Lateral restraint assembly for reactor core
In a nuclear reactor including a reactor vessel defining a shielded core cavity having a reactor core extending vertically along a longitudinal axis and being located internally of the cavity, the reactor core is described which has layers of reflector blocks defining an outer peripheral surface for the core spaced from the vessel and being supported in a manner permitting at least limited lateral movement relative to the vessel; the combination therewith comprising lateral restraint means including lateral restraint assemblies disposed in the circumferential spaced relation about the periphery of the reactor core between the core and reactor vessel. The lateral restraint elements are located circumferentially about the outer peripheral surface of the core and being located in a number of layers to engage intermediate layers of reflector blocks between the top and the bottom of the core to restrain the peripheral core surface each of the restraint assemblies including a face plate having a contact surface to contact one of the reflector blocks of the core, spring means biasing the face plate against the reflector block on the outer periphery of the core, the spring means being disposed to allow radial expansion and contraction of the core and vertical movement of the core relative to the vessel. The spring means exert forces substantially horizontally directed between the top and the bottom of the core and only in the radial direction and at locations spaced circumferentially and vertically about the entire peripheral surface of the core, and a key means to restrain core movement in a direction parallel to the contact surface of the face plate and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis relative to the vessel due to seismic loads while allowing substantial vertical movement in a direction parallel to the core axis and radial movement toward and from the core axis.
- Assignee:
- GA Technologies, Inc., San Diego, CA
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4596689
- OSTI ID:
- 5593450
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: Filed date 27 Aug 1982
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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