Title: Seismic attenuation system for a nuclear reactor

Abstract

A system for attenuating seismic forces includes a reactor pressure vessel containing nuclear fuel and a containment vessel that houses the reactor pressure vessel. Both the reactor pressure vessel and the containment vessel include a bottom head. Additionally, the system includes a base support to contact a support surface on which the containment vessel is positioned in a substantially vertical orientation. An attenuation device is located between the bottom head of the reactor pressure vessel and the bottom head of the containment vessel. Seismic forces that travel from the base support to the reactor pressure vessel via the containment vessel are attenuated by the attenuation device in a direction that is substantially lateral to the vertical orientation of the containment vessel.

Inventors:

Liszkai, Tamas; Cadell, Seth

Issue Date:

2018-01-30

Research Org.:

NuScale Power, LLC, Corvallis, OR (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1418836

Patent Number(s):

9881703

Application Number:

14/528,123

Assignee:

NUSCALE POWER, LLC (Corvallis, OR)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):

E - FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS E04 - BUILDING E04H - BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES

F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F16 - ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS F16F - SPRINGS

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E - FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS E04 - BUILDING E04H - BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES

E04H9/00 - Buildings, or groups of buildings, or shelters adapted to withstand or provide protection against abnormal external influences, e.g. war-like action, earthquake, extreme climate
E04H9/02 - withstanding earthquake or sinking of ground
E04H9/021 - {Bearing, supporting or connecting constructions specially adapted for such buildings}

F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F16 - ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS F16F - SPRINGS

F16F7/003 - {One-shot shock absorbers
F16F7/12 - using plastic deformation of members {

G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21C - NUCLEAR REACTORS

G21C1/32 - Integral reactors, i.e. reactors wherein parts functionally associated with the reactor but not essential to the reaction, e.g. heat exchangers, are disposed inside the enclosure with the core
G21C1/322 - {wherein the heat exchanger is disposed above the core}
G21C13/024 - Supporting constructions for pressure vessels or containment vessels
G21C13/032 - Joints between tubes and vessel walls, e.g. taking into account thermal stresses
G21C13/04 - Arrangements for expansion and contraction
G21C5/10 - Means for supporting the complete structure {
G21C9/00 - Emergency protection arrangements structurally associated with the reactor {, e.g. safety valves provided with pressure equalisation devices}
G21C9/04 - Means for suppressing fires {Earthquake protection}

G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21D - NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

G21D1/00 - Details of nuclear power plant
G21D3/04 - Safety arrangements

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

Y02E30/00 - Energy generation of nuclear origin
Y02E30/30 - Nuclear fission reactors

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DOE Contract Number:  

NE0000633

Resource Type:

Patent

Resource Relation:

Patent File Date: 2014 Oct 30

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS