US4148686A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Auxiliary cooling device for the primary fluid heat exchanger of a nuclear reactor
Assignee: Stein Industrie SA
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Filing: 1976-12-10
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Granted: 1979-04-10
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Expires: 1996-12-10
Abstract
Abstract An auxiliary cooling device for a primary fluid heat exchanger of a rapid neutron nuclear reactor, the exchanger having at least one nest of tubes in which there flows water to be heated to superheated steam and around whose tubes and inside whose casing there flows a liquid alkaline metal constituting the primary fluid. The casing of the exchanger is surrounded by a jacket having an air inlet tube and an air outlet tube at opposite ends. Inside the jacket there are auxiliary heat exchange surfaces such as spikes projecting from the casing of the primary heat exchanger proper. Application is to the absorption of residual power produced by a rapid neutron reactor after it is shut down.
Inventors
- 👤 Pierre Pouderoux
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 03:07
CPC Classifications
F; F22; F22B; F22B1/00; F22B1/02; F22B1/06; F22B1/063; F28; F28D; F28D7/00; F28D7/0066; F28F; F28F9/00; F28D21/00; F28D2021/0019; F28D2021/0054
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
An auxiliary cooling device for absorbing residual energy in a primary fluid heat exchanger of a nuclear reactor which continues to generate energy after shut down, said exchanger comprising a casing for conveying a flow of primary fluid heated in the reactor and a nest of tubes disposed inside the casing for conveying a secondary cooling fluid in thermal contact with the primary fluid, said auxiliary cooling device comprising a jacket disposed around the casing and including inlet means and outlet means for an auxiliary cooling fluid, and auxiliary heat exchange surfaces projecting from said casing into the space around the casing inside said jacket.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
105 words
An auxiliary cooling device for absorbing residual energy in a primary fluid heat exchanger of a nuclear reactor which continues to generate energy after shut down, said exchanger comprising a casing for conveying a flow of primary fluid heated in the reactor and a nest of tubes disposed inside the casing for conveying a secondary cooling fluid in thermal contact with the primary fluid, said auxiliary cooling device comprising a jacket disposed around the casing and including inlet means and outlet means for an auxiliary cooling fluid, and auxiliary heat exchange surfaces projecting from said casing into the space around the casing inside said jacket.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
An auxiliary cooling device according to claim 1 wherein the auxiliary cooling fluid is air.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
An auxiliary cooling device according to claim 1 wherein the auxiliary heat exchange surfaces are constituted by spikes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
An auxiliary cooling device according to claim 1 wherein the auxiliary cooling fluid inlet and outlet means include means for providing a forced flow of auxiliary cooling fluid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
An auxiliary cooling device according to claim 1 wherein the auxiliary cooling fluid is free to flow by convection.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
An assembly of auxiliary cooling devices according to claim 4 comprising a plurality of primary heat exchangers connected in parallel each equipped with an auxiliary cooling device wherein the auxiliary cooling devices are connected to a common source of forced flow for the auxiliary cooling fluid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
A primary fluid heat exchanger for a nuclear reactor which continues to generate energy after shut down, said exchanger comprising a casing for conveying a flow of primary fluid heated in the reactor and a nest of tubes disposed inside the casing for conveying a secondary cooling fluid in thermal contact with the primary fluid and the auxiliary cooling device of claim 1.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A primary fluid heat exchanger according to claim 7 wherein the secondary cooling fluid is water which is heated to superheated steam.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
A primary fluid heat exchanger according to claim 7 including a primary fluid jacket over portions of the casing adjacent each of its ends, the jacket of the auxiliary cooling device being disposed intermediate the portions of the primary fluid jacket.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
A rapid neutron nuclear reactor installation including the heat exchanger of claim 7.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A reactor installation according to claim 10 wherein the primary fluid heated by the reactor is an alkaline metal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
An auxiliary cooling device according to claim 1 including a primary fluid jacket over portions of the casing adjacent each of its ends, the jacket of the auxiliary cooling device being disposed intermediate the portions of the primary fluid jacket.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
An auxiliary cooling device according to claim 1 wherein the secondary cooling fluid is water which is heated to superheated steam.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4056439A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-04-09 | 1982-10-09 | 1983-04-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-04-09 | 1986-10-09 | 1987-04-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-04-09 | 1990-10-09 | 1991-04-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |