Core catcher device. [LMFBR]
In a fast reactor having a diagrid structure supported on the bottom wall of a reactor vessel containing the core and liquid metal coolant, a core catcher serves in the event of core meltdown to prevent hot debris carried down by the liquid metal from coming into contact with the vessel walls. The core catcher comprises a single collecting tray having a large area, a central chimney and a bearing shell extending parallel to the bottom wall of the reactor vessel. An enclosed space is formed between the bottom wall, the diagrid support structure and the diagrid and contains the collecting tray. Under melt-down conditions, the temperature differences produced by the molten fuel deposited on the tray and the presence of the central chimney have the effect of setting up a natural circulation of liquid metal and consequently of cooling the fuel.
- Assignee:
- Commissariat A L Energie Atomique (France)
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4280872
- OSTI ID:
- 5977069
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
210500* -- Power Reactors
Breeding
ACCIDENTS
BREEDER REACTORS
CORE CATCHERS
ELEMENTS
EPITHERMAL REACTORS
FAST REACTORS
FBR TYPE REACTORS
FLUIDS
LIQUID METAL COOLED REACTORS
LIQUID METALS
LIQUIDS
LMFBR TYPE REACTORS
MELTDOWN
METALS
REACTOR ACCIDENTS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTORS