Collecting and recirculating condensate in a nuclear reactor containment
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Abstract
An arrangement passively cools a nuclear reactor in the event of an emergency, condensing and recycling vaporized cooling water. The reactor is surrounded by a containment structure and has a storage tank for cooling liquid, such as water, vented to the containment structure by a port. The storage tank preferably is located inside the containment structure and is thermally coupleable to the reactor, e.g. by a heat exchanger, such that water in the storage tank is boiled off to carry away heat energy. The water is released as a vapor (steam) and condenses on the cooler interior surfaces of the containment structure. The condensed water flows downwardly due to gravity and is collected and routed back to the storage tank. One or more gutters are disposed along the interior wall of the containment structure for collecting the condensate from the wall. Piping is provided for communicating the condensate from the gutters to the storage tank.
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Current AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corporation (Paramount Global (f/k/a ViacomCBS Inc.))
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Original AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corporation (Paramount Global (f/k/a ViacomCBS Inc.))
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InventorsSchultz, Terry L.
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Primary Examiner(s)Wasil, Daniel D.
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Application NumberUS07/903,639Time in Patent Office482 DaysField of Search376/298, 376/299, 376/282US Class Current376/299CPC Class CodesG21C 15/18 Emergency cooling arrangeme...Y02E 30/30 Nuclear fission reactors
