Isolation condenser passive cooling of a nuclear reactor containment
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):
- US 5059383; A
- Application Number:
- PPN: US 7-519070; TRN: 92-013756
- OSTI ID:
- 5490033
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 4 May 1990
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
42 ENGINEERING
REACTOR COOLING SYSTEMS
DESIGN
HEAT EXCHANGERS
PRESSURE VESSELS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR CORES
WATER COOLED REACTORS
CONTAINERS
COOLING SYSTEMS
REACTORS
220200* - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Components & Accessories
420400 - Engineering- Heat Transfer & Fluid Flow