US3889707A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pressure relief system for a nuclear reactor
Assignee: General Atomics Corp
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Filing: 1971-11-19
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Granted: 1975-06-17
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Expires: 1991-11-19
Abstract
Abstract A pressure relief and secondary containment system is described for containing an increase in pressure without leaking contaminants to the ambient atmosphere. A first containment enclosure is provided, which may be a building housing a nuclear reactor or a chemical processing system or the like which is capable of releasing contaminants in the event of an accident. A remote evacuated vessel or second containment enclosure is also provided. The first containment enclosure is relieved, in the event of an increase in pressure therein, to the second containment enclosure through a pressure regulating fluid seal. The fluid seal maintains a pressure differential between the first and the second containment enclosures during normal conditions.
Inventors
- 👤 H Peter Fay
- 👤 William S Peck
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 21:38
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01J; B01J19/00; B01J19/0006; B01J19/002; G; G21; G21C; G21C13/00; G21C9/00; B01J2219/00; B01J2219/00049; B01J2219/00245; B01J2219/0027; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/4456; Y10T137/4643; Y10T137/5762
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
257 words
A pressure relief and containment system for a potential source of contaminated gas, comprising, a first containment enclosure for enclosing the potential source for receiving gas from the source, a second containment enclosure, means for producing a subatmospheric pressure in said second containment enclosure, duct means for conveying gas from said first containment enclosure to said second containment enclosure, and a pressure regulating fluid seal in said duct means for maintaining a separation between said first containment enclosure and said second containment enclosure, said fluid seal being breachable upon a rise in pressure within said first containment enclosure to a predetermined level to allow gas flow from said first containment enclosure into said second containment enclosure, said fluid seal including a main chamber in communication with said second containment enclosure, a second chamber, an overflow chamber, a wall separating said main chamber from said second chamber, a passage in said wall communicating between said main chamber and said second chamber, a weir between said second chamber and said overflow chamber and above the level of said passage, means for maintaining atmospheric pressure in said second chamber above said weir, and means for filling said main chamber with fluid to a level above that of said weir to provide a pressure head sufficient to offset the difference in pressure between said first containment enclosure and said second containment enclosure, said duct means being of a configuration to communicate with said main chamber at a discharge level both below that of said weir and above that of said passage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
257 words
A pressure relief and containment system for a potential source of contaminated gas, comprising, a first containment enclosure for enclosing the potential source for receiving gas from the source, a second containment enclosure, means for producing a subatmospheric pressure in said second containment enclosure, duct means for conveying gas from said first containment enclosure to said second containment enclosure, and a pressure regulating fluid seal in said duct means for maintaining a separation between said first containment enclosure and said second containment enclosure, said fluid seal being breachable upon a rise in pressure within said first containment enclosure to a predetermined level to allow gas flow from said first containment enclosure into said second containment enclosure, said fluid seal including a main chamber in communication with said second containment enclosure, a second chamber, an overflow chamber, a wall separating said main chamber from said second chamber, a passage in said wall communicating between said main chamber and said second chamber, a weir between said second chamber and said overflow chamber and above the level of said passage, means for maintaining atmospheric pressure in said second chamber above said weir, and means for filling said main chamber with fluid to a level above that of said weir to provide a pressure head sufficient to offset the difference in pressure between said first containment enclosure and said second containment enclosure, said duct means being of a configuration to communicate with said main chamber at a discharge level both below that of said weir and above that of said passage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said duct means include a perforated diffuser section at said discharge level.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
A system according to claim 1 including a second duct communicating between said first containment enclosure and said second containment enclosure for reducing the pressure level in said first containment enclosure, said second duct terminating in said main chamber at a level above that of said weir, and a valve selectively operable to open and close said second duct, whereby the pressure in said first containment enclosure may be reduced to subatmospheric.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
204 words
A pressure relief and containment system for a potential source of contaminated gas, comprising, a first containment enclosure for enclosing the potential source for receiving gas from the source, a second containment enclosure, means for producing a pressure in said second containment enclosure substantially less than the pressure in said first containment enclosure, first hydrostatic head forming means having the region above the hydrostatic head formed thereby communicating with said second containment enclosure, second hydrostatic head forming means, and duct means communicating between said first containment enclosure and said first hydrostatic head forming means below the level of said weir and above given level. means and means for maintaining a constant reference pressure thereabove, said first and second hydrostatic head forming means communicating at a given level, overflow collecting means communicating with the region above the hydrostatic head formed by said second hydrostatic head forming means, a weir separating said overflow collecting means from said second hydrostatic head forming means to maintain a constant level of the hydrostatic head formed by said second hydrostatic head forming means, and duct means communicating between said first containment enclosure and said first hydrostatic head forming means below the level of said weir and above said given level.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
204 words
A pressure relief and containment system for a potential source of contaminated gas, comprising, a first containment enclosure for enclosing the potential source for receiving gas from the source, a second containment enclosure, means for producing a pressure in said second containment enclosure substantially less than the pressure in said first containment enclosure, first hydrostatic head forming means having the region above the hydrostatic head formed thereby communicating with said second containment enclosure, second hydrostatic head forming means, and duct means communicating between said first containment enclosure and said first hydrostatic head forming means below the level of said weir and above given level. means and means for maintaining a constant reference pressure thereabove, said first and second hydrostatic head forming means communicating at a given level, overflow collecting means communicating with the region above the hydrostatic head formed by said second hydrostatic head forming means, a weir separating said overflow collecting means from said second hydrostatic head forming means to maintain a constant level of the hydrostatic head formed by said second hydrostatic head forming means, and duct means communicating between said first containment enclosure and said first hydrostatic head forming means below the level of said weir and above said given level.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A pressure relief system according to claim 4 wherein said reference pressure is atmospheric pressure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
71 words
A pressure relief system according to claim 4 wherein said first hydrostatic head forming means comprise a generally cylindrical chamber depending from said second containment enclosure, wherein said second hydrostatic head forming means comprise an annulus formed within said cylindrical chamber, wherein said overflow collecting means comprise a chamber positioned at a lower level than said cylindrical chamber, and wherein said weir comprises a plurality of stand pipes within said annulus.
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) | 1978-06-16 | 1978-12-16 | 1979-06-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-16 | 1982-12-16 | 1983-06-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-16 | 1986-12-16 | 1987-06-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |