Modular assembly for supporting, straining, and directing flow to a core in a nuclear reactor
- Greensburg, PA
A reactor core support arrangement for supporting, straining, and providing fluid flow to the core and periphery of a nuclear reactor during normal operation. A plurality of removable inlet modular units are contained within permanent liners in the lower supporting plate of the reactor vessel lower internals. During normal operation (1) each inlet modular unit directs main coolant flow to a plurality of core assemblies, the latter being removably supported in receptacles in the upper portion of the modular unit and (2) each inlet modular unit may direct bypass flow to a low pressure annular region of the reactor vessel. Each inlet modular unit may include special fluid seals interposed between mating surfaces of the inlet modular units and the core assemblies and between the inlet modular units and the liners, to minimize leakage and achieve an hydraulic balance. Utilizing the hydraulic balance, the modular units are held in the liners and the assemblies are held in the modular unit receptacles by their own respective weight. Included as part of the permanent liners below the horizontal support plate are generally hexagonal axial debris barriers. The axial debris barriers collectively form a bottom boundary of a secondary high pressure plenum, the upper boundary of which is the bottom surface of the horizontal support plate. Peripheral liners include radial debris barriers which collectively form a barrier against debris entry radially. During normal operation primary coolant inlet openings in the liner, below the axial debris barriers, pass a large amount of coolant into the inlet modular units, and secondary coolant inlet openings in the portion of the liners within the secondary plenum pass a small amount of coolant into the inlet modular units. The secondary coolant inlet openings also provide alternative coolant inlet flow paths in the unlikely event of blockage of the primary inlet openings. The primary inlet openings have characteristics which limit the entry of debris and minimize the potential for debris entering the primary inlets blocking the secondary inlets from inside the modular unit.
- 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 4053358
- OSTI ID:
- 862938
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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assembly
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straining
directing
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core
nuclear
reactor
support
arrangement
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fluid
periphery
normal
operation
plurality
removable
inlet
units
contained
permanent
liners
plate
vessel
internals
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main
coolant
assemblies
latter
removably
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receptacles
upper
portion
direct
bypass
pressure
annular
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special
seals
interposed
mating
surfaces
minimize
leakage
achieve
hydraulic
balance
utilizing
held
respective
weight
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below
horizontal
hexagonal
axial
debris
barriers
collectively
form
bottom
boundary
secondary
plenum
surface
peripheral
radial
barrier
entry
radially
primary
openings
liner
pass
amount
provide
alternative
paths
unlikely
event
blockage
characteristics
limit
potential
entering
inlets
blocking
inside
mating surface
unlikely event
flow paths
normal operation
reactor vessel
nuclear reactor
reactor core
fluid flow
flow path
upper portion
coolant flow
primary coolant
bottom surface
annular region
support plate
support arrangement
inlet modular
coolant inlet
core support
modular units
modular unit
core assemblies
removably supported
modular assembly
collectively form
mating surfaces
providing fluid
minimize leakage
inlet flow
movably supported
pass flow
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