Passive cooling means for water cooled nuclear reactor plants

Patent · Tue Apr 07 04:00:00 EDT 1992

OSTI ID:5145302

Gluntz, D M; Oosterkamp, W J; van Kuijk, R M

This patent describes a water cooled, nuclear fission reactor plant having an improved auxiliary passive cooling system for dissipating heat produced during periods of other than normal operation, the nuclear fission reactor plant. It comprises the combination of: a reactor pressure vessel containing a core of heat producing fissionable fuel material provided with reciprocally removable fission control rods and having external steam and hot coolant water conduits extending out therefrom including a circulation loop passing through a heat exchanger comprising a steam driven turbine, the reactor pressure vessel and adjacent components being housed within an enclosing, substantially gas impermeable containment structure for retaining a gaseous atmosphere enveloping the reactor pressure vessel and adjacent components; a container retaining a pool of cooling water isolated from the atmosphere of the containment structure and positioned at a level within the containment structure above the reactor pressure vessel, the isolation container including a heat exchanger unit submerged in the retained pool of cooling water having an inlet which is in optional fluid communication with the interior of the reactor pressure vessel and with the atmosphere of the containment structure enveloping the pressure vessel; a suppression pool chamber containing a pool of cooling water for condensing steam positioned adjacent to the reactor pressure vessel and having a horizontal vent passing to an adjoining area which is in open communication to the atmosphere of the containment structure; a vent duct extending from an outlet of the heat exchanger unit submerged in the isolation container pool downward into the suppression pool chamber with its open end terminating below the surface of the cooling water pool and above the level of the horizontal vent passing an adjoining area.

• Assignee: General Electric Co., San Jose, CA (United States)
• Patent Number(s): A; US 5102617
• Application Number: PPN: US 7-580672
• OSTI ID: 5145302
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
210100 -- Power Reactors
Nonbreeding
Light-Water Moderated
Boiling Water Cooled
210200* -- Power Reactors
Nonbreeding
Light-Water Moderated
Nonboiling Water Cooled
42 ENGINEERING
420400 -- Engineering-- Heat Transfer & Fluid Flow
COOLING SYSTEMS
DESIGN
ENERGY TRANSFER
HEAT EXCHANGERS
HEAT TRANSFER
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR COOLING SYSTEMS
REACTORS
WATER COOLED REACTORS