Method and arrangement for reducing the radiation exposure risks in the course of a nuclear reactor core melt down accident

Patent · Tue Nov 17 00:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:5596143

Donne, M D; Dorner, S; Schumacher, G

A method and arrangement are described for containing the core melt flowing from a nuclear reactor into a core catcher below the core wherein the core melt is permitted to gradually penetrate layers of a core catcher materials of inorganic reactor soluble oxides or salts disposed in the core catcher which core catcher materials are dissolved by the oxidic part of the core melt. The molten solution, after solidification and after being cooled down to a temperature at which hydrogen generating reactions do not take place, is leached with water and rinsed out of the core catcher without the need for humans to be present in the reactor containment and to be exposed to radiation.

• Assignee: Kernforschungszentrum Karlsruhe Gmbh (Germany, Federal Republic Of)
• Patent Number(s): US 4300983
• OSTI ID: 5596143
• Resource Relation: Patent Priority Date: Priority date 24 Nov 1976, Germany, Federal Republic of (F.R. Germany); Other Information: PAT-APPL-841796
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
CORE CATCHERS
MATERIALS
MELTDOWN
BORATES
CERAMICS
GLASS
GRAPHITE
INORGANIC COMPOUNDS
LEACHING
METALS
OXIDES
REACTOR CORES
SOLIDIFICATION
ACCIDENTS
BORON COMPOUNDS
CARBON
CHALCOGENIDES
DISSOLUTION
ELEMENTAL MINERALS
ELEMENTS
MINERALS
NONMETALS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
REACTOR ACCIDENTS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
220900* - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Reactor Safety