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Title: Reactor pressure vessel head vents and methods of using the same

Abstract

Internal head vents are usable in nuclear reactors and include piping inside of the reactor pressure vessel with a vent in the reactor upper head. Piping extends downward from the upper head and passes outside of the reactor to permit the gas to escape or be forcibly vented outside of the reactor without external piping on the upper head. The piping may include upper and lowers section that removably mate where the upper head joins to the reactor pressure vessel. The removable mating may include a compressible bellows and corresponding funnel. The piping is fabricated of nuclear-reactor-safe materials, including carbon steel, stainless steel, and/or a Ni--Cr--Fe alloy. Methods install an internal head vent in a nuclear reactor by securing piping to an internal surface of an upper head of the nuclear reactor and/or securing piping to an internal surface of a reactor pressure vessel.

Inventors:
; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC, Wilmington, NC (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1162105
Patent Number(s):
8,873,695
Application Number:
12/985,620
Assignee:
GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC (Wilmington, NC)
DOE Contract Number:  
FC07-07ID14778
Resource Type:
Patent
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 2011 Jan 06
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS

Citation Formats

Gels, John L, Keck, David J, and Deaver, Gerald A. Reactor pressure vessel head vents and methods of using the same. United States: N. p., 2014. Web.
Gels, John L, Keck, David J, & Deaver, Gerald A. Reactor pressure vessel head vents and methods of using the same. United States.
Gels, John L, Keck, David J, and Deaver, Gerald A. 2014. "Reactor pressure vessel head vents and methods of using the same". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1162105.
@article{osti_1162105,
title = {Reactor pressure vessel head vents and methods of using the same},
author = {Gels, John L and Keck, David J and Deaver, Gerald A},
abstractNote = {Internal head vents are usable in nuclear reactors and include piping inside of the reactor pressure vessel with a vent in the reactor upper head. Piping extends downward from the upper head and passes outside of the reactor to permit the gas to escape or be forcibly vented outside of the reactor without external piping on the upper head. The piping may include upper and lowers section that removably mate where the upper head joins to the reactor pressure vessel. The removable mating may include a compressible bellows and corresponding funnel. The piping is fabricated of nuclear-reactor-safe materials, including carbon steel, stainless steel, and/or a Ni--Cr--Fe alloy. Methods install an internal head vent in a nuclear reactor by securing piping to an internal surface of an upper head of the nuclear reactor and/or securing piping to an internal surface of a reactor pressure vessel.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1162105}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Oct 28 00:00:00 EDT 2014},
month = {Tue Oct 28 00:00:00 EDT 2014}
}

Works referenced in this record:

Containers for housing nuclear reactors
patent, October 1978


Piping of nuclear reactor containment vessel
patent, August 1987


Boiling Water Reactor
patent-application, November 2010