Commissariat a L'energie Atomique

Imre Szabo

Jean Geffroy

Yves Bergamaschi

Jean-Marie Seiler

Francois Balard

Gian L Fiorini

In order to ensure the recovery and confinement of the core of a nuclear reactor, such as a pressurized water reactor, in the case of a serious accident leading to its melting or meltdown, it is proposed that below the reactor vessel (16) be placed a receptacle (20) able to evacuate the water accumulated below the vessel (16) in the initial phase of the accident and then collect the molten core debris. The water automatically flows through overflow and siphon devices (46, 50) into a cooling space (40) located below the receptacle. If the meltdown of the core (18) has been detected, the water contained in tanks (56) flows by gravity into the space (40), so as to entirely immerse the containers (26) placed in said space. The molten core traversing the bottom of the vessel (16) flows into the receptacle (20) and then into containers (26) via meltable plugs (32) and a natural convection flow is established between the tanks (56) and the space (40) in order to ensure cooling. Fall absorbers or dampers (76) are placed in the receptacle (20) for the case where the bottom of the vessel (16) drops in a single block.

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Imre Szabo