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:
Nov. 16, 1993
Filed:
Oct. 20, 1992
Imre Szabo, Venelles, FR;
Francois Balard, Manosque, FR;
Yves Bergamaschi, Aix-en-Provence, FR;
Gian L Fiorini, Villelaure, FR;
Jean Geffroy, Versailles, FR;
Jean-Marie Seiler, Seyssins, FR;
Abstract
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.