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Title: Gas-cooled nuclear reactor

Abstract

A gas-cooled nuclear reactor includes a central core located in the lower portion of a prestressed concrete reactor vessel. Primary coolant gas flows upward through the core and into four overlying heat-exchangers wherein stream is generated. During normal operation, the return flow of coolant is between the core and the vessel sidewall to a pair of motor-driven circulators located at about the bottom of the concrete pressure vessel. The circulators repressurize the gas coolant and return it back to the core through passageways in the underlying core structure. If during emergency conditions the primary circulators are no longer functioning, the decay heat is effectively removed from the core by means of natural convection circulation. The hot gas rising through the core exits the top of the shroud of the heat-exchangers and flows radially outward to the sidewall of the concrete pressure vessel. A metal liner covers the entire inside concrete surfaces of the concrete pressure vessel, and cooling tubes are welded to the exterior or concrete side of the metal liner. The gas coolant is in direct contact with the interior surface of the metal liner and transfers its heat through the metal liner to the liquid coolant flowing throughmore » the cooling tubes. The cooler gas is more dense and creates a downward convection flow in the region between the core and the sidewall until it reaches the bottom of the concrete pressure vessel when it flows radially inward and up into the core for another pass. Water is forced to flow through the cooling tubes to absorb heat from the core at a sufficient rate to remove enough of the decay heat created in the core to prevent overheating of the core or the vessel.« less

Inventors:
;
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
5606981
Patent Number(s):
US 4554129
Application Number:
TRN: 86-018864
Assignee:
Dept. of Energy
Resource Type:
Patent
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: Filed date 17 Mar 1982; Other Information: PAT-APPL-359161
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS; 21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS; GAS COOLED REACTORS; DESIGN; PRIMARY COOLANT CIRCUITS; REACTOR ACCIDENTS; HEAT RECOVERY; ABSORPTION; CIRCULATING SYSTEMS; CONCRETES; COOLANTS; HEAT EXCHANGERS; LINERS; REACTOR CORES; REACTOR SAFETY; REACTOR VESSELS; ACCIDENTS; BUILDING MATERIALS; CONTAINERS; COOLING SYSTEMS; ENERGY RECOVERY; ENERGY SYSTEMS; MATERIALS; REACTOR COMPONENTS; REACTOR COOLING SYSTEMS; REACTORS; RECOVERY; SAFETY; 220900* - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Reactor Safety; 210300 - Power Reactors, Nonbreeding, Graphite Moderated

Citation Formats

Peinado, C O, and Koutz, S L. Gas-cooled nuclear reactor. United States: N. p., 1985. Web.
Peinado, C O, & Koutz, S L. Gas-cooled nuclear reactor. United States.
Peinado, C O, and Koutz, S L. 1985. "Gas-cooled nuclear reactor". United States.
@article{osti_5606981,
title = {Gas-cooled nuclear reactor},
author = {Peinado, C O and Koutz, S L},
abstractNote = {A gas-cooled nuclear reactor includes a central core located in the lower portion of a prestressed concrete reactor vessel. Primary coolant gas flows upward through the core and into four overlying heat-exchangers wherein stream is generated. During normal operation, the return flow of coolant is between the core and the vessel sidewall to a pair of motor-driven circulators located at about the bottom of the concrete pressure vessel. The circulators repressurize the gas coolant and return it back to the core through passageways in the underlying core structure. If during emergency conditions the primary circulators are no longer functioning, the decay heat is effectively removed from the core by means of natural convection circulation. The hot gas rising through the core exits the top of the shroud of the heat-exchangers and flows radially outward to the sidewall of the concrete pressure vessel. A metal liner covers the entire inside concrete surfaces of the concrete pressure vessel, and cooling tubes are welded to the exterior or concrete side of the metal liner. The gas coolant is in direct contact with the interior surface of the metal liner and transfers its heat through the metal liner to the liquid coolant flowing through the cooling tubes. The cooler gas is more dense and creates a downward convection flow in the region between the core and the sidewall until it reaches the bottom of the concrete pressure vessel when it flows radially inward and up into the core for another pass. Water is forced to flow through the cooling tubes to absorb heat from the core at a sufficient rate to remove enough of the decay heat created in the core to prevent overheating of the core or the vessel.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5606981}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Nov 19 00:00:00 EST 1985},
month = {Tue Nov 19 00:00:00 EST 1985}
}