Multiple shell pressure vessel
First Claim
1. A method of fabricating a pressure vessel comprising the steps ofattaching a first inner presure vessel having means defining inlet and outlet openings to a top flange,placing a second inner pressure vessel, having means defining inlet and outlet opening, concentric with and spaced about said first inner pressure vessel and attaching said second inner pressure vessel to said top flange,placing an outer pressure vessel, having inlet and outlet openings, concentric with and spaced apart about said second inner pressure vessel and attaching said outer pressure vessel to said top flange,attaching a generally cylindrical inner inlet conduit and a generally cylindrical inner outlet conduit respectively to said inlet and outlet openings in said first inner pressure vessel,attaching a generally cylindrical outer inlet conduit and a generally cylindrical outer outlet conduit respectively to said inlet and outlet opening in said second inner pressure vessel,heating the assembled pressure vessel to a temperature above the melting point of a material selected from the group, lead, tin, antimony, bismuth, potassium, sodium, boron and mixtures thereof,filling the space between said first inner pressure vessel and said second inner pressure vessel with material selected from said group,filling the space between said second inner pressure vessel and said outer pressure vessel with material selected from said group, andpressurizing said material filling said spaces between said pressure vessels to a predetermined pressure, said step comprisingpressurizing said spaces to a pressure whereby the wall of said first inner pressure vessel is maintained in compression during steady state operation of said pressure vessel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multiple shell pressure vessel utilizes a number of spaced apart, concentrically disposed pressure vessel shells within and spaced apart from an outer pressure vessel shell, the spaces between each shell being filled with a low melting point, high boiling point material selected from the group, lead, tin, antimony, bismuth, or sodium and potassium, and mixtures thereof and subjected to a pressure whereby the innermost pressure vessel shell wall is maintained in compression while the main vessel is pressurized. Chemical compositions or compounds which contain boron or cadmium may also be added to the filler material. The vessel may include devices for keeping the pressure in the space between the innermost pressure vessel shell and the next innermost shell at a fixed predetermined multiple of the pressure within the innermost pressure vessel shell. A method of constructing the multiple shell pressure vessel includes a sequence of steps for filling the spaces between shells with the low melting point, high boiling point materials in such a way that the inner shell is compressed and the outer shells are in tension.
45 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of fabricating a pressure vessel comprising the steps of
attaching a first inner presure vessel having means defining inlet and outlet openings to a top flange, placing a second inner pressure vessel, having means defining inlet and outlet opening, concentric with and spaced about said first inner pressure vessel and attaching said second inner pressure vessel to said top flange, placing an outer pressure vessel, having inlet and outlet openings, concentric with and spaced apart about said second inner pressure vessel and attaching said outer pressure vessel to said top flange, attaching a generally cylindrical inner inlet conduit and a generally cylindrical inner outlet conduit respectively to said inlet and outlet openings in said first inner pressure vessel, attaching a generally cylindrical outer inlet conduit and a generally cylindrical outer outlet conduit respectively to said inlet and outlet opening in said second inner pressure vessel, heating the assembled pressure vessel to a temperature above the melting point of a material selected from the group, lead, tin, antimony, bismuth, potassium, sodium, boron and mixtures thereof, filling the space between said first inner pressure vessel and said second inner pressure vessel with material selected from said group, filling the space between said second inner pressure vessel and said outer pressure vessel with material selected from said group, and pressurizing said material filling said spaces between said pressure vessels to a predetermined pressure, said step comprising pressurizing said spaces to a pressure whereby the wall of said first inner pressure vessel is maintained in compression during steady state operation of said pressure vessel.
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4. A pressure vessel comprising
a top flange, a pressure vessel head adapted to engage said top flange, be connected thereto and maintain a seal therebetween, an inner pressure vessel attached to said top flange, an outer pressure vessel disposed concentric about said inner pressure vessel, spaced apart therefrom and attached to said top flange, a reactor coolant inlet port comprising a generally cylindrical inner inlet conduit attached to said inner pressure vessel and in fluid communication therewith, a generally cylindrical outer inlet conduit attached to said outer pressure vessel and in fluid communication with the space between said inner pressure vessel and said outer pressure vessel, a reactor coolant outlet port comprising a generally cylindrical inner outlet conduit attached to said inner pressure vessel and in fluid communication therewith, a generally cylindrical outer outlet conduit attached to said outer pressure vessel and in fluid communication with the space between said inner pressure vessel and said outer pressure vessel, a low melting point, high boiling point material selected from the group, lead, tin, antimony, bismuth, sodium, potassium, boron and mixtures thereof disposed in the space between said inner pressure vessel and said outer pressure vessel, and means for maintaining said low melting point, high boiling point material at a pressure sufficient to maintain the tensile stresses in the wall of said inner pressure vessel below the yield point of the wall material during transient pressure rises within said pressure vessel, and means for maintaining said low melting point, high boiling point material at a constant, predetermined multiple of the pressure inside the inner pressure vessel.
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6. A pressure vessel comprising
a top flange, a pressure vessel head adapted to engage said top flange, be connected thereto and maintain a seal therebetween, an inner pressure vessel attached to said top flange, an outer pressure vessel disposed concentric about said inner pressure vessel and spaced apart therefrom and attached to said top flange, a reactor coolant inlet port comprising a generally cylindrical inner inlet conduit attached to said inner pressure vessel and in fluid communication therewith, a generally cylindrical outer inlet conduit attached to said outer pressure vessel and in fluid communication with the space between said inner pressure vessel and said outer pressure vessel, a reactor coolant outlet port comprising a generally cylindrical inner outlet conduit attached to said inner pressure vessel and in fluid communication therewith, a generally cylindrical outer outlet conduit attached to said outer pressure vessel and in fluid communication with the space between said inner pressure vessel and said outer pressure vessel, a low melting point, high boiling point material selected from the group, lead, tin, antimony, bismuth, sodium, potassium, boron and mixtures thereof disposed in the spaced between said inner pressure vessel and said outer pressure vessel, and means for maintaining said incompressible fluid contained in the space between said inner and outer pressure vessel at a predetermined pressure whereby the material of said wall of said inner pressure vessel in maintained in compression during steady state operation of said pressure vessel.
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9. A pressure vessel comprising
a top flange, a pressure vessel head adapted to engage said top flange, be connected thereto and maintain a seal therebetween, a first inner pressure vessel attached to said top flange, a second inner pressure vessel disposed concentric about said first inner pressure vessel and spaced apart therefrom and attached to said top flange, an outer pressure vessel disposed concentric about said second inner pressure vessel and spaced apart therefrom and attached to said top flange, a reactor coolant inlet port comprising a generally cylindrical inner inlet conduit attached to said first inner pressure vessel and in fluid communication therewith, a generally cylindrical outer inlet conduit attached to said second inner pressure vessel and in fluid communication with the space between said first inner pressure vessel and said second inner pressure vessel, a reactor coolant outlet port comprising a generally cylindrical inner outlet conduit attached to said first inner pressure vessel and in fluid communication therewith, a generally cylindrical outer outlet conduit attached to said second inner pressure vessel and in fluid communication with the space between said first inner pressure vessel and said second inner pressure vessel, a low melting point, high boiling point material selected from the gorup, lead, tin, antimony, bismuth, sodium, potassium, boron and mixtures thereof disposed in the space between said first inner pressure vessel and said second inner pressure vessel, and between said second inner pressure vessel and said outer pressure vessel, and means for maintaining said low melting point, high boiling point material at a pressure sufficient to maintain the tensile stresses in the wall of said inner pressure vessel below the yield point of the material of said wall during transient pressure rises within said pressure vessel, and means for maintaining said low melting point, high boiling point material at a constant, predetermined multiple of the pressure inside the inner pressure vessel.
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11. A pressure vessel comprising
a top flange, a pressure vessel head adapted to engage said top flange, be connected thereto and maintain a seal therebetween, a first inner pressure vessel attached to said top flange, a second inner pressure vessel disposed concentric about said first inner pressure vessel and spaced apart therefrom and attached to said top flange, an outer pressure vessel disposed concentric about said second inner pressure vessel and spaced apart therefrom and attached to said top flange, a reactor coolant inlet port comprising a generally cylindrical inner inlet conduit attached to said first inner pressure vessel and in fluid communication therewith, a generally cylindrical outer inlet conduit attached to said second inner pressure vessel and in fluid communication with the space between said first inner pressure vessel and said second inner pressure vessel, a reactor coolant outlet port comprising a generally cylindrical inner outlet conduit attached to said first inner pressure vessel and in fluid communication therewith, a generally cylindrical outer outlet conduit attached to said second inner pressure vessel and in fluid communication with the space between said first inner pressure vessel and said second inner pressure vessel, a low melting point, high boiling point material selected from the group, lead, tin, antimony, bismuth, sodium, potassium, boron and mixtures thereof disposed in the spaced between said first inner pressure vessel and said second inner pressure vessel, and between said second inner pressure vessel and said outer pressure vessel, and means for maintaining said incompressible fluid contained in the space between said inner and second inner pressure vessel at a predetermined pressure whereby the material of said wall of said inner pressure vessel in maintained in compression during steady state operation of said pressure vessel.
Specification