Nuclear reactor insulation and preheat system

Patent · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1978

OSTI ID:863200

Wampole, Nevin C ^[1]

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1. Latrobe, PA

An insulation and preheat system for preselected components of a fluid cooled nuclear reactor. A gas tight barrier or compartment of thermal insulation surrounds the selected components and includes devices to heat the internal atmosphere of the compartment. An external surface of the compartment or enclosure is cooled, such as by a circulating fluid. The heating devices provide for preheating of the components, as well as maintenance of a temperature sufficient to ensure that the reactor coolant fluid will not solidify during shutdown. The external cooling limits the heat transferred to other plant structures, such as supporting concrete and steel. The barrier is spaced far enough from the surrounded components so as to allow access for remote or manual inspection, maintenance, and repair.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: E(45-1)-2171
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4118278
• OSTI ID: 863200
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

nuclear
reactor
insulation
preheat
preselected
components
fluid
cooled
gas
tight
barrier
compartment
thermal
surrounds
selected
devices
heat
internal
atmosphere
external
surface
enclosure
circulating
heating
provide
preheating
maintenance
temperature
sufficient
ensure
coolant
solidify
shutdown
cooling
limits
transferred
plant
structures
supporting
concrete
steel
spaced
surrounded
allow
access
remote
manual
inspection
repair
circulating fluid
heating device
external surface
thermal insulation
reactor coolant
nuclear reactor
heat transfer
temperature sufficient
cooled nuclear
coolant fluid
allow access
selected components
gas tight
fluid cooled
selected component
tight barrier
/376/976/