Pressure suppression containment system

Patent · Tue Mar 15 00:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:5128499

Gluntz, D M; Townsend, H E

A pressure suppression containment system includes a containment vessel surrounding a reactor pressure vessel and defining a drywell therein containing a non-condensable gas. An enclosed wetwell pool is disposed inside the containment vessel, and a gravity driven cooling system (GDCS) pool is disposed above the wetwell pool in the containment vessel. The wetwell pool includes a plenum for receiving the non-condensable gas carried with steam from the drywell following a loss-of-coolant-accident (LOCA). The wetwell plenum is vented to a plenum above the GDCS pool following the LOCA for suppressing pressure rise within the containment vessel. A method of operation includes channeling steam released into the drywell following the LOCA into the wetwell pool for cooling along with the non-condensable gas carried therewith. The GDCS pool is then drained by gravity, and the wetwell plenum is vented into the GDCS plenum for channeling the non-condensable gas thereto. 6 figures.

• Research Organization: General Electric Co., San Jose, CA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-90SF18494
• Assignee: General Electric Co., San Jose, CA (United States)
• Patent Number(s): US 5295168; A
• Application Number: PPN: US 8-046317
• OSTI ID: 5128499
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: 15 Apr 1993
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
CONTAINMENT SYSTEMS
DESIGN
PRESSURE SUPPRESSION
WATER COOLED REACTORS
LOSS OF COOLANT
OPERATION
ACCIDENTS
CONTAINMENT
ENGINEERED SAFETY SYSTEMS
REACTOR ACCIDENTS
REACTORS
220900* - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Reactor Safety
210100 - Power Reactors
Nonbreeding
Light-Water Moderated
Boiling Water Cooled
210200 - Power Reactors
Nonbreeding
Light-Water Moderated
Nonboiling Water Cooled