Passive decay heat removal system for water-cooled nuclear reactors

Patent · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:868107

Forsberg, Charles W ^[1]

---

1. Oak Ridge, TN

A passive decay-heat removal system for a water-cooled nuclear reactor employs a closed heat transfer loop having heat-exchanging coils inside an open-topped, insulated box located inside the reactor vessel, below its normal water level, in communication with a condenser located outside of containment and exposed to the atmosphere. The heat transfer loop is located such that the evaporator is in a position where, when the water level drops in the reactor, it will become exposed to steam. Vapor produced in the evaporator passes upward to the condenser above the normal water level. In operation, condensation in the condenser removes heat from the system, and the condensed liquid is returned to the evaporator. The system is disposed such that during normal reactor operations where the water level is at its usual position, very little heat will be removed from the system, but during emergency, low water level conditions, substantial amounts of decay heat will be removed.

• Research Organization: LOCKHEED MARTIN ENRGY SYST INC
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 5076999
• OSTI ID: 868107
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/376/976/
amounts
atmosphere
below
box
closed
closed heat
coils
communication
condensation
condensed
condensed liquid
condenser
conditions
containment
cooled nuclear
decay
decay heat
decay-heat
disposed
drops
emergency
employs
evaporator
exposed
heat
heat removal
heat transfer
heat-exchanging
inside
insulated
level
liquid
located
located inside
located outside
loop
normal
normal reactor
nuclear
nuclear reactor
nuclear reactors
open-topped
operation
operations
outside
passes
passes upward
passive
passive decay
position
produced
reactor
reactor operation
reactor operations
reactor vessel
reactors
removal
removed
removes
returned
steam
substantial
substantial amount
substantial amounts
transfer
transfer loop
upward
vapor
vapor produced
vessel
water
water level
water-cooled
water-cooled nuclear