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Title: Closure head for a nuclear reactor

Abstract

A closure head for a nuclear reactor includes a stationary outer ring integral with the reactor vessel with a first rotatable plug disposed within the stationary outer ring and supported from the stationary outer ring by a bearing assembly. A sealing system is associated with the bearing assembly to seal the annulus defined between the first rotatable plug and the stationary outer ring. The sealing system comprises tubular seal elements disposed in the annulus with load springs contacting the tubular seal elements so as to force the tubular seal elements against the annulus in a manner to seal the annulus. The sealing system also comprises a sealing fluid which is pumped through the annulus and over the tubular seal elements causing the load springs to compress thereby reducing the friction between the tubular seal elements and the rotatable components while maintaining a gas-tight seal therebetween.

Inventors:
 [1]
  1. South Huntingdon, PA
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
863480
Patent Number(s):
US 4181572
Assignee:
United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
DOE Contract Number:  
E(11-1)-3045
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
closure; head; nuclear; reactor; stationary; outer; integral; vessel; rotatable; plug; disposed; supported; bearing; assembly; sealing; associated; seal; annulus; defined; comprises; tubular; elements; load; springs; contacting; force; manner; fluid; pumped; causing; compress; reducing; friction; components; maintaining; gas-tight; therebetween; annulus defined; tubular seal; bearing assembly; stationary outer; reactor vessel; nuclear reactor; seal element; closure head; rotatable plug; seal therebetween; sealing fluid; tight seal; elements disposed; gas-tight seal; /376/49/220/976/

Citation Formats

Wade, Elman E. Closure head for a nuclear reactor. United States: N. p., 1980. Web.
Wade, Elman E. Closure head for a nuclear reactor. United States.
Wade, Elman E. 1980. "Closure head for a nuclear reactor". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/863480.
@article{osti_863480,
title = {Closure head for a nuclear reactor},
author = {Wade, Elman E},
abstractNote = {A closure head for a nuclear reactor includes a stationary outer ring integral with the reactor vessel with a first rotatable plug disposed within the stationary outer ring and supported from the stationary outer ring by a bearing assembly. A sealing system is associated with the bearing assembly to seal the annulus defined between the first rotatable plug and the stationary outer ring. The sealing system comprises tubular seal elements disposed in the annulus with load springs contacting the tubular seal elements so as to force the tubular seal elements against the annulus in a manner to seal the annulus. The sealing system also comprises a sealing fluid which is pumped through the annulus and over the tubular seal elements causing the load springs to compress thereby reducing the friction between the tubular seal elements and the rotatable components while maintaining a gas-tight seal therebetween.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/863480}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1980},
month = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1980}
}