US4101377A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fast neutron reactor
Assignee: Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et Aux Énergies Alternatives
•
Filing: 1977-03-25
•
Granted: 1978-07-18
•
Expires: 1997-03-25
Abstract
Abstract A cylindrical inner vessel containing the reactor core is placed coaxially within a main vessel. Heat exchangers are disposed within the annular space formed between the two vessels, each heat exchanger being delimited by an outer shell and a coaxial inner shell which surrounds a central feed duct having a vertical axis. The upper end of the annular space communicates with a flared end portion of the central duct through a first circular window formed in the inner shell. The lower end of the annular space communicates with the region located between the inner vessel and the main vessel through a second circular window formed in the outer shell.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean-Marie Berniolles
- 👤 Patrick Jogand
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 18:56
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C1/00; G21C1/02; G21C1/03; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
317 words
A fast neutron reactor in which a volume of liquid coolant metal is contained within a metallic main vessel having a vertical axis and an open-topped end suspended from a shield roof of substantial thickness forming a closure for a containment vault which surrounds said vessel, there being also placed within said main vessel an inner vessel having a cylindrical wall for containing the reactor core which is immersed beneath the level of the liquid metal, provision being made within the intermediate space between the main vessel and the inner vessel for heat exchangers and pumps immersed beneath the level of the liquid metal, each heat exchanger being such as to have an annular shape defined by an inner shell and an outer shell in parallel relation and provided with plurality of heat-transfer tubes extending vertically over the greater part of their length, said tubes being in contact externally with the liquid metal which passes through the heat exchanger and arranged in concentric rings between the two shells, said tubes being such as to have their openings in two end tube-plates which delimit with the two shells of the heat exchanger two manifolds consisting respectively of an inlet manifold at the lower end of the heat exchanger and an outlet manifold at the upper end for a heat-transfer fluid which serves to collect the heat gained by the liquid metal as it passes through the reactor core, wherein the inner shell surrounds a central feed duct having a vertical axis and joined to the inner vessel and wherein the annular space between the two shells communicates at the upper end thereof with a flared portion of the central duct through a first circular window formed in the inner shell and at the lower end thereof with the region located between the inner vessel and the main vessel through a second circular window formed in the outer shell.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
317 words
A fast neutron reactor in which a volume of liquid coolant metal is contained within a metallic main vessel having a vertical axis and an open-topped end suspended from a shield roof of substantial thickness forming a closure for a containment vault which surrounds said vessel, there being also placed within said main vessel an inner vessel having a cylindrical wall for containing the reactor core which is immersed beneath the level of the liquid metal, provision being made within the intermediate space between the main vessel and the inner vessel for heat exchangers and pumps immersed beneath the level of the liquid metal, each heat exchanger being such as to have an annular shape defined by an inner shell and an outer shell in parallel relation and provided with plurality of heat-transfer tubes extending vertically over the greater part of their length, said tubes being in contact externally with the liquid metal which passes through the heat exchanger and arranged in concentric rings between the two shells, said tubes being such as to have their openings in two end tube-plates which delimit with the two shells of the heat exchanger two manifolds consisting respectively of an inlet manifold at the lower end of the heat exchanger and an outlet manifold at the upper end for a heat-transfer fluid which serves to collect the heat gained by the liquid metal as it passes through the reactor core, wherein the inner shell surrounds a central feed duct having a vertical axis and joined to the inner vessel and wherein the annular space between the two shells communicates at the upper end thereof with a flared portion of the central duct through a first circular window formed in the inner shell and at the lower end thereof with the region located between the inner vessel and the main vessel through a second circular window formed in the outer shell.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A nuclear reactor according to claim 1, wherein the bottom manifold for the supply of the heat-transfer tubes is connected to a plurality of ducts for supplying the heat-transfer fluid, said ducts being arranged at intervals at the periphery of the outer shell of the heat exchanger.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
124 words
A nuclear reactor in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the central feed duct has two tubular elements which fit one inside the other with provision for a clearance space, one element aforesaid being connected to an elbowed extension provided at the lower end of the axial duct and connected to the inner vessel by means of an orifice formed in the lateral wall of said vessel and the other element being connected to the window formed in the inner shell of the heat exchanger, the clearance space between the two elements aforesaid being filled with a volume of stagnant liquid metal, there being placed above said volume an inert gas blanket which is trapped between the axial duct and the inner shell.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
74 words
A nuclear reactor according to claim 1, wherein the elbowed extension of the central duct is connected to the inner vessel in the vicinity of the lower end of said vessel, there being formed between the internal surface of said vessel and the reactor core an annular space in which the hot liquid metal discharged from the reactor core flows downwards before being collected by said elbowed extension and conveyed to the heat exchanger.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
A nuclear reactor according to claim 1, wherein the elbowed extension of the central duct is surrounded by a jacket defining an annular space which communicates against the wall of the inner vessel with a thermal insulation region provided between said wall and a parallel baffle-plate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
A nuclear reactor according to claim 5, wherein leakages of liquid metal collected at the base of the inner vessel are circulated through the annular space, said space being intended to communicate with the upper end of the central duct within the clearance space formed between the two elements which constitute said duct.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A nuclear reactor according to claim 5, wherein the annular space contains a layer of stagnant liquid metal, said space being intended to communicate with the inner region of the inner vessel or with the outer region.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
A nuclear reactor according to claim 1, wherein the heat-transfer tubes are elbowed at least at one end in order to be joined to a tube-plate of cylindrical shape which defines an annular manifold for the intermediate fluid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
A nuclear reactor according to claim 8, wherein the annular manifold defined by the cylindrical tube-plate in which the ends of the elbowed tubes have their openings is disposed in coaxial relation with the shells of the heat exchanger externally of said heat exchanger.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
A nuclear reactor in accordance with claim 6, characterized in that the annular manifold defined by the cylindrical tube-plate in which the ends of the elbowed tubes have their openings is disposed in coaxial relation with the shells of the heat exchanger either externally or internally of the said heat exchanger.
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) | 1981-07-17 | 1982-01-16 | 1982-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-07-17 | 1986-01-16 | 1986-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-07-17 | 1990-01-16 | 1990-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |