Patent US4113560A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4113560A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Core catcher for nuclear reactor core meltdown containment
Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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Filing: 1976-09-15
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Granted: 1978-09-12
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Expires: 1996-09-15
Abstract
Abstract A bed of graphite particles is placed beneath a nuclear reactor core outside the pressure vessel but within the containment building to catch the core debris in the event of failure of the emergency core cooling system. Spray cooling of the debris and graphite particles together with draining and flooding of coolant fluid of the graphite bed is provided to prevent debris slump-through to the bottom of the bed.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael J. Driscoll
- 👤 Frank L. Bowman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 16:13
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C9/00; G21C9/016; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
In a nuclear reactor of the type having a liquid cooled core in a pressure vessel which is in a containment building having an emergency cooling fluid system the combination with a core catcher for the containment of the debris of a nuclear reactor core meltdown comprising, a bed of high thermal conductivity graphite particles placed under said nuclear reactor core pressure vessel, a bin for containing said particles, means for draining said bed of the core cooling fluid upon meltdown of said core into said bin, means for spraying said debris with said cooling fluid from said bin, means for flooding said bin with said cooling fluid, and said bin being large enough to contain said bed, core debris, and core cooling and emergency fluid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
In a nuclear reactor of the type having a liquid cooled core in a pressure vessel which is in a containment building having an emergency cooling fluid system the combination with a core catcher for the containment of the debris of a nuclear reactor core meltdown comprising, a bed of high thermal conductivity graphite particles placed under said nuclear reactor core pressure vessel, a bin for containing said particles, means for draining said bed of the core cooling fluid upon meltdown of said core into said bin, means for spraying said debris with said cooling fluid from said bin, means for flooding said bin with said cooling fluid, and said bin being large enough to contain said bed, core debris, and core cooling and emergency fluid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
93 words
The core catcher of claim 1 wherein said graphite particles have a size large enough to avoid fluidization by the cooling fluid, but small enough to provide a high surface area for thermal contact with the core debris; the interstices of said particles are large enough to facilitate drainage of the cooling fluid and venting of its vapor but not so large as to enhance overall bed heat conductance through convective cell action and not so large as to permit molten debris to channel through the bed to the walls of the bin.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The core catcher of claim 2 wherein said graphite particles are stick-like in shape.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The core catcher of claim 1 wherein the fluid used for cooling the suspended debris is the original core-cooling fluid supplemented by the same type of fluid from the storage means, and said bin is also large enough to contain the additional fluid from said storage means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3168445A
Cited
US3607630A
Cited
US3378452A
Cited
US3629064A
Cited
US3702802A
Cited
US3719556A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-09-11 | 1982-03-13 | 1982-09-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-09-11 | 1986-03-13 | 1986-09-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-09-11 | 1990-03-13 | 1990-09-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |