Isolation condenser passive cooling of a nuclear reactor containment

Patent · Tue Oct 22 04:00:00 EDT 1991

OSTI ID:5490033

Gluntz, D M; Cooke, F E

This patent describes a nuclear system comprising a containment airspace in which a nuclear reactor pressure vessel is disposed there being a reactor core within the pressure vessel. It comprises a heat exchanger elevated a distance above the pressure vessel; a pool of water surrounding the heat exchanger; means for venting the pool of water to an environment outside the containment; a heat exchanger entry conduit within the containment, the entry conduit having an open lower end communicating with the containment space, and an upper end connected to the heat exchanger, water-containing heated fluid present in the containment airspace incident a pressure vessel loss of coolant event entering and flowing through the entry conduit into the heat exchanger for cooling the fluid to convert water vapor therein to a condensate and separate non-condensable gasses therefrom; a gravity driven cooling water pond-containing space, the gravity cooling water space being elevated a distance above the core in the pressure vessel sufficient for cooling water upon occurrence of an event and when pressure in the pressure vessel is reduced to a predetermined level, to gravity feed into the pressure vessel through a piping means connected therewith so that the water can cover the core.

• Assignee: General Electric Co., San Jose, CA (United States)
• Patent Number(s): A; US 5059383
• Application Number: PPN: US 7-519070
• OSTI ID: 5490033
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220200* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Components & Accessories
42 ENGINEERING
420400 -- Engineering-- Heat Transfer & Fluid Flow
CONTAINERS
COOLING SYSTEMS
DESIGN
HEAT EXCHANGERS
PRESSURE VESSELS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR COOLING SYSTEMS
REACTOR CORES
REACTORS
WATER COOLED REACTORS