Depressurization valve

Patent · Tue Mar 28 00:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:7023348

Skoda, G I

A depressurization valve for use in relieving completely the pressure in a simplified boiling water reactor is disclosed. The normally closed and sealed valve is provided with a valve body defining a conduit from an outlet of a manifold from the reactor through a valve seat. A closing valve disk is configured for fitting to the valve seat to normally close the valve. The seat below the disk is provided with a radially extending annulus extending a short distance into the aperture defined by the seat. The disk is correspondingly provided with a longitudinally extending annulus that extends downwardly through the aperture defined by the seat towards the high pressure side of the valve body. A ring shaped membrane is endlessly welded to the seat annulus and to the disk annulus. The membrane is conformed over the confronted surface of the seat and disk in a C-sectioned configuration to seal the depressurization valve against the possibility of weeping. The disk is held to the closed position by an elongate stem extending away from the high pressure side of the valve body. The stem has a flange configured integrally to the stem for bias by two springs. The first spring acts from a portion of the housing overlying the disk on the stem flange adjacent the disk. This spring urges the stem and attached disk away from the seat and thus will cause the valve to open at any pressure. A second spring-preferably of the Belleville variety-acts on a latch plate surrounding and freely moving relative to the end of the stem. This second spring overcomes the bias of the first spring and any pressure acting upon the disk. This Belleville spring maintains through its spring force the valve in the closed position. At the same time, the latch plate with its freedom of movement relative to the stem allows the stem to thermally expand during valve temperature excursion.

• Research Organization: General Electric Co., Boston, MA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-86SF16563
• Assignee: General Electric Co., San Jose, CA (United States)
• Patent Number(s): US 4815697; A
• Application Number: PPN: US 7-184734
• OSTI ID: 7023348
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: 22 Apr 1988
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
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DESIGN
DEPRESSURIZATION
FLANGES
LEAKS
POSITIONING
SEALS
SPRINGS
CONTROL EQUIPMENT
ENRICHED URANIUM REACTORS
EQUIPMENT
FLOW REGULATORS
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WATER COOLED REACTORS
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210100* - Power Reactors
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Light-Water Moderated
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