Thomas M Camden

US Patent:

46311661, Dec 23, 1986

Filed:

May 11, 1984

Appl. No.:

6/609251

Inventors:

Thomas M. Camden - Apollo PA

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G21C 332

US Classification:

376435

Abstract:

A nuclear fuel assembly for high utilization of the nuclear fuel is disclosed. Alternate fuel rod assemblies are axially shifted relative to each other to create zones of high hydrogen-to-uranium ratios at the ends of the core for high utilization of the fuel at the core ends. Each fuel rod assembly comprises separate upper and lower fuel rods. The axial shift provides intermeshing of the separation between axially aligned fuel rods at the core center. Seed blankets are located at the ends of the core and lower enriched sections are located at the core center during beginning of core life. After a specified amount of fuel depletion from reactor operation, the upper and lower rods are interchanged and an opposite axial shift is employed. The high utilization fuel assembly provides for burnup gradient utilization, axial blanket utilization, plutonium production and burnup, axial power flattening, and less use of enriched uranium.

US Patent:

48369772, Jun 6, 1989

Filed:

Aug 25, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/089202

Inventors:

Barry F. Cooney - Pittsburgh PA
Thomas M. Camden - Washington PA

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G21C 710

US Classification:

376333

Abstract:

A cluster of standardized reduced length burnable absorber rods include a plurality of middle rod sections having a multiplicity of different axial lengths and containing burnable absorber material in sealed chambers therein, a plurality of upper end spacer sections having a multiplicity of different axial lengths and each defining an empty space, and a plurality of lower end spacer sections having a multiplicity of different axial lengths and each defining an empty space. Each of the rods is formed of one middle rod section tandemly arranged between and rigidly interconnecting one upper end spacer section and one lower end spacer section. The three rigidly interconnected sections which form each rod being selected so as to provide the same standard combined axial length for each of the rods in the cluster thereof although the axial lengths of the middle rod sections can vary from rod to rod and thereby the axial location of the burnable absorber material along the rod can also vary from rod to rod.

US Patent:

44951361, Jan 22, 1985

Filed:

May 11, 1982

Appl. No.:

6/377227

Inventors:

Thomas M. Camden - Apollo PA
William L. Orr - Ligonier PA

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G21C 332

US Classification:

376172

Abstract:

A blanket assembly for a nuclear reactor core perimeter region having at least two regions within the assembly of different H/U ratios and rod enrichments.

US Patent:

55947646, Jan 14, 1997

Filed:

Jun 6, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/467778

Inventors:

Barry F. Cooney - Bethel Park PA
Thomas M. Camden - Apollo PA
James P. Duke - Jeannette PA
David J. Stefko - Jeannette PA

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corporation - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G21C 1700

US Classification:

376248

Abstract:

An automated system for determining positions of a plurality of nuclear fuel assemblies organized in an array within a housing of a nuclear power plant includes a radiation hardened, underwater camera for inputting images of the nuclear fuel assemblies with respect to each other or with respect to a baffle wall of a nuclear reactor core, a digital signal processor for generating a second digitized image including a plurality of pixel elements of the nuclear fuel assemblies from the first image, and a workstation for determining the positions of the nuclear fuel assemblies with respect to the baffle wall from counts of the pixel elements.

US Patent:

47284870, Mar 1, 1988

Filed:

Apr 1, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/718902

Inventors:

Barry F. Cooney - Pittsburgh PA
Thomas M. Camden - Washington PA

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G21C 710

US Classification:

376327

Abstract:

A cluster of standardized reduced length burnable absorber rods include a plurality of middle rod sections having a multiplicity of different axial lengths and containing burnable absorber material in sealed chambers therein, a plurality of upper end spacer sections having a multiplicity of different axial lengths and each defining an empty space, and a plurality of lower end spacer sections having a multiplicity of different axial lengths and each defining an empty space. Each of the rods is formed of one middle rod section tandemly arranged between and interconnecting one upper end spacer section and one lower end spacer section. The three interconnected sections which form each rod being selected so as to provide the same standard combined axial length for each of the rods in the cluster thereof although the axial lengths of the middle rod sections can vary from rod to rod and thereby the axial location of the burnable absorber material along the rod can also vary from rod to rod.

US Patent:

44938144, Jan 15, 1985

Filed:

May 11, 1982

Appl. No.:

6/377117

Inventors:

Charles L. Beard - Murrysville PA
Thomas M. Camden - Apollo PA

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G21C 328

US Classification:

376428

Abstract:

An improved fuel rod for nuclear reactor fuel assemblies, said fuel rod having a region of relatively low density fuel pellets, causing the neutron-induced fission reaction to be more uniformly distributed along the rod.

US Patent:

57936366, Aug 11, 1998

Filed:

Apr 28, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/431690

Inventors:

Barry F. Cooney - Bethel Park PA
Thomas M. Camden - Apollo PA
James P. Duke - Jeannette PA
David J. Stefko - Jeannette PA

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corporation - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G06F 1760

US Classification:

36447901

Abstract:

An integrated data management system for compiling information concerning a plurality of nuclear power plant components includes a distributed database for maintaining the information over a lifetime of each of the nuclear power plant components, data entry terminals for entering the information in the distributed database, and data retrieval terminals for retrieving the information from the distributed database. The database is distributed by a wide-area network interconnecting the data entry and data retrieval terminals with distributed workstations which access the information.