Nuclear reactors. [pressure tube reactors]

Patent · Tue Sep 06 04:00:00 EDT 1977

OSTI ID:7289584

Middleton, J E

In a water-cooled pressure-tube reactor in which each fuel-containing pressure tube is included in one of two main coolant circuits each of which comprises a bottom header supplying coolant water to the pressure-tube lower ends, a steam drum to which the pressure-tube upper ends are connected, main circulator means pumping water from the steam drum to the bottom header, further pump means pumping an auxiliary coolant water flow from the steam drum of each coolant circuit directly into the pressure tubes of that circuit in the form of spray cooling in such pressure tubes, with the bottom headers of the two circuits interconnected and main feedwater pumps supplying make-up water to the steam drums to replace generated steam, the invention provides, between the main feedwater pumps and the steam drums, water inlet valves which are controlled by pressure in the coolant circuits and are arranged to close in response to a fall in such pressure, and also provides further connections arranged to supply feedwater directly, in the event of such pressure fall, from the main feedwater pumps to the bottom headers and into the pressure tubes of each coolant circuit as the said spray cooling therein. 7 claims, 4 figures.

• Assignee: Nuclear Power Co. (Whetstone) Ltd.
• Patent Number(s): US 4046628
• OSTI ID: 7289584
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
210400* -- Power Reactors
Nonbreeding
Otherwise Moderated or Unmoderated
COOLING SYSTEMS
DESIGN
PRESSURE TUBE REACTORS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR COOLING SYSTEMS
REACTORS