Control rod drive mechanisms

Purpose: To accurately measure the loads generated upon scram and judge the absence or presence of deceleration in control rod drive mechanisms. Constitution: Control rod drive mechanisms for use in a BWR type reactor includes an index tube vertically movably, connected at the upper end to the control rod and having a drive piston at the lower end. A piezoelectric member for detecting the load generated upon uprise of the index tube is disposed and signals from the piezoelectric member is connected to a calculation processing device. A load exerted when the index tube uprises is measured by way of the piezoelectric member upon scram thereby judging the absence or presence of the decelerating operation. Therefore, the nuclear reactor can be shutdown only when it is required with no excess safety operation than required. As a result, the reactor availability can be improved and, in addition, it is also possible to mitigate the burden of in-service inspection and reduce the operators' exposure. (Kamimura, M.)