| US 7,542,539 B2 | ||
| Apparatus and method for ultrasonically cleaning irradiated nuclear fuel assemblies | ||
| Paul L. Frattini, Los Altos, Calif. (US); Robert Douglas Varrin, Reston, Va. (US); and Edwin Stephen Hunt, Arlington, Va. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Electric Power Research Institute, Inc., Palo Alto, Calif. (US) | ||
| Filed on Dec. 10, 2001, as Appl. No. 10/14,619. | ||
| Application 10/014619 is a division of application No. 09/545354, filed on Apr. 07, 2000, granted, now 6,396,892. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/128391, filed on Apr. 08, 1999. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2002/0163990 A1, Nov. 07, 2002 | ||
| Int. Cl. G21C 19/42 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 376—308 [376/305; 376/310; 134/1] | 16 Claims |
| 1. An apparatus configured to clean an assembled irradiated nuclear fuel assembly having multiple fuel rods, the apparatus
comprising:
an elongated housing having an opening at a first end and a length, wherein said opening is configured to receive, and said
length is configured to be at least as long as, said assembled irradiated nuclear fuel assembly; and
a plurality of ultrasonic omnidirectional transducers positioned on said housing, each comprising;
a first end;
a second end; and
a rod disposed between said first end and said second end, said rod configured to emanate omnidirectional ultrasonic energy
waves;
wherein said first end and said second end are attached to said elongated housing.
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