS water level is required inside the guide tube so that hydraulic action of the buffer piston, traveling through the guide tube, will prevent mechanism damage on a CRDM trip.
- Permanent magnet on top of Buffer Piston activates the reed switches, located along the CRDM housing for secondary position indication.
How are control rods grouped?
- Shutdown Rods (2 Groups)
- 20 rods total
- Regulating Rods (4 Groups)
- 21 rods total
- Part-Length Rods
- 4 rods total
- Do not trip
Describe the shutdown rods.
Shutdown Rods (2 Groups)
- Group A has a total of 12 rods
- Group B has a total of 8 rods
First to be withdrawn on start-ups
- Remain withdrawn in MODE 1 & 2: Definite shutdown margin at all times.
Reactivity worth approximately 4% DK
- BOL = ~3.23 % ΔK;
- EOL ~3.86 % ΔK
Operated Manual Individual (MI) or Manual Group (MG)
Describe the regulating rods.
Regulating Rods (4 Groups) ;
- Group 1 - has a total of 8 rods
- Group 2 - has a total of 4 rods
- Group 3 - has a total of 5 rods
- Group 4 - has a total of 4 rods
Operated Manual Individual (MI), Manual Group (MG) or Manual Sequential (MS)
Provide short-term reactivity control to maintain/adjust power/Tave.
Total reactivity worth of all four groups approximately 3% DK
- BOL = ~3.16 % ΔK
- EOL ~3.61 % ΔK
Describe the Part Length Rods.
One group with 4 rods
- Original purpose was to be used for axial flux shaping, but they are not used at all.
- Withdrawn completely after shutdown rods are withdrawn and kept withdrawn at all times since inserting the part-lengths at power may have an adverse effect on flux distribution.
Inserted after the Reactor has been tripped in GOP-8,
- Power Reduction and Plant Shutdown to Mode 2 or Mode 3 ≥ 525°F
Operated Manual Individual (MI) or Manual Group (MG)
Discuss Manual Individual mode of operation for control rods.
Rod Mode Selector Switch - Manual Individual (MI)
- Allows an individual rod to be selected for movement.
NOTE: When moving the Part Length Rods and the “Individual Rod Selector Switch” for the Part Length Rod Group is in “GR” position, then all Part Length Rods will still move as a group even if the Rod Mode Selector Switch is in Manual Individual.
Discuss Manual Group mode of operation for control rods.
Rod Mode Selector Switch - Manual Group (MG)
- Allows an entire group to be selected for movement
Discuss Manual Sequential mode of operation for control rods.
Rod Mode Selector Switch - Manual Sequential (MS)
- Allows sequential movement of the regulating rods according to the Rod Sequence Program.
Discuss Emergency Off mode of operation for control rods.
Rod Mode Selector Switch - Emergency Off (OFF)
- De-energizes all CRDM motors and brakes
Describe the function of the Rod Control Group Selector Switch.
Selects a single group (e.g., A, B, 1, 2, 3, 4 or Part) for group movement or individual rod movement within the selected group
- OFF - No banks are selected for operation.
- A, B - Shutdown rods
- 1, 2, 3, 4 - Regulating rods
- P - Part-length rods
Describe the function of the Individual Rod Selector Switches for each group.
Selects an individual rod for movement if the Mode Select switch is in Manual Individual (MI) and its group is selected.
- Selects which rod in the particular group will have its position displayed on the LED display.
- Selects which rod in the particular group (group target rod) that will be used for sequencing purposes by PIP.
- Part-length rods have a “GR” position, which is the same position indication as rod “42”. However, when moving the part-length rods and the “Individual Rod Selector Switch” for the Part Length Rod Group is in “GR” position, then all part-length rods will still move as a group even if the Rod Mode Selector Switch is in Manual Individual.
Describe the Primary Position Indication; power supply, method of function, accuracy and outputs to.
Power Supply:
- Y-20
Primary indicator is a synchrotransmitter geared to the clutch output shaft.
- Shaft has a rotor coil attached to it surrounded by three stationary coils located 120 degrees apart. When it rotates it produces a voltage in the stationary coils that is related to the position of the control rod.
- Full rod travel corresponds to 264 degrees of synchro rotation.
Transmitted to PPC to PIP Node, which scans and converts synchro outputs into inches of control rod withdrawal.
- Accuracy ± 0.5”
The primary position indication via the PIP node provides contact inputs for the LRS (lower rod stop) and URS (upper rod stop) for the C-12 rod matrix lights
Describe the Secondary Position Indication.
Secondary Position Indication (SPI)
An assembly containing a number of series resistors to form a voltage divider network with reed switches (approximately 2 inches apart) connected at each junction. Voltage is applied to the network; output voltage depends on which reed switches are closed in the voltage divider. Overlap between adjacent reed switches is provided. The output is a voltage directly proportional to control rod position.
- Power Supply - Y-40
- Accuracy is ± 1.5 inches
- Transmit rod height signals to the secondary position indication and rod matrix light display.
Describe the function of the limit switches.
Six switches controlled by cams on the control rod synchro shaft.
Independent of the Primary or Secondary Control Rod Position Systems, these limit switches provide:
- Shutdown/regulating control rod insertion/withdrawal interlocks
- Control Rod upper and lower electrical cutoff
- Rod matrix light display
- Various alarms (shutdown rod position abnormal, dropped rod)
Describe the Upper Electrical Limit.
Upper Electrical Limit (UEL)
- Synonymous with upper limit switch
- Highest point of rod withdrawal for Shutdown rods in Manual Group
- Highest point of rod withdrawal for Shutdown, Regulating, and Part-Length rods in Manual Individual
- apprx 131 inches for all rods