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Title: Nuclear reactor having a polyhedral primary shield and removable vessel insulation

Abstract

A nuclear reactor is provided having a generally cylindrical reactor vessel disposed within an opening in a primary shield. The opening in the primary shield is defined by a plurality of generally planar side walls forming a generally polyhedral-shaped opening. The reactor vessel is supported within the opening in the primary shield by reactor vessel supports which are in communication and aligned with central portions of some of the side walls. The reactor vessel is connected to the central portions of the reactor vessel supports. A thermal insulation polyhedron formed from a plurality of slidably insertable and removable generally planar insulation panels substantially surrounds at least a portion of the reactor vessel and is disposed between the reactor vessel and the side walls of the primary shield. The shape of the insulation polyhedron generally corresponds to the shape of the opening in the primary shield. Reactor monitoring instrumentation may be mounted in the corners of the opening in the primary shield between the side walls and the reactor vessel such that insulation is not disposed between the instrumentation and the reactor vessel.

Inventors:
 [1];  [2]
  1. Delmont, PA
  2. Pittsburgh, PA
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
869060
Patent Number(s):
5268944
Assignee:
Westinghouse Electric Corp. (Pittsburgh, PA)
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:  
AC03-90SF18495
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
nuclear; reactor; polyhedral; primary; shield; removable; vessel; insulation; provided; cylindrical; disposed; defined; plurality; planar; walls; forming; polyhedral-shaped; supported; supports; communication; aligned; central; portions; connected; thermal; polyhedron; formed; slidably; insertable; panels; substantially; surrounds; portion; shape; corresponds; monitoring; instrumentation; mounted; corners; central portions; primary shield; walls forming; thermal insulation; reactor vessel; nuclear reactor; central portion; insulation panel; vessel disposed; vessel support; reactor monitoring; cylindrical reactor; reactor monitor; walls form; /376/

Citation Formats

Ekeroth, Douglas E, and Orr, Richard. Nuclear reactor having a polyhedral primary shield and removable vessel insulation. United States: N. p., 1993. Web.
Ekeroth, Douglas E, & Orr, Richard. Nuclear reactor having a polyhedral primary shield and removable vessel insulation. United States.
Ekeroth, Douglas E, and Orr, Richard. Fri . "Nuclear reactor having a polyhedral primary shield and removable vessel insulation". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/869060.
@article{osti_869060,
title = {Nuclear reactor having a polyhedral primary shield and removable vessel insulation},
author = {Ekeroth, Douglas E and Orr, Richard},
abstractNote = {A nuclear reactor is provided having a generally cylindrical reactor vessel disposed within an opening in a primary shield. The opening in the primary shield is defined by a plurality of generally planar side walls forming a generally polyhedral-shaped opening. The reactor vessel is supported within the opening in the primary shield by reactor vessel supports which are in communication and aligned with central portions of some of the side walls. The reactor vessel is connected to the central portions of the reactor vessel supports. A thermal insulation polyhedron formed from a plurality of slidably insertable and removable generally planar insulation panels substantially surrounds at least a portion of the reactor vessel and is disposed between the reactor vessel and the side walls of the primary shield. The shape of the insulation polyhedron generally corresponds to the shape of the opening in the primary shield. Reactor monitoring instrumentation may be mounted in the corners of the opening in the primary shield between the side walls and the reactor vessel such that insulation is not disposed between the instrumentation and the reactor vessel.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1993},
month = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1993}
}