Nuclear reactor flow control method and apparatus

Patent · 31 December 1992

OSTI ID:868713

Church, John P ^[1]

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1. 1204 Woodbine Rd., Aiken, SC 29803

Method and apparatus for improving coolant flow in a nuclear reactor during accident as well as nominal conditions. The reactor has a plurality of fuel elements in sleeves and a plenum above the fuel and through which the sleeves penetrate. Holes are provided in the sleeve so that coolant from the plenum can enter the sleeve and cool the fuel. The number and size of the holes are varied from sleeve to sleeve with the number and size of holes being greater for sleeves toward the center of the core and less for sleeves toward the periphery of the core. Preferably the holes are all the same diameter and arranged in rows and columns, the rows starting from the bottom of every sleeve and fewer rows in peripheral sleeves and more rows in the central sleeves.

• Research Organization: WESTINGHOUSE SAVANNAH RIVER CO
• DOE Contract Number: AC09-89SR18035
• Assignee: Church, John P. (1204 Woodbine Rd., Aiken, SC 29803)
• Patent Number(s): US 5198185
• OSTI ID: 868713
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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accident
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columns
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cool
coolant
coolant flow
core
diameter
elements
enter
fewer
flow
flow control
fuel
fuel element
fuel elements
holes
improving
method
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nominal condition
nuclear
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penetrate
peripheral
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plenum
plurality
preferably
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rows
size
sleeve
sleeves
starting
varied