Nuclear reactor pressure vessel installation. [PWR]

Patent · Tue Aug 02 04:00:00 EDT 1977

OSTI ID:7287198

Harand, E; Michel, E

A nuclear reactor pressure vessel is vertically positioned in a concrete reactor pit. The vessel thermally expands and contracts axially and radially. To reduce the possibility of a wall rupture caused by the radial expansion, the top and bottom of the vessel are restrained from movement by the axial expansion, thus placing the vessel's wall under compressive stress in the axial direction. At the top this is done in any prior art manner. At the bottom, the restraint is provided by a series of vertical leaf springs circumferentially interspaced around the vessel's bottom, the lower ends of the springs being fixed to the vessel and the springs extending upwardly therefrom to upper support arrangements. Thus, the bottom of the vessel is suspended by the springs working in tension, while the radial expansion and contraction movements are accommodated by flexure of the springs. 9 figures.

• Assignee: Kraftwerk Union AG
• Patent Number(s): US 4039380
• OSTI ID: 7287198
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
210200* -- Power Reactors
Nonbreeding
Light-Water Moderated
Nonboiling Water Cooled
CONTAINERS
DESIGN
MECHANICAL STRUCTURES
PRESSURE VESSELS
PWR TYPE REACTORS
REACTORS
SUPPORTS
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS