Nuclear reactor construction with bottom supported reactor vessel

Patent · Tue Jul 21 04:00:00 EDT 1987

OSTI ID:6237683

Sharbaugh, J E

This patent describes an improved liquid metal nuclear reactor construction comprising: (a) a nuclear reactor core having a bottom platform support structure; (b) a reactor vessel for holding a large pool of low pressure liquid metal coolant and housing the core; (c) a containment structure surrounding the reactor vessel and having a sidewall spaced outwardly from the reactor vessel side wall and having a base mat spaced below the reactor vessel bottom end wall; (d) a central small diameter post anchored to the containment structure base mat and extending upwardly to the reactor vessel to axially fix the bottom end wall of the reactor vessel and provide a center column support for the lower end of the reactor core; (e) annular support structure disposed in the reactor vessel on the bottom end wall and extending about the lower end of the core; (f) structural support means disposed between the containment structure base mat and bottom end of the reactor vessel wall and cooperating for supporting the reactor vessel at its bottom end wall on the containment structure base mat to allow the reactor vessel to expand radially but substantially prevent any lateral motions that might be imposed by the occurrence of a seismic event; (g) a bed of insulating material disposed between the containment structure base mat and the bottom end wall of the reactor vessel and uniformly supporting the reactor vessel at its bottom end wall; freely expand radially from the central post as it heats up while providing continuous support thereof; (h) a deck supported upon the wall of the containment vessel above the top open end of the reactor vessel; and (i) extendible and retractable coupling means extending between the deck and the top open end of the reactor vessel and flexibly and sealably interconnecting the reactor vessel at its top end to the deck.

• Assignee: Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC
• Patent Number(s): US 4681731
• OSTI ID: 6237683
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
210500* -- Power Reactors
Breeding
BUILDING MATERIALS
CONCRETES
CONTAINERS
CONTAINMENT
COOLANTS
DESIGN
LIQUID METAL COOLED REACTORS
MATERIALS
MECHANICAL STRUCTURES
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR CORES
REACTOR VESSELS
REACTORS
SEISMIC EFFECTS
SUPPORTS
THERMAL INSULATION