Nuclear reactor loop reactivation system

Claim 2

A nuclear reactor loop reactivation system comprising: a fluid moderated and cooled nuclear reactor; at least one fluid circulation loop connected to said nuclear reactor for removing the heat generated therein, and means for causing circulation of the fluid through said loop; at least one isolation valve situated within said loop for isolating same when required; a conduit of a smaller diameter than said loop coupled to said loop so as to bypass said valve whereby mixing of the fluid in an isolated loop may be accomplished with the isolation valve closed; a valve in said conduit; a temperature sensor in said loop electrically coupled to said valve to prevent the valve being opened if the temperature in said loop is below a desired lower limit, means coupled to said conduit for ascertaining the existence of flow through the conduit, said means being electrically coupled to said valve so as to prevent the valve being opened until a predetermined amount of fluid from the isolated loop has mixed with the remaining fluid in the reactor system; and a timer actuated by said means, said timer being set to allow the opening of the valve after a predetermined time.

Claim 3

A nuclear reactor loop reactivation system comprising: a fluid moderated and cooled nuclear reactor; at least one fluid circulation loop connected to said nuclear reactor for removing the heat generated therein, and means for causing circulation of the fluid through said loop; a pair of isolation valves situated within said loop for isolating same when required, a first of said valves prohibiting the entry of fluid into the loop and the second valve prohibiting the exit of fluid from said loop, and a bypass line connected in said loop downstream of said first valve and upstream of said second valve; a valve in said bypass line; a conduit of a smaller diameter than said loop connected at one end to said bypass line and at its other end to the downstream side of said second valve so as to bypass said second valve whereby mixing of the fluid in an isolated loop may be accomplished with the second isolation valve closed; a temperature sensor situated in said loop and electrically coupled to said second valve so as to prevent the valve being opened if the temperature is below a desired lower limit, and means coupled to said conduit for ascertaining the existence of flow through the conduit, said means being electrically coupled to said second valve so as to prevent the valve being opened until a predetermined amount of fluid from the isolated loop has mixed with the remaining fluid in the reactor system.

Claim 4

A nuclear reactor loop reactivation system comprising: a fluid moderated and cooled nuclear reactor; at least one fluid circulation loop connected to said nuclear reactor for removing the heat generated therein, and means for causing circulation of the fluid through said loop; a pair of isolation valves situated within said loop for isolating same when required, a first of said valves prohibiting the entry of fluid into the loop and the second valve prohibiting the exit of fluid from said loop, and a bypass line connected in said loop downstream of said first valve and upstream of said second valve; a valve in said bypass line; a conduit of a smaller diameter than said loop connected at one end to said bypass line and at its other end to the downstream side of said second valve so as to bypass said second valve whereby mixing of the fluid in an isolated loop may be accomplished with the second isolation valve closed; a temperature sensor situated in said loop and electrically coupled to said second valve so as to prevent the valve being opened if the temperature is below a desired lower limit, and means coupled to said conduit for ascertaining the existence of flow through the conduit, said means being electrically coupled to said second valve so as to prevent the valve being opened until a predetermined amount of fluid from the isolated loop has mixed with the remaining fluid in the reactor system.