US 11,817,221 B2
Detection apparatus comprising a resonant electrical circuit located within a nuclear fuel rod
Jorge V. Carvajal, Irwin, PA (US); Jeffrey L. Arndt, Pittsburgh, PA (US); Shawn C. Stafford, Scottdale, PA (US); Melissa M. Heagy, Butler, PA (US); John R. Abel, II, Allison Park, PA (US); and Emre Tatli, Pasadena, CA (US)
Assigned to Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, Cranberry Township, PA (US)
Filed by Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, Cranberry Township, PA (US)
Filed on Oct. 19, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/074,443.
Application 17/074,443 is a continuation of application No. 16/214,445, filed on Dec. 10, 2018, granted, now 10,832,825.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/691,178, filed on Jun. 28, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/596,311, filed on Dec. 8, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2021/0210233 A1, Jul. 8, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G21C 17/10 (2006.01); G21C 3/16 (2006.01); G21C 17/112 (2006.01); G21C 17/06 (2006.01); H04Q 9/00 (2006.01); G01L 7/04 (2006.01); G01N 29/036 (2006.01)
CPC G21C 17/102 (2013.01) [G21C 3/16 (2013.01); G21C 17/112 (2013.01); G01L 7/041 (2013.01); G01N 29/036 (2013.01); G21C 17/06 (2013.01); H04Q 9/00 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
17. A nuclear reactor, comprising:
a fuel assembly comprising a fuel rod, the fuel rod comprising:
a cladding comprising an interior region;
unspent fuel pellets housed in the interior region of the cladding; and
a resonant electrical circuit supported within the interior region of the cladding, wherein the resonant electrical circuit is configured to:
receive an excitation pulse through the cladding; and
responsive to the received excitation pulse, generate a response pulse in the form of a magnetic field signal that is structured to travel wirelessly from the interior region and through the cladding, wherein at least one circuit component of the resonant electrical circuit has a property which is structured to vary in response to a condition of the fuel rod and cause the response pulse to vary based on the condition of the fuel rod, wherein the response pulse is indicative of the condition of the fuel rod; and
a receiver positioned within the nuclear reactor and outside of the cladding, wherein the receiver is configured to receive the response pulse and generate an output based on the received response pulse.