Thermal insulating barrier and neutron shield providing integrated protection for a nuclear reactor vessel
- Penn Twp., PA
- New Kensington, PA
- Murrysville, PA
The reactor vessel of a nuclear reactor installation which is suspended from the cold leg nozzles in a reactor cavity is provided with a lower thermal insulating barrier spaced from the reactor vessel to form a chamber which can be flooded with cooling water through passive valving to directly cool the reactor vessel in the event of a severe accident. The passive valving also includes bistable vents at the upper end of the thermal insulating barrier for releasing steam. A removable, modular neutron shield extending around the upper end of the reactor cavity below the nozzles forms with the upwardly and outwardly tapered transition on the outer surface of the reactor vessel, a labyrinthine channel which reduces neutron streaming while providing a passage for the escape of steam during a severe accident, and for the cooling air which is circulated along the reactor cavity walls outside the thermal insulating barrier during normal operation of the reactor.
- Research Organization:
- Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC03-90SF18495
- Assignee:
- Westinghouse Electric Corporation (Pittsburgh, PA)
- Patent Number(s):
- US 5699394
- OSTI ID:
- 871282
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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insulating
barrier
neutron
shield
providing
integrated
protection
nuclear
reactor
vessel
installation
suspended
cold
leg
nozzles
cavity
provided
spaced
form
chamber
flooded
cooling
water
passive
valving
directly
cool
event
severe
accident
bistable
vents
upper
releasing
steam
removable
modular
extending
below
forms
upwardly
outwardly
tapered
transition
outer
surface
labyrinthine
channel
reduces
streaming
passage
escape
air
circulated
walls
outside
normal
operation
neutron shield
reactor cavity
cooling air
cooling water
normal operation
reactor vessel
nuclear reactor
outer surface
thermal insulating
cavity walls
cavity wall
cold leg
reactor installation
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