Pressure suppression containment system

Patent · Tue Mar 15 00:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:869195

Gluntz, Douglas M ^[1]; Townsend, Harold E ^[1]

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1. San Jose, CA

A pressure suppression containment system includes a containment vessel surrounding a reactor pressure vessel and defining a drywell therein containing a non-condensable gas. An enclosed wetwell pool is disposed inside the containment vessel, and a gravity driven cooling system (GDCS) pool is disposed above the wetwell pool in the containment vessel. The wetwell pool includes a plenum for receiving the non-condensable gas carried with steam from the drywell following a loss-of coolant-accident (LOCA). The wetwell plenum is vented to a plenum above the GDCS pool following the LOCA for suppressing pressure rise within the containment vessel. A method of operation includes channeling steam released into the drywell following the LOCA into the wetwell pool for cooling along with the non-condensable gas carried therewith. The GDCS pool is then drained by gravity, and the wetwell plenum is vented into the GDCS plenum for channeling the non-condensable gas thereto.

• Research Organization: General Electric Company (San Jose, CA)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-90SF18494
• Assignee: General Electric Company (San Jose, CA)
• Patent Number(s): US 5295168
• OSTI ID: 869195
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

pressure
suppression
containment
vessel
surrounding
reactor
defining
drywell
therein
containing
non-condensable
gas
enclosed
wetwell
pool
disposed
inside
gravity
driven
cooling
gdcs
plenum
receiving
carried
steam
following
loss-of
coolant-accident
loca
vented
suppressing
rise
method
operation
channeling
released
therewith
drained
thereto
gdcs pool
pressure suppression
wetwell pool
reactor pressure
containment vessel
pressure vessel
disposed inside
non-condensable gas
therein containing
suppression containment
steam released
vessel surrounding
gravity driven
carried therewith
enclosed wetwell
driven cooling
drywell therein
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