Nuclear reactor with low-level core coolant intake

Patent · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1993

OSTI ID:868648

Challberg, Roy C ^[1]; Townsend, Harold E ^[2]

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1. Livermore, CA
2. Campbell, CA

A natural-circulation boiling-water reactor has skirts extending downward from control rod guide tubes to about 10 centimeters from the reactor vessel bottom. The skirts define annular channels about control rod drive housings that extend through the reactor vessel bottom. Recirculating water is forced in through the low-level entrances to these channels, sweeping bottom water into the channels in the process. The sweeping action prevents cooler water from accumulating at the bottom. This in turn minimizes thermal shock to bottom-dwelling components as would occur when accumulated cool water is swept away and suddenly replaced by warmer water.

• Research Organization: General Electric Co., Boston, MA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-90SF18494
• Assignee: General Electric Company (San Jose, CA)
• Patent Number(s): US 5183627
• OSTI ID: 868648
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

nuclear
reactor
low-level
core
coolant
intake
natural-circulation
boiling-water
skirts
extending
downward
control
rod
guide
tubes
10
centimeters
vessel
bottom
define
annular
channels
drive
housings
extend
recirculating
water
forced
entrances
sweeping
process
action
prevents
cooler
accumulating
minimizes
thermal
shock
bottom-dwelling
components
occur
accumulated
cool
swept
suddenly
replaced
warmer
circulating water
water reactor
thermal shock
rod drive
control rod
reactor vessel
nuclear reactor
guide tube
vessel bottom
minimizes thermal
boiling-water reactor
rod guide
core coolant
guide tubes
circulation boiling
action prevents
annular channel
annular channels
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