US3667370A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Nuclear containment emergency ventilating system
Assignee: Stone and Webster Engineering Corp
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Filing: 1970-01-13
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Granted: 1972-06-06
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Expires: 1990-01-13
Abstract
Abstract An emergency air mixing and venting system within the containment structure of a nuclear power reactor containment system mixes gases and vapors contaminated with radioactivity with air contained in the containment structure prior to passing air in the containment through conventional gas treatment equipment and subsequently discharging it to the outside atmosphere.
Inventors
- 👤 John H Noble
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 13:18
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24F; F24F7/00; F24F7/04; F24F7/06; G; G21; G21C; G21C13/00; G21C13/02; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
An emergency ventilating system in a nuclear power reactor containment vessel or the like controlling the release therein of gases and vapors contaminated with radioactivity, comprising: a circulating fan member having a suction side and a discharge side; intake duct means connected to said suction side of said circulating fan; recirculating duct means connected to said discharge side of said circulating fan; said recirculating duct means terminating in a recirculation distribution duct; air mixing means located within said recirculating duct means; and exhaust conduit means connected to said recirculating duct means at a point intermediate said air mixing means and said recirculation distribution duct, said exhaust conduit means terminating in vent means adapted to vent air exhausted therethrough to the environment surrounding said containment vessel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
An emergency ventilating system in a nuclear power reactor containment vessel or the like controlling the release therein of gases and vapors contaminated with radioactivity, comprising: a circulating fan member having a suction side and a discharge side; intake duct means connected to said suction side of said circulating fan; recirculating duct means connected to said discharge side of said circulating fan; said recirculating duct means terminating in a recirculation distribution duct; air mixing means located within said recirculating duct means; and exhaust conduit means connected to said recirculating duct means at a point intermediate said air mixing means and said recirculation distribution duct, said exhaust conduit means terminating in vent means adapted to vent air exhausted therethrough to the environment surrounding said containment vessel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
An emergency ventilating system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said exhaust conduit means includes gas treatment means for removing a portion of said radioactivity contained in the air passing therethrough.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
67 words
An emergency ventilating system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said intake duct means includes a plurality of spaced intake openings therein; said distribution duct includes a plurality of spaced distributiOn openings therein; and said intake and distribution openings are spaced from one another so as to develop a flow path therebetween which encompasses at least a major portion of the free volume within said containment vessel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
An emergency ventilating system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said exhaust conduit means is adapted to exhaust from said recirculating conduit means a small fraction of the recirculating air flowing therethrough.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
An emergency ventilating system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said exhaust conduit means includes a terminal portion extending within and substantially completely across said recirculating conduit means, said terminal portion having a plurality of apertures spaced therealong, each of said apertures adapted to receive a substantially equal proportion of the recirculating air which flows past said aperture.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
An emergency ventilating system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said system maintains said containment vessel at sub-atmospheric pressure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
71 words
An emergency ventilating system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said emergency ventilating system is located within a secondary containment structure having an operating floor and a plurality of service levels beneath said operating floor; said plurality of intake duct openings are located at at least one of said levels of said secondary containment structure below said operating floor; and said plurality of distribution openings are located above said operating floor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
An emergency ventilating system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said fraction of recirculating air flowing through said recirculating conduit means which is exhausted through said exhaust conduit means is less than about 5 percent.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
An emergency ventilating system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said distribution duct is located near the top of said secondary containment structure.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
92 words
A method for ventilating a nuclear power reactor containment vessel or the like upon the release therein of gases and vapors contaminated with radioactivity, comprising the steps of: developing a recirculating air flow path within said containment vessel; mixing said gases and vapors contaminated with radioactivity with said recirculating air flow path; and continuously exhausting a small fraction of the mixed, recirculating air flow to the environment surrounding said containment vessel, whereby the maximum rate of radioactivity release to said environment is limited to the ratio of exhaust flow to recirculation flow.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
92 words
A method for ventilating a nuclear power reactor containment vessel or the like upon the release therein of gases and vapors contaminated with radioactivity, comprising the steps of: developing a recirculating air flow path within said containment vessel; mixing said gases and vapors contaminated with radioactivity with said recirculating air flow path; and continuously exhausting a small fraction of the mixed, recirculating air flow to the environment surrounding said containment vessel, whereby the maximum rate of radioactivity release to said environment is limited to the ratio of exhaust flow to recirculation flow.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said recirculating air flow path encompasses at least a major portion of the free volume within said containment vessel, so that radioactivity which has not been discharged becomes substantially uniformly mixed within said major portion of the containment volume.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said exhausted fraction of said mixed, recirculating air flow is received from a plurality of spaced points within a plane substantially normal to said recirculating air flow.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said fraction of said recirculating air flow which is exhausted is less than about 5 percent.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as claimed in claim 10, including the step of maintaining said containment vessel at sub-atmospheric pressure.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method as claimed in claim 10, including the step of: passing said exhausted fraction of said mixed, recirculating air flow through gas treatment means for the removal of a portion of said radioactivity therefrom prior to exhausting said fraction to the environment surrounding the containment vessel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said containment vessel comprises a secondary containment structure having an operating floor and a plurality of service levels beneath said operating floor, and wherein air is removed from at least one of said levels below said operating floor and is discharged above said operating floor near the top of said secondary containment structure.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-06-06 | 1975-12-06 | 1976-06-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-06 | 1979-12-06 | 1980-06-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-06 | 1983-12-06 | 1984-06-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |