Ge-hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC

David Johnathan Keck

Gerald Alan Deaver

Eric Paul Loewen

Nicholas Francis O'Neill

John L Gels

Michael R Breach

A chimney of a nuclear reactor may include a hollow body with an interior surface and an opposing exterior surface; and a plurality of trip structures on the exterior surface of the hollow body. The chimney may be used in a method of improving a core inlet enthalpy of a nuclear reactor. The method may include interrupting a downward flow of water within a downcomer region of a reactor pressure vessel with a plurality of first trip structures. The downcomer region is an annular space defined by the reactor pressure vessel and a chimney within the reactor pressure vessel. The plurality of first trip structures are disposed on an exterior surface of the chimney.

Nuclear reactor chimney and method of improving core inlet enthalpy using the same

Internal head vents are usable in nuclear reactors and include piping inside of the reactor pressure vessel with a vent in the reactor upper head. Piping extends downward from the upper head and passes outside of the reactor to permit the gas to escape or be forcibly vented outside of the reactor without external piping on the upper head. The piping may include upper and lowers section that removably mate where the upper head joins to the reactor pressure vessel. The removable mating may include a compressible bellows and corresponding funnel. The piping is fabricated of nuclear-reactor-safe materials, including carbon steel, stainless steel, and/or a Ni&#x2014;Cr&#x2014;Fe alloy. Methods install an internal head vent in a nuclear reactor by securing piping to an internal surface of an upper head of the nuclear reactor and/or securing piping to an internal surface of a reactor pressure vessel.

Reactor pressure vessel head vents and methods of using the same

Provided is a sliding support and a system using the sliding support unit. The sliding support unit may include a fulcrum capture configured to attach to a support flange, a fulcrum support configured to attach to the fulcrum capture, and a baseplate block configured to support the fulcrum support. The system using the sliding support unit may include a pressure vessel, a pedestal bracket, and a plurality of sliding support units.

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Wilmington, NC, United States of America

David Johnathan Keck