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Title: Conformal core cooling and containment structure

Abstract

A nuclear reactor includes a pressure vessel and a nuclear reactor core comprising fissile material disposed inside the pressure vessel at the bottom of the pressure vessel. A secondary core containment structure includes a containment basket comprising insulation with a maximum stable temperature of at least 2200K cladded by steel. The bottom of the pressure vessel and the nuclear reactor core are disposed inside the containment basket with the containment basket spaced apart from the bottom of the pressure vessel by a clearance gap. The containment basket may comprise zirconia insulation cladded by steel. In some embodiments the clearance gap between the containment basket and the bottom of the pressure vessel is no larger than one meter. The secondary core containment structure may further comprise conduits arranged to inject water into the clearance gap between the containment basket and the bottom of the pressure vessel.

Inventors:
; ;
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
BWXT mPower, Inc., Charlotte, NC (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1496221
Patent Number(s):
10147506
Application Number:
14/244,222
Assignee:
BWXT mPower, Inc. (Charlotte, NC)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21C - NUCLEAR REACTORS
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
DOE Contract Number:  
0000583
Resource Type:
Patent
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 2014 Apr 03
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS

Citation Formats

Malloy, III, John D., Edwards, Michael J., and Edwards, Tyler A.. Conformal core cooling and containment structure. United States: N. p., 2018. Web.
Malloy, III, John D., Edwards, Michael J., & Edwards, Tyler A.. Conformal core cooling and containment structure. United States.
Malloy, III, John D., Edwards, Michael J., and Edwards, Tyler A.. Tue . "Conformal core cooling and containment structure". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1496221.
@article{osti_1496221,
title = {Conformal core cooling and containment structure},
author = {Malloy, III, John D. and Edwards, Michael J. and Edwards, Tyler A.},
abstractNote = {A nuclear reactor includes a pressure vessel and a nuclear reactor core comprising fissile material disposed inside the pressure vessel at the bottom of the pressure vessel. A secondary core containment structure includes a containment basket comprising insulation with a maximum stable temperature of at least 2200K cladded by steel. The bottom of the pressure vessel and the nuclear reactor core are disposed inside the containment basket with the containment basket spaced apart from the bottom of the pressure vessel by a clearance gap. The containment basket may comprise zirconia insulation cladded by steel. In some embodiments the clearance gap between the containment basket and the bottom of the pressure vessel is no larger than one meter. The secondary core containment structure may further comprise conduits arranged to inject water into the clearance gap between the containment basket and the bottom of the pressure vessel.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2018},
month = {12}
}

Works referencing / citing this record:

Nuclear reactors
patent, September 1976


Passive cooling and arresting device for molten core material
patent-application, May 2009


Corium Cooling Promoting Apparatus and Containment
patent-application, March 2012


Boiling water reactor nuclear power plant and its construction method
patent, October 2004


Boiling water reactor with compact containment and simplified safety systems
patent, November 1996


Passive cooling and arresting device for molten core material
patent, May 2011


Core catcher cooling by heat pipe
patent, March 2002


Device for collecting and cooling reactor-meltdown products
patent, August 1997


Nuclear reactor vessel fuel thermal insulating barrier
patent, March 2013


Core catcher cooling
patent, July 2009


Gap structure for nuclear reactor vessel
patent, February 2001


Nuclear Reactor Vessel Fuel Thermal Insulating Barrier
patent-application, August 2008