Societe Technique Pour L'energie Atomique

Charles Dumanois

Michel Brun

Lionel Ranc

Jean-Luc Rouiller

A nuclear reactor () includes a vessel () containing a primary liquid, a core () comprising nuclear fuel and arranged in the internal volume of the vessel (), at least one primary pump generating a main primary flow () of primary liquid in the vessel (), at least one control member () for controlling the reactivity of the core (), at least one movement mechanism () for moving the control member (), arranged in the internal volume of the vessel () and linked to the control member (), and a pressurizer () situated in a top portion of the vessel (). The movement mechanism () comprises an electrical actuator and a transmission mechanism. The electrical actuator is completely immersed in the primary fluid and situated outside the main primary flow ().

Integrated nuclear reactor architecture limiting the stress applied to the integrated mechanisms

A nuclear reactor includes a plurality of mechanisms () that drive the contact members () that control the reactivity, of the core. Each mechanism includes a driving member () including a driving part () forming one out of a screw or a nut, a member () for applying a rotary torque of the rotor () to the driving member (), a driven member () translationally connected to one of the control members () and including the other out of screw and a nut; and a member () that is selectively mobile between a position of blocking the driving member () and a position of releasing the driving member (). In each drive mechanism (), the motor () is fully immersed in the primary coolant inside the vessel (); the rotor () has a central passage (), the member for applying the rotary torque () being situated in or near the central passage (); the driving member () includes a connecting part () engaged in the central passage () and collaborating with the member for applying the rotary torque (), the connecting part () being free to effect a translational movement inside the central passage () with respect to the rotor () when the or each blocking member () is in the releasing position.

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Rians, France

Charles Dumanois