Thermal insulating barrier and neutron shield providing integrated protection for a nuclear reactor vessel
The reactor vessel of a nuclear reactor installation which is suspended from the cold leg nozzles in a reactor cavity is provided with a lower thermal insulating barrier spaced from the reactor vessel to form a chamber which can be flooded with cooling water through passive valving to directly cool the reactor vessel in the event of a severe accident. The passive valving also includes bistable vents at the upper end of the thermal insulating barrier for releasing steam. A removable, modular neutron shield extending around the upper end of the reactor cavity below the nozzles forms with the upwardly and outwardly tapered transition on the outer surface of the reactor vessel, a labyrinthine channel which reduces neutron streaming while providing a passage for the escape of steam during a severe accident, and for the cooling air which is circulated along the reactor cavity walls outside the thermal insulating barrier during normal operation of the reactor. 8 figs.
- Research Organization:
- Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC03-90SF18495
- Assignee:
- Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (United States)
- Patent Number(s):
- US 5,699,394/A/
- Application Number:
- PAN: 8-502,236; TRN: 98:002116
- OSTI ID:
- 563698
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 16 Dec 1997
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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