Rupture protection device for steam generators of substantially cylindrical shape, preferably of pressurized-water nuclear power plants

Claim 1

Rupture protection device for a steam generator of substantially cylindrical shape, the steam generator having a housing with a cover, comprising a rupture protection enclosure for surrounding the steam generator, said enclosure including a base, a cover and a jacket formed of tension-resistant and compression-resistant material, and axially stressable connecting means for connecting said base, said cover and said jacket to one another, said jacket being formed of substantially cylindrical sections, said cover being formed of a substantially concave spherical shell and a bearing ring, said spherical shell having an outer rim surface, said bearing ring being formed with an inner ring surface corresponding to said outer rim surface, said spherical shell being braced as a separate structural member through said outer rim surface thereof against said inner ring surface of said bearing ring, said bearing ring forming part of a bracing assembly comprising said base, said cover, and said substantially cylindrical jacket through the intermediary of said axially stressable connecting means, said spherical shell being divided into at least two partial shells, and a live steam line extending centrally out of the surface of the cover of the steam generator housing, said partial shells having a parting gap therebetween extending through a location at which the axis of the live steam line extends, said spherical partial shells being formed with sector-shaped recesses at a radially inner periphery thereof surrounding the live steam line.