MEANS FOR SHIELDING AND COOLING REACTORS
Abstract
Reactors of the water-cooled type and a means for shielding such a rcactor to protect operating personnel from harmful radiation are discussed. In this reactor coolant tubes which contain the fissionable material extend vertically through a mass of moderator. Liquid coolant enters through the bottom of the coolant tubes and passes upwardly over the fissionable material. A shield tank is disposed over the top of the reactor and communicates through its bottom with the upper end of the coolant tubes. A hydrocarbon shielding fluid floats on the coolant within the shield tank. With this arrangements the upper face of the reactor can be opened to the atmosphere through the two superimposed liquid layers. A principal feature of the invention is that in the event radioactive fission products enter thc coolant stream. imposed layer of hydrocarbon reduces the intense radioactivity introduced into the layer over the reactors and permits removal of the offending fuel material by personnel shielded by the uncontaminated hydrocarbon layer.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Originating Research Org. not identified
- OSTI Identifier:
- 4261844
- Patent Number(s):
- 2873243
- Assignee:
- U.S. Atomic Energy Commission
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21C - NUCLEAR REACTORS
G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21F - PROTECTION AGAINST X-RADIATION, GAMMA RADIATION, CORPUSCULAR RADIATION OR PARTICLE BOMBARDMENT
- NSA Number:
- NSA-13-014042
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-59
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- REACTORS; BURNOUT; CONFIGURATION; CONTAMINATION; COOLANT LOOPS; FUEL ELEMENTS; HYDROCARBONS; LAYERS; PERSONNEL; RADIATION PROTECTION; RADIOACTIVITY; REACTOR FUELING; SHIELDING; VESSELS; WATER COOLANT
Citation Formats
Wigner, E P, Ohlinger, L A, Young, G J, and Weinberg, A M. MEANS FOR SHIELDING AND COOLING REACTORS. United States: N. p., 1959.
Web.
Wigner, E P, Ohlinger, L A, Young, G J, & Weinberg, A M. MEANS FOR SHIELDING AND COOLING REACTORS. United States.
Wigner, E P, Ohlinger, L A, Young, G J, and Weinberg, A M. Tue .
"MEANS FOR SHIELDING AND COOLING REACTORS". United States.
@article{osti_4261844,
title = {MEANS FOR SHIELDING AND COOLING REACTORS},
author = {Wigner, E P and Ohlinger, L A and Young, G J and Weinberg, A M},
abstractNote = {Reactors of the water-cooled type and a means for shielding such a rcactor to protect operating personnel from harmful radiation are discussed. In this reactor coolant tubes which contain the fissionable material extend vertically through a mass of moderator. Liquid coolant enters through the bottom of the coolant tubes and passes upwardly over the fissionable material. A shield tank is disposed over the top of the reactor and communicates through its bottom with the upper end of the coolant tubes. A hydrocarbon shielding fluid floats on the coolant within the shield tank. With this arrangements the upper face of the reactor can be opened to the atmosphere through the two superimposed liquid layers. A principal feature of the invention is that in the event radioactive fission products enter thc coolant stream. imposed layer of hydrocarbon reduces the intense radioactivity introduced into the layer over the reactors and permits removal of the offending fuel material by personnel shielded by the uncontaminated hydrocarbon layer.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1959},
month = {2}
}