Electric Power Research Institute Incorporated

Westinghouse Electric Corporation

Christopher C Alexion

Richard D Nathenson

Robert M Slepian

Alvin R Keeton

Steven R Walk

Thomas D Hordubay

Wesley Mamrose

Wayne C Sumpman

A connector assembly for transferring high-frequency current into or from a Litz-wire electrical cable having multiple conductor strands includes a transition connector component, a terminal connector component, and a coupling collar. The transition component has an annular groove which receives the splayed ends of the multiple conductor strands and makes electrical connection therewith by soldering of the conductor strand ends to the transition component at the groove. The transition component also has a central opening through it for providing flow communication with the internal coolant flow channel of the electrical cable. The terminal connector component has an orifice through it for establishing flow communication between the transition component opening and an external source of coolant. The terminal component also has a tab projecting from it for making an external electrical connection. The transition and terminal components are electrically connected together by fasteners. The collar has a housing of frusto-conical configuration for fitting over end portions of the conductor strands of the cable which have the ends in the annular splayed configuration. An end portion of the housing can be clamped to the Litz-wire cable. The collar housing and transition component have complementary threaded portions for attaching them together.

Connector assembly for internally-cooled Litz-wire cable

A liquid metal pump assembly is disclosed as being adapted to be disposed as one of a plurality of like pump assemblies in a continuous, closed array about a core of a nuclear reactor system. Each pump assembly comprises a pipe for receiving and directing a pumped, intermediate liquid metal through the pump assembly, and first and second duct modules disposed on either side of the pipe. Each duct module comprises primary ducts for receiving and directing a primary liquid metal in a first direction, and intermediate ducts in communication with the pipe for directing a first flow of the intermediate liquid metal therethrough in a second direction opposite to the first direction. A mechanism illustratively in the form of a pair of field coils, generates and directs a main magnetic field to each of the primary and intermediate ducts of the first and second duct modules, whereby the interaction of the main magnetic field and the first flow of the intermediate liquid metal generates a first current flow through the intermediate ducts and the primary ducts, and pumps the primary liquid metal through the pump ducts. Further, at least one magnetic element is disposed adjacent one of the first and second duct modules for directing the main magnetic field from the one duct module to an adjacent liquid metal pump assembly, whereby the main magnetic field as generated by each of the plurality of liquid metal pumps is directed in the continuous array.

Flow coupler assembly for double-pool-type reactor

A heat exchanger and electromagnetic pump assembly is disclosed as comprising a heat exchanger including a housing for defining an annularly shaped cavity and supporting therein a plurality of tubes. An electromagnetic pump is disposed beneath the heat exchanger and is comprised of a plurality of flow couplers disposed in a circular array. Each flow coupler is comprised of a pump duct for receiving primary liquid metal, and a generator duct for receiving an intermediate liquid metal. A downcomer tube is disposed centrally of the assembly and passes through the annularly shaped cavity and the array of flow couplers to discharge the intermediate fluid into a first plenum chamber. The first plenum chamber is disposed in communication with the generator ducts of all of the flow couplers, thus permitting the intermediate liquid metal to flow upward therethrough. The generator ducts exit their flows of the intermediate liquid metal in common to a second plenum chamber, which is disposed in communication with the annularly shaped cavity to permit the flow of the intermediate liquid metal therethrough, whereby the intermediate liquid metal is heated by the flow of the primary liquid metal through the tubes. A third plenum chamber receives collectively the flows of the primary liquid metals from the tube and for directing the primary liquid metal to the pump ducts of the flow couplers, whereby a force is exerted on the primary liquid metal, pumping it through the pump ducts.

Pump/intermediate heat exchanger assembly for a liquid metal reactor

A flow characteristic regulating electromagnetic flow coupler is disclosed as comprising a pump duct and a generator duct for connection in separate flow circuits containing electrically conductive fluid. Circuit means electrically connect the separate fluid in each of the pump and generator ducts for conducting electric current through the fluid in each of the pump and generator ducts transversely of the fluid flow therethrough. Means are provided for applying respectively first and second magnetic fields through the fluids of the generator and pump ducts transversely of the current and fluid flow therethrough, whereby the fluid driven through the generator duct forces the fluid to flow through the pump duct. Means are provided for setting the magnetic flux density of the first and second magnetic fields in the generator and pump ducts at different levels B1 and B2 respectively, whereby the flow characteristic of the forced fluid in the pump duct is greater than that flow characteristic of the drive fluid in the generator duct.

Growing community of inventors

N. Huntingdon, PA, United States of America

Christopher C Alexion