Thermal insulating barrier and neutron shield providing integrated protection for a nuclear reactor vessel
Abstract
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. 8 figs.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 563698
- Patent Number(s):
- 5699394
- Application Number:
- PAN: 8-502,236; TRN: 98:002116
- Assignee:
- Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC03-90SF18495
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 16 Dec 1997
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 22 NUCLEAR REACTOR TECHNOLOGY; THERMAL SHIELDS; BIOLOGICAL SHIELDS; REACTORS; REACTOR ACCIDENTS; ENGINEERED SAFETY SYSTEMS; DESIGN; PRESSURE RELEASE; MODULAR STRUCTURES; RADIATION STREAMING
Citation Formats
Schreiber, R B, Fero, A H, and Sejvar, J. Thermal insulating barrier and neutron shield providing integrated protection for a nuclear reactor vessel. United States: N. p., 1997.
Web.
Schreiber, R B, Fero, A H, & Sejvar, J. Thermal insulating barrier and neutron shield providing integrated protection for a nuclear reactor vessel. United States.
Schreiber, R B, Fero, A H, and Sejvar, J. Tue .
"Thermal insulating barrier and neutron shield providing integrated protection for a nuclear reactor vessel". United States.
@article{osti_563698,
title = {Thermal insulating barrier and neutron shield providing integrated protection for a nuclear reactor vessel},
author = {Schreiber, R B and Fero, A H and Sejvar, J},
abstractNote = {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. 8 figs.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Dec 16 00:00:00 EST 1997},
month = {Tue Dec 16 00:00:00 EST 1997}
}