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:
Aug. 21, 1990
Filed:
May. 11, 1989
Perng-Fei Gou, Saratoga, CA (US);
Harold E Townsend, Campbell, CA (US);
General Electric Company, San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
A suppresion chamber in a nuclear reactor containment includes a heat exchanger disposed in a gas space above water in the suppression chamber. A gravity-driven pool contains a supply of make-up water that is gravity fed to the heat exchanger through a conventional level-maintaining valve such as a float valve. A top header in the heat exchanger includes a free surface area for permitting separation of steam from water, thereby permitting venting of vapor only, while retaining the liquid coolant in the heat exchanger. A downcomer tube permits return of excess water to a lower location for further use in the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is normally sealed, whereby internal surfaces in the heat exchanger require only a small amount of low-volatility corrosion inhibitors to prevent corrosion on internal surfaces thereof. Locating the heat exchanger in the gas space in the suppression chamber reduces the amount of corrosion on its external surfaces. Condensate drips from the heat exchanger into the water below to disturb the water and thus enhance mixing and promote heat removal.