Nuclear reactor I

Patent · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1977

OSTI ID:862930

Ference, Edward W ^[1]; Houtman, John L ^[2]; Waldby, Robert N ^[3]

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1. Central City, PA
2. Acme, PA
3. New Stanton, PA

A nuclear reactor, particularly a liquid-metal breeder reactor whose upper internals include provision for channeling the liquid metal flowing from the core-component assemblies to the outlet plenum in vertical paths in direction generally along the direction of the respective assemblies. The metal is channeled by chimneys, each secured to, and extending from, a grid through whose openings the metal emitted by a plurality of core-component assemblies encompassed by the grid flows. To reduce the stresses resulting from structural interaction, or the transmissive of thermal strains due to large temperature differences in the liquid metal emitted from neighboring core-component assemblies, throughout the chimneys and the other components of the upper internals, the grids and the chimneys are supported from the heat plate and the core barrel by support columns (double portal support) which are secured to the head plate at the top and to a member, which supports the grids and is keyed to the core barrel, at the bottom. In addition to being restrained from lateral flow by the chimneys, the liquid metal is also restrained from flowing laterally by a peripheral seal around the top of the core. This seal limits the flow rate of liquid metal, which may be sharply cooled during a scram, to the outlet nozzles. The chimneys and the grids are formed of a highly-refractory, high corrosion-resistant nickel-chromium-iron alloy which can withstand the stresses produced by temperature differences in the liquid metal. The chimneys are supported by pairs of plates, each pair held together by hollow stubs coaxial with, and encircling, the chimneys. The plates and stubs are a welded structure but, in the interest of economy, are composed of stainless steel which is not weld compatible with the refractory metal. The chimneys and stubs are secured together by shells of another nickel-chromium-iron alloy which is weld compatible with, and is welded to, the stubs and has about the same coefficient of expansion as the highly-refractory, high corrosion-resistant alloy.

• Research Organization: Westinghouse Electric Corp., Madison, Pa. (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AT(11-1)-2395
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States Energy (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4050986
• OSTI ID: 862930
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

nuclear
reactor
particularly
liquid-metal
breeder
upper
internals
provision
channeling
liquid
metal
flowing
core-component
assemblies
outlet
plenum
vertical
paths
direction
respective
channeled
chimneys
secured
extending
grid
openings
emitted
plurality
encompassed
flows
reduce
stresses
resulting
structural
interaction
transmissive
thermal
strains
due
temperature
differences
neighboring
throughout
components
grids
supported
heat
plate
core
barrel
support
columns
double
portal
head
top
supports
keyed
bottom
addition
restrained
lateral
flow
laterally
peripheral
seal
limits
rate
sharply
cooled
scram
nozzles
formed
highly-refractory
corrosion-resistant
nickel-chromium-iron
alloy
withstand
produced
pairs
plates
pair
held
hollow
stubs
coaxial
encircling
welded
structure
economy
composed
stainless
steel
weld
compatible
refractory
shells
coefficient
expansion
support column
metal flow
core-component assemblies
core barrel
temperature difference
breeder reactor
refractory metal
nuclear reactor
liquid metal
flow rate
stainless steel
temperature differences
outlet nozzle
upper internals
outlet nozzles
outlet plenum
peripheral seal
support columns
vertical paths
iron alloy
liquid-metal breeder
/376/976/