Heat barrier for use in a nuclear reactor facility

Patent · 01 January 1988

OSTI ID:866766

Keegan, Charles P ^[1]

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1. South Huntingdon Twp., Westmoreland County, PA

A thermal barrier for use in a nuclear reactor facility is disclosed herein. Generally, the thermal barrier comprises a flexible, heat-resistant web mounted over the annular space between the reactor vessel and the guard vessel in order to prevent convection currents generated in the nitrogen atmosphere in this space from entering the relatively cooler atmosphere of the reactor cavity which surrounds these vessels. Preferably, the flexible web includes a blanket of heat-insulating material formed from fibers of a refractory material, such as alumina and silica, sandwiched between a heat-resistant, metallic cloth made from stainless steel wire. In use, the web is mounted between the upper edges of the guard vessel and the flange of a sealing ring which surrounds the reactor vessel with a sufficient enough slack to avoid being pulled taut as a result of thermal differential expansion between the two vessels. The flexible web replaces the rigid and relatively complicated structures employed in the prior art for insulating the reactor cavity from the convection currents generated between the reactor vessel and the guard vessel.

• Research Organization: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORP
• DOE Contract Number: AC15-76CL02395
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4783310
• OSTI ID: 866766
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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