Safety apparatus for nuclear reactor to prevent structural damage from overheating by core debris

Patent · Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:875269

Gabor, John D. ^[1]; Cassulo, John C. ^[2]; Pedersen, Dean R. ^[3]; Baker, Jr., Louis

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1. Western Springs, IL
2. Stickney, IL
3. Naperville, IL

The invention teaches safety apparatus that can be included in a nuclear reactor, either when newly fabricated or as a retrofit add-on, that will minimize proliferation of structural damage to the reactor in the event the reactor is experiencing an overheating malfunction whereby radioactive nuclear debris might break away from and be discharged from the reactor core. The invention provides a porous bed or sublayer on the lower surface of the reactor containment vessel so that the debris falls on and piles up on the bed. Vapor release elements upstand from the bed in some laterally spaced array. Thus should the high heat flux of the debris interior vaporize the coolant at that location, the vaporized coolant can be vented downwardly to and laterally through the bed to the vapor release elements and in turn via the release elements upwardly through the debris. This minimizes the pressure buildup in the debris and allows for continuing infiltration of the liquid coolant into the debris interior.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): H000091
• Application Number: 06/777875
• OSTI ID: 875269
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: 1985 Sep 20
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

statutory invention registration
safety
apparatus
nuclear
reactor
prevent
structural
damage
overheating
core
debris
teaches
included
newly
fabricated
retrofit
add-on
minimize
proliferation
event
experiencing
malfunction
whereby
radioactive
break
discharged
provides
porous
bed
sublayer
surface
containment
vessel
falls
piles
vapor
release
elements
upstand
laterally
spaced
array
heat
flux
interior
vaporize
coolant
location
vaporized
vented
downwardly
via
upwardly
minimizes
pressure
buildup
allows
continuing
infiltration
liquid
porous bed
laterally spaced
radioactive nuclear
reactor containment
liquid coolant
heat flux
containment vessel
nuclear reactor
reactor core
core debris
structural damage
spaced array
safety apparatus
pressure buildup
prevent structural
/376/