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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Self-actuating reactor shutdown system

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6739125

This patent describes a self-actuated reactor shutdown system utilizing a thermionic means responsive to at least coolant temperature and utilizing reactor coolant differential pressure for controlling the location of a neutron absorber element with respect to a reactor core region and for effecting release of the absorber element. The improvement consists of: electromagnetic means for controlling reactor coolant flow and coolant pressure differential across the absorber element, and thermionic means responsive to at least reactor coolant over-temperature conditions and operatively connected to the electromagnetic means for short-circuiting the electromagnetic means causing a change in coolant flow and a resulting decrease of the differential pressure across the absorber element allowing the element to drop into the reactor core region by gravitational force.

Assignee:
Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC
Patent Number(s):
US 4770845
OSTI ID:
6739125
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English