Title: Passive techniques for long-term reactor cooling

Abstract

In a pressurized water reactor (PWR), emergency core cooling (ECC) responds to depressurization due to a vessel penetration break at the top of the pressure vessel by draining water from a body of water through an injection line into the pressure vessel. A barrier operates concurrently with the ECC to suppress flow of liquid water from the pressure vessel out the vessel penetration break. The barrier may comprise one or more of: (1) an injection line extension passing through the central riser to drain water into the central riser; (2) openings in a lower portion of a central riser to shunt some upward flow from the central riser into a lower portion of the downcomer annulus; and (3) a surge line providing fluid communication between a pressurizer volume at the top of the pressure vessel and the remainder of the pressure vessel which directs water outboard toward the downcomer annulus.

Inventors:

Malloy, III, John D.; Bingham, Billy E.; Watson, Ronald C.; Williams, Jason G.; Ales, Matthew W.; Inman, James B.; Boyle, Sean M.

Issue Date:

2022-06-07

Research Org.:

MWXT mPower, Inc., Charlotte, NC (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1893011

Patent Number(s):

11355253

Application Number:

16/933,498

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

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G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21C - NUCLEAR REACTORS

G21C1/09 - Pressure regulating arrangements, i.e. pressurisers
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}
G21C15/18 - Emergency cooling arrangements
G21C15/26 - by convection, e.g. using chimneys, using divergent channels

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

Y02E30/30 - Nuclear fission reactors

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DOE Contract Number:  

NE0000583

Resource Type:

Patent

Resource Relation:

Patent File Date: 07/20/2020

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English