Nuclear reactor sealing system
Abstract
A liquid metal-cooled nuclear reactor sealing system. The nuclear reactor includes a vessel sealed at its upper end by a closure head. The closure head comprises at least two components, one of which is rotatable; and the two components define an annulus therebetween. The sealing system includes at least a first and second inflatable seal disposed in series in an upper portion of the annulus. The system further includes a dip seal extending into a body of insulation located adjacent a bottom portion of the closure head. The dip seal comprises a trough formed by a lower portion of one of the components, and a seal blade pendently supported from the other component and extending downwardly into the trough. A body of liquid metal is contained in the trough which submerges a portion of the seal blade. The seal blade is provided with at least one aperture located above the body of liquid metal for providing fluid communication between the annulus intermediate the dip seal and the inflatable seals, and a body of cover gas located inside the vessel. There also is provided means for introducing a purge gas into the annulus intermediate the inflatable seals and the seal blade.more »
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Rockwell International Corporation, El Sequndo, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 864686
- Patent Number(s):
- 4401619
- Application Number:
- 06/219,560
- Assignee:
- Rockwell International Corporation (El Sequndo, CA)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F16 - ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS F16J - PISTONS {
G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21C - NUCLEAR REACTORS
- DOE Contract Number:
- AT03-76SF76026
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 1980 Dec 23
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- nuclear; reactor; sealing; liquid; metal-cooled; vessel; sealed; upper; closure; head; comprises; components; rotatable; define; annulus; therebetween; inflatable; seal; disposed; series; portion; dip; extending; insulation; located; adjacent; bottom; trough; formed; blade; pendently; supported; component; downwardly; metal; contained; submerges; provided; aperture; providing; fluid; communication; intermediate; seals; cover; gas; inside; means; introducing; purge; introduced; amount; sufficient; substantially; reduce; diffusion; radioactive; sodium; vapor; mixes; withdrawn; treatment; recycle; liquid metal-cooled; bottom portion; purge gas; located inside; reactor vessel; nuclear reactor; liquid metal; upper portion; fluid communication; amount sufficient; located adjacent; cooled nuclear; cover gas; substantially reduce; closure head; dip seal; components define; sodium vapor; seal comprises; metal-cooled nuclear; providing fluid; reactor sealing; extending downwardly; inflatable seal; gas mixes; pendently supported; /376/137/220/976/
Citation Formats
McEdwards, James A. Nuclear reactor sealing system. United States: N. p., 1983.
Web.
McEdwards, James A. Nuclear reactor sealing system. United States.
McEdwards, James A. Sat .
"Nuclear reactor sealing system". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/864686.
@article{osti_864686,
title = {Nuclear reactor sealing system},
author = {McEdwards, James A.},
abstractNote = {A liquid metal-cooled nuclear reactor sealing system. The nuclear reactor includes a vessel sealed at its upper end by a closure head. The closure head comprises at least two components, one of which is rotatable; and the two components define an annulus therebetween. The sealing system includes at least a first and second inflatable seal disposed in series in an upper portion of the annulus. The system further includes a dip seal extending into a body of insulation located adjacent a bottom portion of the closure head. The dip seal comprises a trough formed by a lower portion of one of the components, and a seal blade pendently supported from the other component and extending downwardly into the trough. A body of liquid metal is contained in the trough which submerges a portion of the seal blade. The seal blade is provided with at least one aperture located above the body of liquid metal for providing fluid communication between the annulus intermediate the dip seal and the inflatable seals, and a body of cover gas located inside the vessel. There also is provided means for introducing a purge gas into the annulus intermediate the inflatable seals and the seal blade. The purge gas is introduced in an amount sufficient to substantially reduce diffusion of radioactive cover gas or sodium vapor up to the inflatable seals. The purge gas mixes with the cover gas in the reactor vessel where it can be withdrawn from the vessel for treatment and recycle to the vessel.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1983},
month = {Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1983}
}