Date of Award

2021

Degree Type

Capstone Project

First Advisor

Dr. Bahram Nassersharif

Abstract

Mechanical properties of rubber and epoxy materials used in the high radiation environment surrounding nuclear reactors are of great interest to designers and nuclear power systems operators. Our student design team collaborated with the General Dynamics Electric Boat and the Rhode Island Nuclear Science Center (RINSC) to design, develop, and implement a testing procedure and device for high irradiation testing of materials, particularly neoprene rubbers, and epoxies.

Our team decided to design and implement a new sample-positioning device for the nuclear research reactor pool at RINSC. The current system at the RINSC is antiquated and cumbersome. Material samples are placed in a sample container that resembles a small bucket and then lowered down a testing tube using a cotton rope. Cotton rope is used because it does not become activated in the presence of neutrons. The bucket is lowered until it hits the bottom of the InCore Tube and is then raised 9 inches for a specific amount of time to become irradiated. At the end of the specified time, the bucket is then manually raised to the top of the tube, where the sample is retrieved and taken to test its mechanical properties. Our new device will semi-automate the process and allow for more accurate testing and data collection.

Our team designed, developed, and tested a semi-automated system to perform testing with programmable functions of raising and lowering samples into the irradiation tube. The design consists of a bracket mounted to the reactor core movement rails on the pool deck and can be easily secured with clamps providing tension on the steel rail. On top of the bracket is a small stepper motor with a reel for the rope's storage when it is retracted. This design allows the operator to control the device and be farther away from the irradiation tube. It will also reduce the amount of time for retrieving samples. Consequently, the operator's total radiation exposures will decrease. Additionally, the testing performed will be more accurate because the samples' position in the tube can be accurately controlled and repeated, eliminating the previous manual method for positioning.

Working with our sponsors at Electric Boat, our team has developed a process to improve the testing at RINSC and collect data to satisfy the sponsor needs.

Currently, the team has redesigned and tested the mounting system, the spooling, and control programming to gain a more optimal and functional design to meet the specifications. Data has been collected and analyzed for the neoprene and epoxy samples that were irradiated. Reliability and accuracy were tested in the system in order to be optimal in function.

Comments

Team name: Team 9, Electric Boat

Sponsor: General Dynamics Electric Boat

Sponsor representatives: Dr. Melissa Hunter, William McCauley

Document Reference: MCE-402-009-2021

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