Heat barrier for use in a nuclear reactor facility

Patent · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:866766

Keegan, Charles P ^[1]

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1. South Huntingdon Twp., Westmoreland County, PA

A thermal barrier for use in a nuclear reactor facility is disclosed herein. Generally, the thermal barrier comprises a flexible, heat-resistant web mounted over the annular space between the reactor vessel and the guard vessel in order to prevent convection currents generated in the nitrogen atmosphere in this space from entering the relatively cooler atmosphere of the reactor cavity which surrounds these vessels. Preferably, the flexible web includes a blanket of heat-insulating material formed from fibers of a refractory material, such as alumina and silica, sandwiched between a heat-resistant, metallic cloth made from stainless steel wire. In use, the web is mounted between the upper edges of the guard vessel and the flange of a sealing ring which surrounds the reactor vessel with a sufficient enough slack to avoid being pulled taut as a result of thermal differential expansion between the two vessels. The flexible web replaces the rigid and relatively complicated structures employed in the prior art for insulating the reactor cavity from the convection currents generated between the reactor vessel and the guard vessel.

• Research Organization: Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC15-76CL02395
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4783310
• OSTI ID: 866766
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

heat
barrier
nuclear
reactor
facility
thermal
disclosed
comprises
flexible
heat-resistant
web
mounted
annular
space
vessel
guard
prevent
convection
currents
generated
nitrogen
atmosphere
entering
relatively
cooler
cavity
surrounds
vessels
preferably
blanket
heat-insulating
material
formed
fibers
refractory
alumina
silica
sandwiched
metallic
cloth
stainless
steel
wire
upper
edges
flange
sealing
sufficient
slack
avoid
pulled
taut
result
differential
expansion
replaces
rigid
complicated
structures
employed
prior
insulating
reactor cavity
refractory material
thermal barrier
insulating material
reactor vessel
nuclear reactor
stainless steel
annular space
guard vessel
differential expansion
nitrogen atmosphere
steel wire
upper edges
relatively cool
material formed
reactor facility
upper edge
barrier comprises
/376/250/976/