Transactions of the Korean Nuclear Society Autumn Meeting

Yeosu, Korea, October 25-26, 2018

CRDM Magnetic Force Analysis

Saleh Saiaf AlHarbi a, Jae Seon Leeb, Yun Bum Parkb, Jong Wook kimb
a
King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy, Al Olaya, Riyadh 12244, Saudi Arabia
b
Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, 111, Daedeok-daero 989beon-gil, Yuseong-gu Daejeon 34057, Korea
*
Corresponding author: [Link]@[Link]

1. Introduction The coil assembly is designed to produce an

electromagnetic field which generates the adequate
A Control Rod Drive Mechanism (CRDM) is an attraction force between the stationary lift magnet, the
electromechanical device that drives a control rod movable lift magnet, and the upper latch magnet.
assembly vertically using electromagnetic force. A Analyses of the SMART CRDM magnetic force are
CRDM withdraws/inserts a control rod assembly required to evaluate the optimum electric current which
from/to a reactor core when the electrical current generates sufficient electromagnetic attraction force at
is supplied to the coils to control the core varying conditions. In this paper, the numerical analysis
reactivity. SMART is a System-integrated for the latching force estimation before and during the
Modular Advanced ReacTor with 365 MW engagement with and lift up the drive shaft were
thermal powers. The SMART CRDM is magnetic performed.
jack type with three large capacity direct current
electromagnetic coils [1]. The CRDM coils 2. Modeling Approach
produce magnetic fields around a motor assembly
and generate the attraction force between magnetic Finite element electromagnetic analyses are
components that makes the latches engage with or conducted for the magnetic force estimation of SMART
lift up a drive shaft coupled with the control rod CRDM at various conditions, each condition has its own
assembly. The drive shaft and the control rod boundary conditions and electrical current to evaluate
assembly drop by gravity. As a result of the the appropriate force that makes the latch engage with
reduced core height in SMART, control rod or lift up the drive shaft with control rod assembly. B-H
assembly weight is less than the conventional characteristics of the motor housing, magnet assembly,
reactor control rod assembly weight. The and coil housing were obtained from a test result
configuration of SMART CRDM is shown in Fig. considering the nonlinear magnet characteristics of the
1 [2]. material, as shown in Figure 2. The latching forces are
evaluated at three stages; the initial latching movement,
latching without engagement, and engagement and lift
up of the drive shaft.

1.5
B [T]

CodeCaseN-4-13
0.5 CS1010
SS410
SS410T
0
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000 9000
H [A/m]

Fig. 1 SMART CRDM Configuration Fig. 2. Material B-H Curve

 Transactions of the Korean Nuclear Society Autumn Meeting
Yeosu, Korea, October 25-26, 2018

2.1 Material properties

Coil Housing
Material types of SMART CRDM are summarized in
the Table I.
Movable Lift Lift Coil
Magnet

Table I: CRDM Material

Detail A
Part Material Upper Latch Coil

Motor housing ASME Code case N-4-13

Movable lift magnet Type 410 Upper Latch
Magnet
Upper latch magnet Type 410T
Coil Copper Motor Housing

Stationary Lower
2.2 Design review Lift Magnet

Lower Latch Coil

The CRDM magnetic forces are analyzed using Lower Latch
ANSYS Electronics Desktop version 19 [3] by adapting Magnet

a 2-D axisymmetric model as shown in Fig. 3. The

electric current is supplied only to the movable latch
coil for this analysis while the other coils are off. The
function of the movable latch coil is to produce
sufficient magnetic force that makes the movable
latches engage with the drive shaft and then lift it up a Fig. 3. 2-D Axisymmetric Model
little. As the movable latch coil is activated and the
movable lift magnet and upper latch magnet are
energized, the attraction force would lift up the upper
latch magnet until the latches engage with the drive
shaft and lift it up a little. Latches are connected in a
trinodal link that would engage with the drive shaft
grooves and hold it during the lift up process. Analyses
are performed for three stages:
- The initial stage represents the rest condition of the Movable Lift Magnet
upper latch magnet where the gap between the
movable lift magnet and the movable upper match
magnet is maximum, as shown in Fig. 4.
- At the second stage, the magnetic force is active
and lifts the movable upper latch assembly up to the
fully-shrunk status without contacting the drive
shaft.
Non-Magnetic Ring
- At the last stage, the latches are fully engaged with
the drive shaft grooves and the gap between the
movable lift upper magnet and upper latch magnet
is equal to non-magnetic spacer thickness. The
following step is the lift of the drive shaft a little as
designed.
Upper
Latch Magnet

Fig. 4. View of Detail A

2.3 Design requirement

 Transactions of the Korean Nuclear Society Autumn Meeting
Yeosu, Korea, October 25-26, 2018

3. Conclusion
1) At the first two stages, the electromagnetic
force should overcome the spring restoration Electromagnet analyses for the latching force
force between the movable lift magnet and estimation of the movable upper lift magnet and the
upper latch magnet. upper latch magnet were performed at three stages, the
2) At the last stage, the electromagnetic force initial latching movement, latching without engagement,
should overcome the weight of the drive shaft, and lift up of the drive shaft. The latching force
control rod assembly, and spring restoration confirmed to overcome the design requirement of each
force. stage as per the Finite element electromagnetic analysis.
Further verification is going to be performed during the
2.4 Analysis results experimental test.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Analysis result shows the estimated lifting force
according to the supply current at three different
This study was supported by the National Research
conditions. It is confirmed that the lifting force according
Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea
to the supplied current is sufficient to lift the control rod
Government (MSIT), in addition to funding from King
assembly and the drive shaft. At the initial stage, the lift
Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy,
magnet is only subjected to the spring restoration force.
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, within the SMART PPE
As a result, low current could produce adequate force to
Project (No. 2016M2C6A1930040).
move latches up to the fully-shrunk status. As the latches
engage with the drive shaft and initiate lifting up, the
References
magnet force should overcome the weight of the control
rod assembly and the drive shaft. The analysis result
[1] A. Tanaka, K. Futahashi, K. Takanabe, C. Kurimura,
shows that the magnetic force increases when the gap
[Link], and H. Hara, Int. J. Pres. Ves. Pip. V01.85, No.9,
between the movable upper latches magnet and the upper
2008.
movable lift magnet decrease and reach the maximum
[2] Jae Seon Lee, Gyu Mahn Lee, and Jong Wook Kim,
when the gap is equal to the non-magnetic spacer. So the
Journal of Magnetics, V01.21,No.4, PP.586-592, 2016.
CRDM coil design is verified by finite element
[3] User’s Guide Maxwell [Online]. accessed April
electromagnetic analysis to be suitable. The results show
2018.
that the magnetic force increases almost linearly with an
increase of the supply current as shown in Fig. 5. From
the analysis results, the appropriate supplied current to
the moveable latch coil produces a force that is almost
double the weight of the drive shaft and the control rod
assembly. This force may be enough to lift up the weight.
A further verification is going to be performed during the
experimental test.

7.0

6.0
Magentic Force (kN)

5.0

4.0

3.0

2.0
Last stage
1.0 Second stage
Intial stage
0.0
0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00
Supply current (A)

Fig. 5. Lifting force estimation at each stage