Ge-hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC

Gerald Alan Deaver

Randy Morris Brown

David L Major

Robin D Sprague

Kenneth Allan Morgan

Joel Patrick Melito

Jesus G Diaz-Quiroz

David Allan Rickard

David Johnathan Keck

Lorne Eugene Nix

Mitra Hosseini

Adrian M Mistreanu

John L Gels

Michael R Breach

Zhe Zhang

David Lee Major

Control rod drives include linearly-moveable control elements inside an isolation barrier. Control rod drives move the control element through secured magnetic elements subject to magnetic fields. Induction coils may generate magnetic fields and be moveable across a full stroke length of the control element in the reactor. A motor may spin a linear screw to move the induction coils on a vertical travel nut. A control rod assembly may house the magnetic elements and directly, removably join to the control element. The control rod assembly may lock with magnetic overtravel latches inside the isolation barrier to maintain an overtravel position. Overtravel release coils outside the isolation barrier may release the latches to leave the overtravel position. Operation includes moving the induction coils with a linear screw to drive the control element to desired insertion points, including full insertion by gravity following de-energization. No direct connection may penetrate the isolation barrier.

Methods of moving an induction coil to move a control element in a nuclear reactor

A reactor pressure vessel includes a reactor pressure vessel body, a nozzle structure connected to the reactor pressure vessel body, a conduit structure connected to the nozzle structure, and a restraint device attached around a portion of the conduit structure. The restraint device includes collar parts that have cross sections corresponding to respective segments of a periphery of the portion of the conduit structure, brackets attached to the nozzle structure, and rods connecting the brackets to the collar parts. The collar parts are connected end-to-end to each other such that a cross section of the collar parts connected to each other corresponds to the periphery of the portion of the conduit structure. The collar parts are pinned to each other. The brackets spaced apart from each other around a periphery of the nozzle structure.

Reactor pressure vessel including pipe restraint device, and/or pipe restraint device

Control rod drives include linearly-moveable control elements inside an isolation barrier. Control rod drives move the control element through a motor and rotor powering a linear screw internal to an isolation barrier. Induction coils may generate magnetic fields and be moveable across a full stroke length of the control element in the reactor. The magnetic fields hold closed a releasable latch to disconnect the control elements from the linear drives. A control rod assembly may join to the control element. The control rod assembly may lock with magnetic overtravel latches inside the isolation barrier to maintain an overtravel position. Overtravel release coils outside the isolation barrier may release the latches to leave the overtravel position. Operation includes moving the magnetic fields and releasable latch together on opposite sides of an isolation barrier to drive the control element to desired insertion points, including full insertion by gravity following de-energization.

Magnetically-actuated isolated rod couplings for use in a nuclear reactor control rod drive

Modular flow control systems include several differently-shaped structures to achieve desired flow characteristics in fluid flow. Systems include one or many plates held in desired positions by a retainer within the flow. The plates are uniquely shaped based on their position, or vice versa, to shape flow in a desired manner. The plates may fill an entire flow area or may extend partially throughout the area. Plates can take on any shape and are useable in systems installed in any type of flow conduit. When used in a PCCS upper manifold in a nuclear reactor, a chevron plate directly below the inlet divides flow along the entire upper manifold. Perforated plates allow flow to pass at ends of the PCCS upper manifold. The plates can be installed along a grooved edge during an access period and held in static position by filling the length of the PCCS upper manifold.

Modular fluid flow distribution system in which differently shaped plates can be rearranged to different positions

A flow restrictor nozzle for a pressurized vessel of a nuclear reactor may comprise a nozzle body including an inlet face and an outlet face. The nozzle body may define a plurality of internal flow paths extending from the inlet face to the outlet face. Each of the plurality of internal flow paths may include a convergent section, a throat section, and a divergent section.

Multiple-path flow restrictor nozzle

Moveable isolated rod couplings for use in a nuclear reactor control rod drive

Chimneys include several combinable parts useable in nuclear reactors. The parts are modular and removably joinable without destruction for use in directing flow in an operating nuclear reactor and directly fit in storage area during non-operation. Chimney parts are joinable through flanges and connecting structures. Chimney parts may include partitions that divide or direct energetic coolant flow from a nuclear core as well as steam separating and drying structures. The parts each individually fit within storage areas of the nuclear plant, including equipment or buffer pools in the refueling floor of the plant. Methods move the chimney parts between the reactor and storage areas, and multiple parts may be stacked or nested in such moves. Methods are useable underwater and with storage pools to prevent exposure of chimney parts during an outage. During operation, chimneys are useable in place of existing single-piece chimneys.

Methods of storing nuclear reactor internals

Reactor pressure vessel including pipe restraint device, and/or a pipe restraint device

A reactor pressure vessel assembly may include a housing surrounding a reactor core, steam separators, and a chimney. Inner surfaces of the chimney and reactor core define a conduit for transporting a two phase flow stream from the reactor core through the chimney to the steam separators. The housing defines an opening. An inner surface of the housing and outer surfaces of the chimney and reactor core define an annulus in fluid communication with the opening and conduit. A feedwater sparger in the housing is connected to the at least one opening and configured to deliver a sub-cooled feedwater into the annulus. A flow barrier structure between the chimney and the steam separators may force mixing between the sub-cooled feedwater and a downcomer fluid from the steam separators. An outer steam separator may be vertically over a portion of the flow barrier structure in a plan view.

Reactor pressure vessel assembly including a flow barrier structure

Chimneys include several combinable parts usable in nuclear reactors. The parts are modular and removably joinable without destruction for use in directing flow in an operating nuclear reactor and directly fit in storage area during non-operation. Chimney parts are joinable through flanges and connecting structures. Chimney parts may include partitions that divide or direct energetic coolant flow from a nuclear core as well as steam separating and drying structures. The parts each individually fit within storage areas of the nuclear plant, including equipment or buffer pools in the refueling floor of the plant. Methods move the chimney parts between the reactor and storage areas, and multiple parts may be stacked or nested in such moves. Methods are usable underwater and with storage pools to prevent exposure of chimney parts during an outage. During operation, chimneys are usable in place of existing single-piece chimneys.

Chimneys having joinable upper and lower sections where the lower section has internal partitions

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.

Growing community of inventors

Wilmington, NC, United States of America

Gerald Alan Deaver