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

Nuclear reactor pressure vessel for nuclear reactors with plastically deformable spacers

Patent ·
OSTI ID:7144484
A cylindrical pressure vessel structure for nuclear reactors comprises a steel pressure vessel adapted to receive therein a pressurizing medium, a concrete enclosure at least partly producible in situ, the steel pressure vessel being mounted within the concrete enclosure and, in unheated and unpressurized condition, being radially and axially spaced from the concrete enclosure, and a supporting and insulating layer secured in the radially extending space between the steel pressure vessel and the concrete enclosure, the steel pressure vessel, during operating condition thereof wherein the steel pressure vessel is heated and pressurized, being expansible so as to bear through the supporting and insulating layer against the concrete enclosure, the supporting and insulating layer having support plates on the side thereof adjacent the steel pressure vessel, spacer members connected with the support plates and projecting beyond the surface of the support plates in direction toward the steel pressure vessel, the spacer members being yieldable to a predetermined force for a given radial distance corresponding substantially to an intermediate space between the supporting and insulating layer and the steel pressure vessel. 6 claims, 8 figures.
Assignee:
Kraftwerk Union AG
Patent Number(s):
US 4011132
OSTI ID:
7144484
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English