The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 05, 2022
Filed:
Jan. 31, 2021
Ge-hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas Llc, Wilmington, NC (US);
James P. Sineath, Summerville, SC (US);
Dean D. Molinaro, Clearwater, FL (US);
William C. Dawn, Stafford, VA (US);
Eric P. Loewen, Wilmington, NC (US);
GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC, Wilmington, NC (US);
Abstract
Damper systems selectively reduce coolant fluid flow in nuclear reactor passive cooling systems, including related RVACS. Systems include a damper that blocks the flow in a coolant conduit and is moveable to open, closed, and intermediate positions. The damper blocks the coolant flow when closed to prevent heat loss, vibration, and development of large temperature gradients, and the damper passively opens, to allow full coolant flow, at failure and in transient scenarios. The damper may be moveable by an attachment extending into the coolant channel that holds the damper in a closed position. When a transient occurs, the resulting loss of power and/or overheat causes the attachment to stop holding the damper, which may be driven by gravity, pressure, a spring, or other passive structure into the open position for full coolant flow. A power source and temperature-dependent switch may detect and stop holding the damper closed in such scenarios.