Passive heat transfer means for nuclear reactors

Patent · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:865215

Burelbach, James P ^[1]

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1. Glen Ellyn, IL

An improved passive cooling arrangement is disclosed for maintaining adjacent or related components of a nuclear reactor within specified temperature differences. Specifically, heat pipes are operatively interposed between the components, with the vaporizing section of the heat pipe proximate the hot component operable to cool it and the primary condensing section of the heat pipe proximate the other and cooler component operable to heat it. Each heat pipe further has a secondary condensing section that is located outwardly beyond the reactor confinement and in a secondary heat sink, such as air ambient the containment, that is cooler than the other reactor component. Means such as shrouding normally isolated the secondary condensing section from effective heat transfer with the heat sink, but a sensor responds to overheat conditions of the reactor to open the shrouding, which thereby increases the cooling capacity of the heat pipe. By having many such heat pipes, an emergency passive cooling system is defined that is operative without electrical power.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4478784
• OSTI ID: 865215
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

passive
heat
transfer
means
nuclear
reactors
improved
cooling
arrangement
disclosed
maintaining
adjacent
related
components
reactor
specified
temperature
differences
specifically
pipes
operatively
interposed
vaporizing
section
pipe
proximate
hot
component
operable
cool
primary
condensing
cooler
secondary
located
outwardly
confinement
sink
air
ambient
containment
shrouding
normally
isolated
effective
sensor
responds
overheat
conditions
increases
capacity
emergency
defined
operative
electrical
power
passive heat
cooling capacity
temperature difference
nuclear reactors
passive cooling
heat sink
heat pipe
electrical power
nuclear reactor
heat transfer
heat pipes
temperature differences
specified temperature
reactor component
effective heat
transfer means
cooling arrangement
/376/165/976/