Recently, Beijing Raymond-CBE Nuclear Equipment Technology Institute Co, Ltd. (referred to as “Raymond-CBE”) independently developed the "Underwater Measurement Device and Measurement Method for Deformation of Nuclear Fuel Assemblies," which was officially granted a national invention patent (Patent No.: ZL202511105834.3) by the China National Intellectual Property Office.

Nuclear fuel components are the core components of the nuclear power system. Due to factors such as thermal expansion and fuel core swelling, modules are prone to bending, twisting, and tilting during service, directly impacting the efficiency and safety of nuclear power plant refueling—deformed modules are prone to scraping and damage during loading, causing accidents and significantly extending the main overhaul schedule; If deformation data can be obtained before loading, the loading process and component placement direction can be optimized, improving material change efficiency. However, module deformation measurement in highly radioactive underwater environments has long faced four major pain points: insufficient underwater light, temperature field turbulence, and the overlapping of concave module shapes, all of which limit measurement accuracy; It is difficult to measure component deformation under different stress conditions; Measurement devices are difficult to maintain under extreme operating conditions; Measurement mechanisms have complex structures, high costs, and low efficiency.

To address these industry challenges, the Raymond-CBE Science and Technology's R&D team has developed modular and systematic solutions based on measurement principles and overall architecture. The core innovations are divided into four points: First, contact surface measurement, replacing optical measurement with contact between the measurement board and the module surface, avoiding interference with accuracy caused by underwater optical environments and overcoming the impact of single-point recesses on module results on measurement results; Second, multi-section longitudinal arrangement, with multi-directional sensors working synchronously along the height of the grid, using standard components to calibrate measurement references, eliminating repeated sensor lifting, significantly improving measurement efficiency and lowering device manufacturing accuracy while simplifying the structure and reducing degrees of freedom; Third, water drive and overall maintenance: the drive control unit is arranged above the water surface, and the frame can be lifted as a whole, fundamentally reducing the difficulty of operation and maintenance under extreme working conditions. Fourth, the device supports deformation measurement in both suspended and bottom-supported states.

This authorization of the invention patent marks another technological breakthrough achieved by Raymond-CBE through its long-term focus on practical practice and independent research. In the future, the company will continue to refine its self-developed technology, keep pace with the development needs of nuclear power refueling equipment, and promote the iterative upgrade of nuclear power plant refueling technology through technological innovation.