Abstract:
Nuclear reactors have very few systems for significantly reduced failure possibilities. Nuclear reactors may be boiling water reactors with natural circulation-enabling heights and smaller, flexible energy outputs in the 0-350 megawatt-electric range. Reactors are fully surrounded by an impermeable, high-pressure containment. No coolant pools, heat sinks, active pumps, or other emergency fluid sources may be present inside containment; emergency cooling, like isolation condenser systems, are outside containment. Isolation valves integral with the reactor pressure vessel provide working and emergency fluid through containment to the reactor. Isolation valves are one-piece, welded, or otherwise integral with reactors and fluid conduits having ASME-compliance to eliminate risk of shear failure. Containment may be completely underground and seismically insulated to minimize footprint and above-ground target area.
Abstract:
A liquid-metal-cooled fast-breeder reactor which has a thermal liner spaced inwardly of the pressure vessel and includes means for passing bypass coolant through the annulus between the thermal liner and the pressure vessel to insulate the pressure vessel from hot outlet coolant includes control ports in the thermal liner a short distance below the normal operating coolant level in the reactor and an overflow nozzle in the pressure vessel below the control ports connected to an overflow line including a portion at an elevation such that overflow coolant flow is established when the coolant level in the reactor is above the top of the coolant ports. When no makeup coolant is added, bypass flow is inwardly through the control ports and there is no overflow; when makeup coolant is being added, coolant flow through the overflow line will maintain the coolant level.
Abstract:
ZONTAL GRID STRUCTURE. THE TUBES ARE SECURED IN THE GRID STRUCTURE AND MATE THEREWITH AT THEIR UPPER ENDS.
A NUCLEAR POWDER FAST REACTOR SYSTEM IS DESCRIBED WHICH UTILIZES GAS AS A COOLANT. THE REACTOR SYSTEM INCLUDES A PRESTRESSED CONCRETE CONTAINMENT VESSEL WHICH CONTAINS THE ENTIRE PRIMARY SYSTEM OF THE REACTOR, COMPRISING THE CORE, CONTROL ROD DRIVE MECHANISMS, COOLANT CIRCULATORS, STEAM GENERATORS AND ASSOCIATED MAIN COOLANT DUCTING. THE INTERIOR OF THE VESSEL IS SEPARATED INTO TWO REGIONS, THE LOWER ONE CONTAINING THE CORE AND HAVING PROVISION FOR EXPLOSION ABSORPTION AND WATER FLOODING. THE CORE IS COMPRISED OF FUEL ELEMENTS SUPPORTED IN A PLURALITY OF ELONGRATED TUBES WHICH DEPEND FREELY FROM A GENERALLY HORI-
Abstract:
A steam generator, used in a helical coil type steam generator for a sodium-cooled fast reactor which has heat transfer tubes of a double-wall tube structure, with high heat transfer efficiency and a heat transfer tube damage detection unit that can detect on-line in real-time whether the heat transfer tube is damaged or not. The heat transfer tube of a steam generator for a sodium-cooled fast reactor, includes an inner tube formed with a first material; an outer tube formed with a second material that is in close contact with the inner tube and which has a thermal expansion coefficient less than that of the first material; and a plurality of helium flow grooves formed between the inner tube and the outer tube along a lengthwise direction of the heat transfer tube for flowing helium gas. The inner tube and the outer tube are identically due to heat for the temperature difference generated during normal operation of the steam generator, so the degree of close contact between the inner tube and the outer tube does not decrease, and the decrease of heat transfer efficiency can be prevented.
Abstract:
A plurality of volume displacing modules removably positioned in the peripheral space between a liquid metal cooled reactor vessel and the walls of the containment structure forming a vessel cavity in which the vessel is disposed to insure that the level of coolant in the reactor vessel remains above a predetermined elevation in the event of coolant leakage into the vessel cavity. The reactor vessel is provided with an excess volume of liquid metal coolant. The total volume of the modules positioned in the peripheral space below the predetermined elevation is such that the coolant containing volume in the peripheral space with the modules in place is less than the volume of excess liquid metal coolant in the reactor.
Abstract:
Nuclear reactors have very few systems for significantly reduced failure possibilities. Nuclear reactors may be boiling water reactors with natural circulation-enabling heights and smaller, flexible energy outputs in the 0-350 megawatt-electric range. Reactors are fully surrounded by an impermeable, high-pressure containment. No coolant pools, heat sinks, active pumps, or other emergency fluid sources may be present inside containment; emergency cooling, like isolation condenser systems, are outside containment. Isolation valves integral with the reactor pressure vessel provide working and emergency fluid through containment to the reactor. Isolation valves are one-piece, welded, or otherwise integral with reactors and fluid conduits having ASME-compliance to eliminate risk of shear failure. Containment may be completely underground and seismically insulated to minimize footprint and above-ground target area.