Pressurizer tank upper support

Patent · Tue Jan 11 04:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:5170856

Baker, T H; Ott, H L

A pressurizer tank in a pressurized water nuclear reactor is mounted between structural walls of the reactor on a substructure of the reactor, the tank extending upwardly from the substructure. For bearing lateral loads such as seismic shocks, a girder substantially encircles the pressurizer tank at a space above the substructure and is coupled to the structural walls via opposed sway struts. Each sway strut is attached at one end to the girder and at an opposite end to one of the structural walls, and the sway struts are oriented substantially horizontally in pairs aligned substantially along tangents to the wall of the circular tank. Preferably, eight sway struts attach to the girder at 90[degree] intervals. A compartment encloses the pressurizer tank and forms the structural wall. The sway struts attach to corners of the compartment for maximum stiffness and load bearing capacity. A valve support frame carrying the relief/discharge piping and valves of an automatic depressurization arrangement is fixed to the girder, whereby lateral loads on the relief/discharge piping are coupled directly to the compartment rather than through any portion of the pressurizer tank. Thermal insulation for the valve support frame prevents thermal loading of the piping and valves. The girder is shimmed to define a gap for reducing thermal transfer, and the girder is free to move vertically relative to the compartment walls, for accommodating dimensional variation of the pressurizer tank with changes in temperature and pressure. 10 figures.

• Research Organization: Westinghouse Electric Corp
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-90SF18495
• Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA ()
• Patent Number(s): A; US 5278880
• Application Number: PPN: US 7-903834
• OSTI ID: 5170856
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
210200* -- Power Reactors
Nonbreeding
Light-Water Moderated
Nonboiling Water Cooled
DEPRESSURIZATION
DESIGN
ENRICHED URANIUM REACTORS
MECHANICAL STRUCTURES
POSITIONING
POWER REACTORS
PRESSURIZERS
PWR TYPE REACTORS
REACTORS
SUPPORTS
THERMAL REACTORS
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS