Passive air cooling of liquid metal-cooled reactor with double vessel leak accommodation capability

Patent · Sat Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:869834

Hunsbedt, Anstein ^[1]; Boardman, Charles E ^[2]

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1. Los Gatos, CA
2. Saratoga, CA

A passive and inherent shutdown heat removal method with a backup air flow path which allows decay heat removal following a postulated double vessel leak event in a liquid metal-cooled nuclear reactor. The improved reactor design incorporates the following features: (1) isolation capability of the reactor cavity environment in the event that simultaneous leaks develop in both the reactor and containment vessels; (2) a reactor silo liner tank which insulates the concrete silo from the leaked sodium, thereby preserving the silo's structural integrity; and (3) a second, independent air cooling flow path via tubes submerged in the leaked sodium which will maintain shutdown heat removal after the normal flow path has been isolated.

• Research Organization: General Electric Co
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-89SF17445
• Assignee: General Electric Company (San Jose, CA)
• Patent Number(s): US 5406602
• OSTI ID: 869834
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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