Method and apparatus for enhancing reactor air-cooling system performance

Patent · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1996

OSTI ID:870339

Hunsbedt, Anstein ^[1]

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1. Los Gatos, CA

An enhanced decay heat removal system for removing heat from the inert gas-filled gap space between the reactor vessel and the containment vessel of a liquid metal-cooled nuclear reactor. Multiple cooling ducts in flow communication with the inert gas-filled gap space are incorporated to provide multiple flow paths for the inert gas to circulate to heat exchangers which remove heat from the inert gas, thereby introducing natural convection flows in the inert gas. The inert gas in turn absorbs heat directly from the reactor vessel by natural convection heat transfer.

• Research Organization: General Electric Co., Boston, MA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-89SF17445
• Assignee: General Electric Company (San Jose, CA)
• Patent Number(s): US 5499277
• OSTI ID: 870339
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

method
apparatus
enhancing
reactor
air-cooling
performance
enhanced
decay
heat
removal
removing
inert
gas-filled
gap
space
vessel
containment
liquid
metal-cooled
nuclear
multiple
cooling
ducts
flow
communication
incorporated
provide
paths
gas
circulate
exchangers
remove
introducing
natural
convection
flows
absorbs
directly
transfer
liquid metal-cooled
absorbs heat
natural convection
remove heat
decay heat
flow paths
containment vessel
reactor vessel
heat exchange
nuclear reactor
heat exchanger
liquid metal
heat transfer
inert gas
flow path
heat exchangers
flow communication
heat removal
cooled nuclear
removing heat
multiple cooling
provide multiple
metal-cooled nuclear
convection heat
gas-filled gap
cooling duct
multiple flow
reactor air
convection flow
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