Abstract: A heat removal system for the under reactor pressure vessel area of a boiling water nuclear reactor system that provides both protection of the containment boundary from attack by molten core debris and cools the molten core debris to prevent a breach of the containment boundary in the unlikely event of a severe accident where the molten core penetrates the lower head of the reactor vessel is described. The heat removal system includes a glass matrix slab positioned adjacent the floor of the containment and a plurality of heat tubes at least partially embedded in the glass matrix slab and extending into the area under the nuclear reactor pressure vessel. The cooling system also includes a passive containment cooling system, and fused vent pipes connecting the suppression pool with the drywell.

Abstract: A joint for interfacing a steel head closure and a steel-lined prestressed concrete reactor vessel (PCRV). The steel head closure is bolted to a thick steel annular plate and a thermal barrier is arranged in a volume bounded by the head ring, the liner and the concrete of the PCRV wall. The thermal barrier is made of zirconia sand or other material having a low thermal conductivity, a high bulk modulus equal to that of concrete, and a low shear modulus. Differential thermal expansion of the vessel head closure and PCRV is accommodated by a flexible connection of the PCRV liner to the inner periphery of the head ring. In the alternative, the steel head closure is interfaced to the top of the PCRV via a sliding joint or a thermal stress relief ring. In accordance with a further alternative, thermal stresses in the steel vessel head closure are mitigated by reducing the temperature of the head closure by installing thermal insulation on all internal surfaces thereof.

Abstract: A nuclear reactor including a heat pipe for transferring heat from the reactor pressure vessel to a steam supply vessel is described. More particularly, in one embodiment, the heat pipe includes an evaporator section positioned in the reactor vessel, a condenser section positioned in the steam supply vessel, and an adiabatic section extending between and in flow communication with the evaporator section and the condenser section. The adiabatic section of the heat pipe includes a substantially cylindrical outer sleeve and a substantially cylindrical inner sleeve. An annulus region is formed between the inner and outer sleeves and the annulus region is in flow communication with the steam supply vessel. An insulating layer covers an inner wall of the outer sleeve. A substantially annular wick member is positioned adjacent an inner wall of the inner sleeve, and a steam path is defined by an inner face of the wick member.