Plural Separate Coolant Loops Through Reactor Core Patents (Class 376/374)
  • Patent number: 8331523
    Abstract: A nuclear reactor in which a primary coolant is contained, the primary coolant moves upwardly from the core by an operation thereof. An annular steam generator is arranged in an upper side of the core into which the upwardly moving primary coolant flows and transfers heat in the primary coolant into water therein to generate a steam. A passage structure defines a coolant passage for the primary coolant to an outside of the core. The heat-transferred primary coolant in the annular steam generator flows downwardly in the coolant passage so as to flow into the core, thereby moving upwardly. A reactor vessel is arranged to surround the coolant passage so as to contain the core, the annular steam generator and the passage means therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Yohei Nishiguchi
  • Patent number: 6768781
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for removing thermal energy from a nuclear reactor, which are fault tolerant. The apparatus includes at least one heat pipe configured to absorb thermal energy produced by the nuclear reactor. In addition, the apparatus includes a first compartment thermally coupled to the at least one heat pipe. The first compartment is configured to contain a first gas. Furthermore, the apparatus includes a second compartment thermally coupled to the at least one heat pipe. The second compartment is configured to contain a second gas and configured to isolate the second gas from the first gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Michael P. Moriarty
  • Patent number: 5483565
    Abstract: A fuel assembly (16) for a boiling-water nuclear reactor arranged in groups with four fuel assemblies in each group and with a centrally placed control rod (17) forming a supercell. Each fuel assembly (16) includes a plurality of vertical fuel rods (12) with enriched nuclear fuel material (24), said rods being arranged between a bottom tie plate (13) and a top tie plate (14) in a surrounding vertical fuel channel (1) which is connected to a transition section (2). The transition section is provided with holes (20a-d) for by-pass flow outside the fuel assembly. The fuel assembly is characterized in that the by-pass holes are arranged in such a way that when turning the fuel assembly (16), including the transition section (2), 90.degree., 180.degree. or 270.degree. around the longitudinal axis of the fuel assembly, said holes are adapted to direct the by-pass flow away from the control rod (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: ABB Atom AB
    Inventors: Magnus Gronlund, Anders Soderlund, Anders Wallander
  • Patent number: 5230858
    Abstract: A fuel bundle for a boiling water nuclear reactor having an improved water rod is disclosed, this water rod having two discrete compartments upper and lower for containing water. The bottom compartment flows moderator from the bottom of the fuel bundle through the water rod compartment to discharge points located through the water rod side walls between the upper most spacers; the top compartment opens upwardly and is naturally filled with liquid moderator settling out of the upwardly flowing moderator during reactor operation. There results the requisite presence of liquid moderator within the water rod for supplying the upper two phase region of the fuel rod with nearly full moderator density. At the same time, water flow through of the water rod from the bottom of the fuel bundle to the upper two phase region of the fuel bundle improves the thermal hydraulic performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1993
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bruce Matzner, Richard A. Wolters
  • Patent number: 4911880
    Abstract: The improvement in a nuclear reactor having a calandria tank containing moderator and a plurality of coolant flow channels which penetrate through the calandria tank and are loaded with fuel assemblies, the moderator and the coolant being isolated from each other. The improvement is constituted by a pressure container surrounding the outside of the calandria tank, a gap between the calandria tank and the pressure container being charged with the coolant; a recirculation pump for recirculating the coolant through the coolant flow channels; and a steam separator which is positioned inside the pressure container and separates the coolant flowing through the coolant flow channels into steam and water; whereby an improved nuclear reactor having a unitary pressure container structure is constructed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1990
    Assignee: Doryokuro Kakunenryo Kaihatsu Jigyodan
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu Kasai, Masashi Takiyama
  • Patent number: 4696792
    Abstract: Coolant recirculation arrangement for a nuclear reactor including a plurality of vertically oriented tubular conduits arranged in spaced relation between an unshrouded nuclear core and the inner pressure vessel wall for conducting coolant from an upper plenum above the core to a lower plenum below the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1987
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Robert R. Hobson