Emergency Core Coolant Systems (e.g., Injecting Coolant Into Reactor Or Pipe Systems) Patents (Class 376/282)
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Publication number: 20130114779Abstract: An apparatus for charging an emergency battery, which provides an emergency power to an emergency core cooling apparatus including an electric pump or a steam pump includes a thermoelectric generation device configured to detect a decay heat and a residual heat produced in a nuclear power plant and configured to convert the detected heat to an electric energy; an electric energy conversion unit connected to the thermoelectric generation device to output a current generated in the thermoelectric generation device as a constant voltage; and the emergency battery configured to store a power outputted from the electric energy conversion unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2012Publication date: May 9, 2013Applicant: KEPCO NUCLEAR FUEL CO., LTD.Inventors: Sang Jong LEE, Seoung Eun CHUN, Geol Woo LEE, Byeong Tae YU, Joon Sung KIM, Tae Young YOON, Sung Min CHOI, Hye Jin KIM, Sang Jung PARK, Hyoung Gun SHIM
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Patent number: 8437446Abstract: A nuclear reactor module includes a reactor vessel and a reactor housing mounted inside the reactor vessel, wherein the reactor housing comprises a shroud and a riser located above the shroud. The nuclear reactor module further includes a heat exchanger proximately located about the riser, and a reactor core located in the shroud. A steam generator by-pass system is configured to provide an auxiliary flow path of primary coolant to the reactor core to augment a primary flow path of the primary coolant out of the riser and into the shroud, wherein the auxiliary flow path of primary coolant exits the reactor housing without passing by the heat exchanger.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2008Date of Patent: May 7, 2013Assignee: NuScale Power, LLCInventors: Eric Paul Young, John T. Groome, Jose N. Reyes, Jr.
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Publication number: 20130070887Abstract: Disclosed are a nuclear reactor adapted for mitigating a loss-of-coolant accident and a mitigation method thereof. The nuclear reactor includes a nuclear reactor vessel, a first pipe part connected to the nuclear reactor vessel to supply or drain fluid, and a first opening/closing part connected to the first pipe part. When the first pipe part is broken, the first opening/closing part closes the first pipe part to stop discharge of coolant. A supplementary coolant injection part is connected to the nuclear reactor vessel through a second pipe part. When the second pipe part is broken, a second opening/closing part closes the second pipe part to stop discharge of coolant.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2012Publication date: March 21, 2013Applicant: KOREA ATOMIC ENERGY RESEARCH INSTITUTEInventors: Young In Kim, Young Dong Hwang, Young Jong Chung, Won Jae Lee, Keung Koo Kim, Hwang Bae, Jung Yoon, Sung Kyun Zee, Cheon Tae Park
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Patent number: 8358732Abstract: Core debris generated during a molten reactor core in a reactor containment vessel penetrating the reactor containment vessel is configured to be caught by a core catcher located beneath the reactor containment vessel which has a main body having first stage cooling water channels and second stage surrounded by cooling fins extending radially. The number of the second stage cooling channels is larger than that of the first stage cooling channels. Cooling water is supplied from a cooling water injection opening and distributed to the first cooling water channels at a distributor. An intermediate header is formed between the first and the second cooling water channels, and the cooling water is distributed to the second cooling water channels uniformly.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2008Date of Patent: January 22, 2013Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Takashi Sato, Ryoichi Hamazaki, Mika Tahara, Yoshihiro Kojima, Hirohide Oikawa, Tomohisa Kurita, Seiichi Yokobori, Yuka Suzuki
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Publication number: 20120328067Abstract: An embodiment of a nuclear power plant has: a reactor vessel containing a core; a reactor containment vessel containing the reactor vessel; and a radiation heat reflecting member disposed at a portion below the reactor vessel inside the reactor containment vessel. The radiation heat reflecting member may block radiation heat, which is emitted toward a side wall surface of the reactor containment vessel from the core that has been put in a molten state by an accident and flowed downward from the reactor vessel to be accumulated at a lower portion of the reactor containment vessel. The radiation heat reflecting member may block radiation heat, which is emitted toward a supporting structure supporting devices disposed inside the reactor containment vessel.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2012Publication date: December 27, 2012Inventors: Tomohisa KURITA, Mika Tahara, Mitsuo Komuro, Toshimi Tobimatsu, Ryo Suzuki, Ryoichi Hamazaki, Noriyuki Katagiri, Masashi Tanabe
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Publication number: 20120294408Abstract: A power module assembly includes a reactor vessel containing a reactor core surrounded by a primary coolant. A containment vessel is adapted to be submerged in a containment cooling pool and to prohibit a release of the primary coolant outside of the containment vessel. A secondary cooling system is configured to remove heat generated by the reactor core. The heat is removed by circulating liquid from the containment cooling pool through the primary coolant.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2012Publication date: November 22, 2012Applicants: Univ.Inventors: Jose N. REYES, JR., John T. Groome
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Publication number: 20120294409Abstract: A transient mitigation system for a reactor includes: a reactor core isolation cooling system; and a high pressure flooder system including a high pressure flooder pump and a flooder valve. When the water level of the reactor water in the reactor decreases to a first predetermined water level, the reactor core isolation cooling system is activated to supply the cooling water into the reactor. When the water level in the reactor decreases to the first predetermined water level, the high pressure flooder pump is activated. When the water level in the reactor decreases to a second predetermined water level lower than the first predetermined water level, the flooder valve is opened to inject the cooling water into the reactor.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2010Publication date: November 22, 2012Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventors: Hiromasa Yanagisawa, Yoshihiro Kojima, Kazuhiro Kamei, Mitsuyoshi Kasahara
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Publication number: 20120281802Abstract: An emergency system of nuclear facility includes a gas turbine generator 35 serving as an emergency power supply that can supply power to the nuclear facility, a separation valve 38 that can separate an interior and an exterior of a containment vessel 10 from each other at a time of an accident in the nuclear facility, a battery 39 that can supply power to the separation valve 38 at a time of loss of the power from the external power supply, and a control device 32 that can control operations of the gas turbine generator 35, the separation valve 38, and the battery 39, wherein when loss of the power from the external power supply and an accident in the nuclear facility occur, the control device 32 starts the gas turbine generator 35 and closes the separation valve 38 to which power is supplied from the battery 39.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2011Publication date: November 8, 2012Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventor: Shinji Niida
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Publication number: 20120263268Abstract: A high pressure safety injection tank (HPSIT) system includes one safety injection tank (HIT) which replaces a core makeup tank (CMT) and a low pressure (approximately 4.3 Mpa or below) safety injection tank (SIT) and which can shift to and operate on a high pressure (approximately 17 Mpa) operation mode, to enable injection of emergency core coolant into a reactor system both under low pressure (approximately 4.3 Mpa or below) and high pressure (approximately 17 Mpa).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2011Publication date: October 18, 2012Applicants: Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co., Ltd., Korea Atomic Energy Research InstituteInventors: Tae-Soon Kwon, Dong-Jin Euh, Chul-Hwa Song, Won-Pil Baek
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Publication number: 20120243651Abstract: A pressurized water nuclear reactor (PWR) has an internal pressurizer volume containing a steam bubble and is surrounded by a containment structure. A condenser is disposed inside the containment structure and is operatively connected with an external heat sink disposed outside of the containment structure. A valve assembly operatively connects the PWR with the condenser responsive to an abnormal operation signal such that the condenser condenses steam from the steam bubble while rejecting heat to the external heat sink and returns the condensed water to the PWR. A quench tank contains water with dissolved neutron poison. A valved tank pressurizing path selectively connects the steam bubble to the quench tank to pressurize the quench tank, and a valved soluble poison delivery path selectively connects the quench tank to the PWR such that the quench tank under pressure from the steam bubble discharges water with dissolved neutron poison into the PWR.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2011Publication date: September 27, 2012Inventor: John D. Malloy
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Publication number: 20120213322Abstract: As shown in FIG. 1, a pressurized water reactor (12) is configured to be arranged within a reactor containment vessel (11), and a cooling-water circulation path (51) that supplies primary cooling water to the reactor containment vessel (11) or the pressurized water reactor (12) and collects and circulates the primary cooling water during an emergency, and a cooling device (52) that air-cools primary cooling water flowing in the cooling-water circulation path (51) at outside of the reactor containment vessel (11) are provided, thereby making it possible to realize downsizing and cost reduction of emergency core cooling system and to improve safety and reliability thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2010Publication date: August 23, 2012Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Takashi Naito, Tadahiko Suzuta, Hiroshi Sano, Hidekazu Udagawa
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Patent number: 8249212Abstract: A method for attaching a core spray sparger T-box clamp for a sparger T-box in a shroud of a nuclear reactor pressure vessel assembling the anchor plate, bearing plate and saddle bracket; positioning the assembly of the anchor plate, bearing plate and saddle bracket in front of the T-box such that the saddle bracket is below a sidewall of the T-box; elevating the assembly to seat the saddle bracket against a lower surface of the sidewall and sliding a locating pin on the saddle bracket into an aperture in the sidewall; lowering a carrier plate onto an upper surface of the sidewall and attaching the carrier plate to the anchor plate, wherein a locating pin on the carrier plate slides into an aperture on the upper surface, and advancing the bearing plate to the T-box to bias a bearing plate against a cover plate of the T-box.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2011Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Grant Clark Jensen, Robert W. Whitling
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Publication number: 20120121056Abstract: According to an embodiment, a nuclear reactor containment vessel has: a primary reactor containment vessel which contains a nuclear pressure vessel; a secondary reactor containment vessel and which is disposed outside the primary reactor containment vessel which has the pressure resistant properties and the leak-tightness which are equivalent to those of the primary reactor containment vessel; an air bag which is disposed within the secondary reactor containment vessel and which, when a failure occurs in primary reactor containment vessel, expands while receiving and encapsulating a high pressure gas discharged from the inside of the primary reactor containment vessel; and a gas phase vent pipe which connects the primary reactor containment vessel and the air bag.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2012Publication date: May 17, 2012Inventors: Takashi SATO, Makoto AKINAGA, Yoshihiro KOJIMA
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Patent number: 8170173Abstract: A power module assembly includes a reactor vessel containing a reactor core surrounded by a primary coolant. A containment vessel is adapted to be submerged in a containment cooling pool and to prohibit a release of the primary coolant outside of the containment vessel. A secondary cooling system is configured to remove heat generated by the reactor core. The heat is removed by circulating liquid from the containment cooling pool through the primary coolant.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2008Date of Patent: May 1, 2012Assignee: The State of Oregon Acting by and Through the State Board of Higher Education on Behalf of Oregon State UniversityInventors: Jose N. Reyes, Jr., John T. Groome
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Patent number: 8160197Abstract: A nuclear power plant with an improved cooling system using nanoparticles in solid or fluid form to improve heat transfer and reduce corrosion is provided. The nanoparticles are delivered to a closed cooling circuit such as a CCWS. Methods for providing the nanoparticles are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2007Date of Patent: April 17, 2012Assignee: Areva NPInventors: Mihai G. M. Pop, Brian Glenn Lockamon
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Publication number: 20120087456Abstract: A reinforcing device includes a clamp that is disposed on an outer side of a welded portion of a core spray system piping and holds the core spray system piping at axially symmetrical points on an outer surface thereof, the piping being located on opposite sides of a weld line of the welded portion and also includes a bolt that is provided on the clamp so as to serve as a mechanical fastening mechanism applying a compressive force to the welded portion from the outside of the core spray system piping.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2011Publication date: April 12, 2012Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventors: Naotaka Suganuma, Masakazu Abura, Kazuo Sudo, Satoshi Sato, Haruhiko Hata, Yukiaki Hidaka, Keiji Matsunaga, Kanemi Hirose
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Publication number: 20120076255Abstract: The present invention relates to an alternate feedwater injection system to at least partially mitigate the effects of an aircraft impact on a light water nuclear reactor positioned in a reactor building. The light water nuclear reactor has a primary system and a reactor core. The alternate feedwater injection system includes a water storage tank, an injection point into the primary system, a pump capable to transfer water from the water storage tank to the injection point and ultimately to the reactor core. The water storage tank and pump are located external to a reactor building and outside of an identified aircraft impact area or inside the identified aircraft impact area and provided with a means of protection from the aircraft impact.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2010Publication date: March 29, 2012Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: Nirmal Jain, James R. Nowell, Subhash Chandra, Edward E. Berry
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Publication number: 20120057668Abstract: The reactor containment structure is provided with a reactor containment vessel, a reactor containment chamber installed inside the reactor containment vessel to contain a nuclear power reactor, a pool installed inside the reactor containment vessel so as to be below the reactor containment chamber adjacently and in which an emergency cooling liquid is stored, an opening part for allowing the emergency cooling liquid to flow from the reactor containment chamber into the pool, a sump installed below the pool, a debris filtering body installed at the sump to filter debris contained in the emergency cooling liquid, a pumping system which sucks the emergency cooling liquid from the sump and discharges the emergency cooling liquid into the reactor containment chamber, and a debris trapping part installed in the pool to trap the debris, wherein the debris trapping part intersects with a flow path of the emergency cooling liquid.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2010Publication date: March 8, 2012Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Nobuki Uda, Hideo Fukuda, Nobuo Ishihara, Kazutoyo Murata, Hiroshi Arikawa, Kaname Shibato, Hiroshi Matsuoka
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Publication number: 20120051486Abstract: This reactor containment structure is provided with a reactor containment vessel (10), a reactor containment chamber (11) which is provided in the reactor containment vessel (10) and contains a nuclear power reactor, a pool (12) which is provided in the reactor containment vessel (10) below the reactor containment chamber (11) adjacently and holds an emergency cooling liquid (W), a plurality of opening parts (11b, 11c) allowing the emergency cooling liquid (W) to flow from the reactor containment chamber (11) into the pool (12), a sump (13) which is provided below the pool (12), a debris filtering body (14) which is installed in the sump (13) to filter debris (D) contained in the emergency cooling liquid (W), a pumping device (20) which sucks the emergency cooling liquid (W) from the sump (13) and discharges the emergency cooling liquid (W) into the reactor containment chamber (11), and a weir (30), which is provided to at least the opening part (11b) closest to the sump (13) among the plurality of opening paType: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2010Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Nobuki Uda, Hideo Fukuda, Hiroshi Matsuoka
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Publication number: 20120051487Abstract: The reactor containment structure is provided with a reactor containment vessel (10), a reactor containment chamber (11) which is installed inside the reactor containment vessel (10) to contain a nuclear power reactor (5), a pool (12) which is installed inside the reactor containment vessel (10) so as to be below the reactor containment chamber (11) adjacently and in which an emergency cooling liquid (W) is stored, an opening part (11b) which allows the emergency cooling liquid (W) to flow into the pool (12) from the reactor containment chamber (11), a sump (13) which is installed below the pool (12), a debris filtering body (14) which is installed at the sump (13) to filter debris contained in the emergency cooling liquid (W), a pumping device (20) which sucks the emergency cooling liquid (W) from the sump (13) and discharges the emergency cooling liquid (W) into the reactor containment chamber (11) and a baffle plate (30) which guides the emergency cooling liquid (W) that flows into the pool (12) from the oType: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2010Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Hideo Fukuda, Nobuki Uda, Hiroshi Matsuoka
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Patent number: 8090073Abstract: A recirculation pump motor is supplied with a power from a unit auxiliary middle voltage bus through a power supply system including a first circuit breaker, a voltage source inverter, and a second circuit breaker electrically connected in series to provide a no-load operation by use of the voltage source inverter. The second circuit breaker may be multiplexed with more than one breaker electrically connected in series. An existing nuclear plant using a induction motor driving a hydraulic coupling mechanically coupled to a synchronous generator for driving the recirculation pump, such as an MfG set, may be subjected to a method of replacing the induction motor, the hydraulic coupling, and the synchronous generator with the voltage source inverter and a circuit breaker through electrically disconnection and removal.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2005Date of Patent: January 3, 2012Assignee: Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy, Ltd.Inventors: Masashi Sugiyama, Yukihiro Katayama, Kenji Tominaga, Hirohisa Satomi, Ichirou Shimoda
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Patent number: 8054932Abstract: A filter medium for strainers used in the emergency sump of a nuclear power plant ECCS. The filter medium is employed with double wall, concentric tube type strainer modules. The filter medium is preferably constructed of a woven or knitted stainless steel wire material and is shaped in a cylinder so that it can be inserted between two concentric strainer walls, concentric tube type strainer in such a manner that water that passes through the strainer must pass through and be filtered by the filter medium before the water can be pumped to the reactor core. The filter medium is inserted through the bottom of the strainer module and is held in place by an x-shaped retainer. The filter creates varied approach velocity of the fluid and results in non-uniform fibrous debris accumulation on the strainer, insuring acceptable strainer debris hydraulic head loss.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2009Date of Patent: November 8, 2011Assignee: Enercon Services, Inc.Inventors: James Aaron Smith, Atul Harihar Patel, Louis Thomas Carr, Jr.
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Patent number: 8048319Abstract: A filter medium for strainers used in the emergency sump of a nuclear power plant ECCS. The filter medium is employed with double wall, concentric tube type strainer modules. The filter medium is preferably constructed of a woven or knitted stainless steel wire material and is shaped in a cylinder so that it can be inserted between two concentric strainer walls, concentric tube type strainer in such a manner that water that passes through the strainer must pass through and be filtered by the filter medium before the water can be pumped to the reactor core. The filter medium is inserted through the bottom of the strainer module and is held in place by an x-shaped retainer. The filter creates varied approach velocity of the fluid and results in non-uniform fibrous debris accumulation on the strainer, insuring acceptable strainer debris hydraulic head loss.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2009Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignee: Enercon Services, Inc.Inventors: James Aaron Smith, Atul Harihar Patel, Louis Thomas Carr, Jr.
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Patent number: 8045671Abstract: A feeding system for an absorber liquid containing a neutron poison, in particular for a quick shut-down of a nuclear reactor, has a storage container for the absorber liquid and is configured for high operational reliability with simple construction. In particular, a chemical decomposition of the absorber liquid or corrosion of the container wall of the storage container is to be excluded. For this purpose, the storage container is connected to a pressure container via an overflow line, wherein the pressure container is filled with a motive fluid.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2009Date of Patent: October 25, 2011Assignee: Areva NP GmbHInventor: Johann Meseth
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Patent number: 8045672Abstract: A core spray sparger T-box clamp for a sparger T-box in a shroud of a nuclear reactor pressure vessel, the sparger T-box clamp including: an anchor plate substantially aligned with a closed end of the T-box; a carrier plate slidably secured to an upper side the anchor plate and latched to the T-box; a saddle bracket secured to a lower side of the anchor plate and latched to the T-box, and a pair of clamp blocks on opposite sides of the anchor plate fixed to sparger pipes coupled to the T-box.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2006Date of Patent: October 25, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Grant Clark Jensen, Robert W. Whitling
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Patent number: 8045673Abstract: Example embodiments are directed to core spray sparger T-box repairs, specifically, to universal core spray sparger T-box weldless clamps having remote-friendly operation and methods of using universal core spray sparger T-box weldless clamps. Example embodiment clamps may be secured without welding to a variety of upper and lower sparger T-box configurations. Example embodiment clamps may be configured to simultaneously engage a sparger T-box in multiple dimensions to allow a universal fit. Further, example embodiment clamps may be accessed, installed, or removed by interacting only with a front side of the example embodiment clamps, thus potentially reducing difficulty and cost in remote access repairs to example clamps.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2007Date of Patent: October 25, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Grant C Jensen
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Patent number: 7983376Abstract: A boiling water nuclear reactor comprises: a reactor containment vessel including a dry well and a wet well; a vent pipe connecting the dry well and the pressure suppression pool; a gravity-driven water injection pool to hold boric acid aqueous solution; an emergency core water-injection piping system for causing the boric acid aqueous solution in the gravity-driven water injection pool to fall so as to be injected into the reactor pressure vessel in case of reactor accident; a static containment vessel cooling system pool; a static containment vessel cooling system heat exchanger; a dry well connection pipe connecting an upper part of the static containment vessel cooling system heat exchanger and the dry well; and a gas vent pipe for discharging noncondensible gas in the static containment vessel cooling system heat exchanger into the inside of the pressure suppression pool.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2010Date of Patent: July 19, 2011Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Yoshihiro Kojima, Takashi Sato, Hirohide Oikawa
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Patent number: 7983377Abstract: An emergency core cooling system directly injects emergency core cooling water, which is supplied from a high-pressure safety injection pump or a safety injection tank for a pressurized light water reactor, into a reactor vessel downcomer. A pipe connector is completely removed from between each direct vessel injection nozzle and each injection extension duct installed on an outer surface of the core barrel, which are opposite to each other. An emergency core cooling water intake port, through which the water is injected from each direct vessel injection nozzle, is formed on the surface of each injection extension duct facing an axis of each direct vessel injection nozzle. Thereby, a structure in which a jet of the emergency core cooling water flows into the injection extension ducts is adopted in a hydraulic connection fashion.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2008Date of Patent: July 19, 2011Assignees: Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tae-Soon Kwon, Chul-Hwa Song, Won-Pil Baek
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Patent number: 7920666Abstract: A safety injection tank, used for quickly injecting emergency core cooling water (ECCW) to a reactor vessel in the case of a cold leg large break accident (CLLBA) in a pressurized water reactor (PWR), is disclosed. The safety injection tank has a gravity-driven fluidic device configured to efficiently change the ECCW injection mode from a high flow injection mode to a low flow injection mode. The gravity-driven fluidic device includes a spring placed in the upper end of the vertical pipe, and a vertically movable water tub placed on the spring so as to be movable in a vertical direction. When ECCW contained in the pressure vessel is discharged and the water level is reduced lower than the height of the tub, the tub is moved downwards such that the lower surface thereof comes into contact with the vertical pipe and closes the high flow inlet port.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2008Date of Patent: April 5, 2011Assignees: Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Korea Hydro and Power Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tae-Soon Kwon, In-Chul Chu, Chul-Hwa Song, Won-Pil Baek
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Patent number: 7920667Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an accumulator including a flow damper which is capable of performing a control so that a vortex may not be formed in a vortex chamber at the time of a large flow injection without requiring huge labors and fabrication costs. The flow damper is configured of a colliding jet controller (a bevel or a projection) for controlling a colliding jet composed of a jet from a large flow pipe and a jet from a small flow pipe flowing into a vortex chamber at the time of a large flow injection so that the colliding jet may proceed directly to an outlet without forming a vortex in the vortex chamber. The colliding jet controller is provided at a junction of an inner surface of the small flow pipe and an inner surface of the vortex chamber.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2009Date of Patent: April 5, 2011Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.Inventor: Tadashi Shiraishi
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Patent number: 7889830Abstract: A nuclear reactor having a coolant flow deflector secured to a reactor core barrel in line with a coolant inlet nozzle. The flow deflector redirects incoming coolant down an annulus between the core barrel and the reactor vessel. The deflector has a main body with a front side facing the fluid inlet nozzle and a rear side facing the core barrel. The rear side of the main body has at least one protrusion secured to the core barrel so that a gap exists between the rear side of the main body adjacent the protrusion and the core barrel. Preferably, the protrusion is a relief that circumscribes the rear side of the main body.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2007Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: Charles B. Gilmore, David A. Altman, Norman R. Singleton
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Patent number: 7881421Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an accumulator including a flow damper which is capable of performing a control so that a vortex may not be formed in a vortex chamber at the time of a large flow injection without requiring huge labors and fabrication costs. The flow damper is configured of a colliding jet controller (a bevel or a projection) for controlling a colliding jet composed of a jet from a large flow pipe and a jet from a small flow pipe flowing into a vortex chamber at the time of a large flow injection so that the colliding jet may proceed directly to an outlet without forming a vortex in the vortex chamber. The colliding jet controller is provided at a junction of an inner surface of the small flow pipe and an inner surface of the vortex chamber.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2006Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.Inventor: Tadashi Shiraishi
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Patent number: 7873136Abstract: A feeding system for an absorber liquid containing a neutron poison, in particular for a quick shut-down of a nuclear reactor, has a storage container for the absorber liquid and is configured for high operational reliability with simple construction. In particular, a chemical decomposition of the absorber liquid or corrosion of the container wall of the storage container is to be excluded. For this purpose, the storage container is connected to a pressure container via an overflow line, wherein the pressure container is filled with a motive fluid.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2008Date of Patent: January 18, 2011Assignee: Areva NP GmbHInventor: Johann Meseth
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Patent number: 7848475Abstract: A strainer for an emergency core cooling system (ECCS) in a nuclear power plant comprises a perforated strainer element that is immersed in a reservoir of cooling water, which is drawn through the strainer element into the emergency core cooling system. The side of the strainer element in contact with the cooling water has a contoured configuration for disrupting the formation of a flat bed of fibrous material that can trap small particulate material intended to pass through the strainer element. Incorporating this strainer element into an ECCS strainer enables the strainer to be made more compact, because the debris bed need not be spread over an unduly large area to prevent excessive head loss from the debris load in the event of a reactor loss of coolant accident. The strainer also incorporates a modular construction that uses individual strainer disc modules. Each disc module includes a perforated first disc part having a central opening and a perforated second disc part also having a central opening.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2005Date of Patent: December 7, 2010Assignee: Continuum Dynamics, Inc.Inventors: Andrew E. Kaufman, Alan J. Bilanin
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Patent number: 7835482Abstract: An emergency core cooling system comprises first and second safety divisions for an active emergency core cooling system. Each of the first and second safety divisions is provided with a high-pressure core cooling system and a low-pressure core cooling system, which also acts as a residual heat removal system.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2005Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Takashi Sato, Hirohide Oikawa
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Publication number: 20100278294Abstract: The present invention relates to a longitudinally divided emergency core cooling (ECC) duct in order to efficiently inject safety water to core of a pressurized light-water nuclear reactor. The ECC duct includes side supports for preventing the flow-induced vibration in the annular downcomer, and has structural stability while thermally expanding and contracting. A longitudinally divided ECC duct for emergency core cooling water injection of a nuclear reactor is provided on the periphery of a core barrel of a nuclear reactor, includes an emergency core cooling water inlet facing a direct vessel injection nozzle, and extends in a longitudinal direction of the core barrel. The longitudinally divided ECC duct is divided into a plurality of longitudinally-divided ducts in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinally divided ECC duct.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2009Publication date: November 4, 2010Applicants: KOREA ATOMIC ENERGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE, KOREA HYDRO & NUCLEAR POWER CO., LTD.Inventors: Tae-Soon KWON, Dong Jin EUH, In-Cheol CHU, Seok CHO, Nam Hyun CHOI, Chui-Hwa SONG, Won Pil BAEK, Jun-Hwa HONG
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Publication number: 20100272226Abstract: A boiling water nuclear reactor comprises: a reactor containment vessel including a dry well and a wet well; a vent pipe connecting the dry well and the pressure suppression pool; a gravity-driven water injection pool to hold boric acid aqueous solution; an emergency core water-injection piping system for causing the boric acid aqueous solution in the gravity-driven water injection pool to fall so as to be injected into the reactor pressure vessel in case of reactor accident; a static containment vessel cooling system pool; a static containment vessel cooling system heat exchanger; a dry well connection pipe connecting an upper part of the static containment vessel cooling system heat exchanger and the dry well; and a gas vent pipe for discharging noncondensible gas in the static containment vessel cooling system heat exchanger into the inside of the pressure suppression pool.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2010Publication date: October 28, 2010Inventors: Yoshihiro KOJIMA, Takashi SATO, Hirohide OIKAWA
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Patent number: 7822164Abstract: A protective screen for the screening off of a suction space and a suction duct connected to it in a cooling system, include at least one screen wall element which has a suction side and an outflow side. The screen wall element is built up from a plurality of modular rectangular cassette units, which respectively contain a plurality of suction pockets open towards the suction side, with the screen pockets being surrounded by outflow gaps which are open towards the outflow side.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2004Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignee: CCI AGInventor: Stanislaw Kielbowicz
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Publication number: 20100260302Abstract: A nuclear reactor including a vessel configured to hold a reactor core, a primary circuit cooling the reactor, a reactor pit in which the vessel is placed, an annular channel surrounding a lower portion of the vessel in the reactor pit, the channel configured to act as a thermal shield in normal operation and to ascend flow of a liquid in event of an accident, a reserve of liquid capable of filling the reactor pit, a reactor containment, a chamber collecting steam generated at an upper end of the reactor pit, the chamber being separate from the containment, a circulating pump capable of generating a forced convection of the liquid in the annular channel, and a lobe pump or steam piston machine or turbine for actuating the circulating pump and capable of generating forced convection by the collected steam.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2008Publication date: October 14, 2010Applicant: Commissariat A L' Energie Atomique et Aux ENGN ALTInventor: Roland Francis Pelisson
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Patent number: 7813465Abstract: A pressure suppression and decontamination apparatus for a reactor container which is provided with a reactor pressure vessel containing nuclear core fuel and forms a dry well space including, a dry well cooling unit for cooling a gas in the dry well space and for producing a condensate of the gas, a circulation device for leading the gas in the dry well space to the dry well cooling unit, and a sprinkling device for sprinkling the condensate in the dry well space.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2005Date of Patent: October 12, 2010Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Toshimi Tobimatsu, Seiichi Yokobori, Makoto Akinaga
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Patent number: 7809099Abstract: A direct vessel injection (DVI) nozzle for minimum emergency core coolant (ECC) bypass is disclosed. The DVI nozzle is used in a pressurized light water reactor (PLWR) having a reactor vessel with a reactor coolant system in which a coolant flows into the reactor vessel through a cold leg and passes through a reactor core prior to being discharged to the outside of the reactor vessel through a hot leg. The DVI nozzle, provided to directly inject ECC into the reactor vessel to cool the reactor core during a break in the reactor coolant system, such as a cold leg break (CLB) that may occur in the PLWR, is placed on the reactor vessel at a position horizontally offset from the central axis of the hot leg at an angle of 10° to 30° and is involved within a region defined above the central axis of the hot leg by a distance of 1.5 times the sum of diameters of the hot leg and the DVI nozzle.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2004Date of Patent: October 5, 2010Assignee: Korea Atomic Energy Research InstituteInventors: Tae-Soon Kwon, Chul-Hwa Song
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Publication number: 20100239062Abstract: Disclosed is a coolant with dispersed neutron poison micro-particles, used in a supercritical water-cooled reactor (SCWR) emergency core cooling system. Since the neutron poison micro-particles are uniformly dispersed in the coolant of the emergency core cooling system for a long period time, their fluidity is not lowered even though the polarity of water is changed in a supercritical state. Therefore, the neutron poison micro-particles absorb neutrons produced from nuclear fission in a nuclear reactor core. Accordingly, the neutron poison micro-particles can be appropriately used as a means for controlling neutrons and stopping a nuclear reactor in the SCWR emergency core cooling system.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2009Publication date: September 23, 2010Applicant: KOREA ATOMIC ENERGY RESEARCH INSTITUTEInventors: Jei-Won YEON, Kyuseok SONG, Yoon-Yeong BAE, Jong-Yun KIM, Jinsung JANG
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Publication number: 20100226470Abstract: A direct vessel injection (DVI) nozzle for minimum emergency core coolant (ECC) bypass is disclosed. The DVI nozzle is used in a pressurized light water reactor (PLWR) having a reactor vessel with a reactor coolant system in which a coolant flows into the reactor vessel through a cold leg and passes through a reactor core prior to being discharged to the outside of the reactor vessel through a hot leg. The DVI nozzle, provided to directly inject ECC into the reactor vessel to cool the reactor core during a break in the reactor coolant system, such as a cold leg break (CLB) that may occur in the PLWR, is placed on the reactor vessel at a position horizontally offset from the central axis of the hot leg at an angle of 10° to 30° and is involved within a region defined above the central axis of the hot leg by a distance of 1.5 times the sum of diameters of the hot leg and the DVI nozzle.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2004Publication date: September 9, 2010Inventors: Tae-Soon Kwon, Chul-Hwa Song
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Publication number: 20100208859Abstract: A venting-valve/check-valve combination useful for venting non-condensable gases and steam (or a combination) in a liquid pipeline comprises a venting-valve, a check-valve, and a capillary port through which gas can pass, said port having two openings, each valve controlling the opening and closing of one of said openings.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2010Publication date: August 19, 2010Inventor: Lambros LOIS
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Patent number: 7724863Abstract: A core spray sparger T-box attachment assembly for a nuclear reactor pressure vessel, wherein the pressure vessel includes a shroud, a sparger T-box penetrating the shroud, a plurality of sparger distribution header pipes coupled to the sparger T-box, and a downcomer pipe. The sparger header pipes may include at least one sparger nozzle, and the sparger T-box attachment assembly may include a downcomer pipe coupling and a sparger T-box clamp. The sparger T-box clamp may include an anchor plate having a draw bolt opening to receive a draw bolt, a first clamp block substantially aligned at one end of the anchor plate, and a second clamp block substantially aligned at the other end of the anchor plate.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2004Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Grant C. Jensen
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Publication number: 20100124303Abstract: A nuclear reactor module includes a reactor vessel and a reactor housing mounted inside the reactor vessel, wherein the reactor housing comprises a shroud and a riser located above the shroud. The nuclear reactor module further includes a heat exchanger proximately located about the riser, and a reactor core located in the shroud. A steam generator by-pass system is configured to provide an auxiliary flow path of primary coolant to the reactor core to augment a primary flow path of the primary coolant out of the riser and into the shroud, wherein the auxiliary flow path of primary coolant exits the reactor housing without passing by the heat exchanger.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2008Publication date: May 20, 2010Applicant: NuScale Power, Inc.Inventors: Eric Paul Young, John T. Groome, Jose N. Reyes, JR.
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Publication number: 20100046692Abstract: A feeding system for an absorber liquid containing a neutron poison, in particular for a quick shut-down of a nuclear reactor, has a storage container for the absorber liquid and is configured for high operational reliability with simple construction. In particular, a chemical decomposition of the absorber liquid or corrosion of the container wall of the storage container is to be excluded. For this purpose, the storage container is connected to a pressure container via an overflow line, wherein the pressure container is filled with a motive fluid.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2009Publication date: February 25, 2010Applicant: AREVA NP GMBHInventor: Johann Meseth
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Patent number: 7668283Abstract: Pressurizer for a pressurized water nuclear power station, comprising an outer casing which delimits an inner space; a duct (11) which extends beneath the casing and which is capable of being tapped from the coolant system of the nuclear power station; a tap (18) which places the inner space of the casing in communication with the duct (11), this tap (18) being welded to the duct (11) by means of a weld seam (32); a sleeve (42) for protecting the weld seam (32), which sleeve is arranged inside the tap (18) and which has a lower peripheral edge (46) which is engaged in the duct (11), the sleeve (42) defining with the tap (18) and the duct (11) an annular space (74) which is capable of being filled with the primary liquid; wherein the annular space (74) is open along at least a portion of the lower peripheral edge (46) of the sleeve (42) and opens inside the duct (11).Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2006Date of Patent: February 23, 2010Assignee: Areva NPInventors: Victor Mathieu, Jean-Pierre Izard
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Patent number: 7623611Abstract: A core spray T-box attachment assembly for a core spray nozzle includes a primary cruciform wedge and a secondary cruciform wedge in contact with the primary cruciform wedge to form a cruciform wedge subassembly adapted for insertion within a bore of the core spray nozzle to sealingly engage an interior converging portion of a safe end of the core spray nozzle. The assembly includes a spider in contact with the cruciform wedge subassembly, and a draw bolt engaging an axial bore of a center portion of the cruciform wedge subassembly and the spider to the T-box.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2007Date of Patent: November 24, 2009Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Grant Clark Jensen
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Publication number: 20090279657Abstract: A safety injection tank, used for quickly injecting emergency core cooling water (ECCW) to a reactor vessel in the case of a cold leg large break accident (CLLBA) in a pressurized water reactor (PWR), is disclosed. The safety injection tank has a gravity-driven fluidic device configured to efficiently change the ECCW injection mode from a high flow injection mode to a low flow injection mode. The gravity-driven fluidic device includes a spring placed in the upper end of the vertical pipe, and a vertically movable water tub placed on the spring so as to be movable in a vertical direction. When ECCW contained in the pressure vessel is discharged and the water level is reduced lower than the height of the tub, the tub is moved downwards such that the lower surface thereof comes into contact with the vertical pipe and closes the high flow inlet port.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2008Publication date: November 12, 2009Applicants: Korea Atomic Research Energy Research Institute, Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tae-Soon Kwon, In-Chul Chu, Chul-Hwa Song, Won-Pil Baek