Reactor containment vessel and boiling water reactor power plant

• US 20070092053A1
• Filed: 06/13/2006
• Published: 04/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Sato, Takashi
• Granted Patent: US 9,318,225 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 376/283
• CPC Class Codes: G21C 13/022 Ventilating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G21C 9/004 Pressure suppression
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 30/30 Nuclear fission reactors

Abstract

A containment vessel includes a primary containment vessel containing a reactor pressure vessel, an upper secondary containment vessel arranged above the primary containment vessel, and a gas-phase vent pipe linking the primary containment vessel and the upper secondary containment vessel by way of an isolation and connection switching system. The gas-phase vent pipe may be arranged either inside or outside the primary containment vessel and the upper secondary containment vessel. Alternatively, it may be embedded in the wall. An igniter may be arranged in the upper secondary containment vessel. The air in the upper secondary containment vessel may be replaced by nitrogen. A gravity-driven flooding system pool may be arranged in the upper secondary containment vessel and cooling water may be led from the inside of the pool to the inside of the primary containment vessel.

Claims

1. A reactor containment vessel comprising:

a core;

a reactor pressure vessel containing the core;

a primary containment vessel containing the reactor pressure vessel;

an upper secondary containment vessel arranged above the primary containment vessel; and

a gas-phase vent pipe for connecting the primary containment vessel and the upper secondary containment vessel.

2. The reactor containment vessel according to claim 1, further comprising an isolation and connection switching system arranged on the gas-phase vent pipe.

3. The reactor containment vessel according to claim 2, wherein the isolation and connection switching system is arranged outside the primary containment vessel and the upper secondary containment vessel.

4. The reactor containment vessel according to claim 2, wherein both of the gas-phase vent pipe and the isolation and connection switching system are arranged inside the primary containment vessel or the upper secondary containment vessel.

5. The reactor containment vessel according to claim 1, wherein the gas-phase vent pipe is at least partly embedded in the wall of the primary containment vessel.

6. The reactor containment vessel according to claim 1, wherein;

the upper secondary containment vessel includes an operation floor and a ceiling and a wall surrounding the operation floor; and

the reactor containment vessel further comprising a primary containment vessel upper lid arranged above the primary containment vessel so as to partition the primary containment vessel and the upper secondary containment vessel.

7. The reactor containment vessel according to claim 1, further comprising an igniter arranged in the upper secondary containment vessel.

8. The reactor containment vessel according to claim 1, wherein atmosphere in the upper secondary containment vessel is replaced by nitrogen so as to be held in a state where oxygen concentration is lower than that of ordinary air.

9. The reactor containment vessel according to claim 1, further comprising:

a gravity-driven containment vessel flooding system pool arranged in the upper secondary containment vessel to store cooling water; and

an injection pipe system having an injection pipe for leading cooling water from the gravity-driven containment vessel flooding system pool to the primary containment vessel and an injection valve.

10. The reactor containment vessel according to claim 9, wherein the gravity-driven containment vessel flooding system pool is a water shield pool arranged above the primary containment vessel upper lid.

11. The reactor containment vessel according to claim 9, wherein:

the primary containment vessel includes a dry well containing the reactor pressure vessel and a wet well containing a pressure suppression pool and communicated with the dry well by way of a vent pipe;

the injection pipe of the injection pipe system is a dry well drain pipe for leading cooling water from the inside of the gravity-driven containment vessel flooding system pool to the dry well; and

a check valve and a U-shaped seal are fitted to the dry well drain pipe.

12. The reactor containment vessel according to claim 9, wherein:

the injection pipe of the injection pipe system is a reactor pressure vessel injection pipe for leading cooling water from the inside of the gravity-driven containment vessel flooding system pool to the reactor pressure vessel; and

a check valve and a U-shaped seal are fitted to the reactor pressure vessel injection pipe.

13. The reactor containment vessel according to claim 9, wherein:

the primary containment vessel includes;

a dry well containing the reactor pressure vessel and a wet well containing a pressure suppression pool and communicated with the dry well by way of a vent pipe; and

the injection pipe of the injection pipe system is a wet well drain pipe for leading cooling water from the inside of the gravity-driven containment vessel flooding system pool to the wet well.

14. The reactor containment vessel according to claim 1, further comprising a concrete-made external event shield covering the primary containment vessel and the upper secondary containment vessel from outside.

15. A boiling water reactor power plant comprising:

a reactor pressure vessel;

a primary containment vessel containing the reactor pressure vessel;

an upper secondary containment vessel arranged above the primary containment vessel; and

a gas-phase vent pipe for connecting the primary containment vessel and the upper secondary containment vessel.

16. The power plant according to claim 15, further comprising an isolation and connection switching system arranged on the gas-phase vent pipe.