Westinghouse Electric Corporation

Richard S Orr

James E Gillett

Harry N Andrews

Terry L Schulz

Douglas E Ekeroth

F Thomas Johnson

Robert C Lamuro

A passive containment cooling system for a nuclear reactor containment vessel. Disclosed is a cooling water distribution system for introducing cooling water by gravity uniformly over the outer surface of a steel containment vessel using an interconnected series of radial guide elements, a plurality of circumferential collector elements and collector boxes to collect and feed the cooling water into distribution channels extending along the curved surface of the steel containment vessel. The cooling water is uniformly distributed over the curved surface by a plurality of weirs in the distribution channels.

Cooling water distribution system

A nuclear reactor is provided having a generally cylindrical reactor vessel disposed within an opening in a primary shield. The opening in the primary shield is defined by a plurality of generally planar side walls forming a generally polyhedral-shaped opening. The reactor vessel is supported within the opening in the primary shield by reactor vessel supports which are in communication and aligned with central portions of some of the side walls. The reactor vessel is connected to the central portions of the reactor vessel supports. A thermal insulation polyhedron formed from a plurality of slidably insertable and removable generally planar insulation panels substantially surrounds at least a portion of the reactor vessel and is disposed between the reactor vessel and the side walls of the primary shield. The shape of the insulation polyhedron generally corresponds to the shape of the opening in the primary shield. Reactor monitoring instrumentation may be mounted in the corners of the opening in the primary shield between the side walls and the reactor vessel such that insulation is not disposed between the instrumentation and the reactor vessel.

Nuclear reactor having a polyhedral primary shield and removable vessel

A water storage tank in the coolant water loop of a nuclear reactor contains a tubular heat exchanger. The heat exchanger has tubesheets mounted to the tank connections so that the tubesheets and tubes may be readily inspected and repaired. Preferably, the tubes extend from the tubesheets on a square pitch and then on a rectangular pitch therebetween. Also, the heat exchanger is supported by a frame so that the tank wall is not required to support all of its weight.

Heat exchanger and water tank arrangement for passive cooling system

A control room 10 for a nuclear plant is disclosed. In the control room, objects 12, 20, 22, 26, 30 are no less than four inches from walls 10.2. A ceiling 32 contains cooling fins 35 that extend downwards toward the floor from metal plates 34. A concrete slab 33 is poured over the plates. Studs 36 are welded to the plates and are encased in the concrete.

Nuclear reactor control room construction

The movable air baffle shield means in accordance with the present invention provides an efficient method of cooling the space surrounding the containment vessel while also providing the capability of being moved away from the containment vessel during inspection. The containment apparatus comprises a generally cylindrical sealed containment vessel for containing at least a portion of a nuclear power generation plant, a disparate shield building surrounding and housing the containment vessel therein and spaced outwardly thereof so as to form an air annulus in the space between the shield building and the containment vessel, a shield baffle means positioned in the air annulus around at least a portion of the sides of the containment vessel providing a coolant path between the baffle means and the containment vessel to permit cooling of the containment vessel by air, the shield baffle means being movable to afford access to the containment vessel.

Large panel design for containment air baffle

There is disclosed a method for rapid refueling of a nuclear reactor. The upper package including the head and upper internals and control rods of the reactor includes a missile shield and by engagement with the shield is moved to a refueling position in a single lifting operation exposing the core in the lower package. The fuel assemblies are then replaced. The removal of the control rods from the core with the upper package is compensated for by an increase in the concentration of neutron absorber, such as boron including B.sup.10, in the medium in which the core is immersed. Typically, the refueling can take place in a few days, at intervals of two to six months. During refueling a fraction of the assemblies are replaced. Because of the facility for rapid refueling and consequent lower time cycle for refueling, the fuel can be of low enrichment and the concentration of neutron absorber in the reactor coolant medium can be decreased. All replacement assemblies can be moved in a cart into the reactor containment in a single operation and replaced from the cart, or the assemblies can be moved one-by-one into the containment and replaced as they are presently.

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Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America

Richard S Orr