US4650642A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Heat dissipating nuclear reactor with metal liner
Assignee: United States Department of Energy
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Filing: 1985-11-21
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Granted: 1987-03-17
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Expires: 2005-11-21
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a nuclear reactor containment including a reactor vessel disposed within a cavity with capability for complete inherent decay heat removal in the earth and surrounded by a cast steel containment member which surrounds the vessel. The member has a thick basemat in contact with metal pilings. The basemat rests on a bed of porous particulate material, into which water is fed to produce steam which is vented to the atmosphere. There is a gap between the reactor vessel and the steel containment member. The containment member holds any sodium or core debris escaping from the reactor vessel if the core melts and breaches the vessel.
Inventors
- 👤 Emil L. Gluekler
- 👤 Anstein Hunsbedt
- 👤 Jonathan D. Lazarus
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:58
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C13/00; G21C13/10; G21C15/00; G21C15/18; G21C9/00; G21C9/016; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
A nuclear reactor containment comprising: reactor vessel means disposed in a metal cavity located partially or completely below the surface of the earth in a cavity, a cast steel containment member partially surrounding the reactor vessel means and having an inner surface conforming in shape to an exterior surface of the reactor vessel means, said cast steel member having a solid thick base plate which extends at least across a bottom area of said reactor vessel means, means located below the base plate but adjacent to it for feeding water to a porous media disposed in the hot zone immediately underneath the base plate, said water being converted to steam when the temperature of the hot zone exceeds the boiling point of water, means of venting the steam so formed to the atmosphere, and means in contact with said base plate for supporting at least said base plate and for conducting heat away from said base plate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
157 words
A nuclear reactor containment comprising: reactor vessel means disposed in a metal cavity located partially or completely below the surface of the earth in a cavity, a cast steel containment member partially surrounding the reactor vessel means and having an inner surface conforming in shape to an exterior surface of the reactor vessel means, said cast steel member having a solid thick base plate which extends at least across a bottom area of said reactor vessel means, means located below the base plate but adjacent to it for feeding water to a porous media disposed in the hot zone immediately underneath the base plate, said water being converted to steam when the temperature of the hot zone exceeds the boiling point of water, means of venting the steam so formed to the atmosphere, and means in contact with said base plate for supporting at least said base plate and for conducting heat away from said base plate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The reactor of claim 1 wherein the cast steel member has a thick metal sidewall.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The reactor of claim 2 additionally including heat dissipating means positioned around at least said sidewall of the cast steel member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
The reactor of claim 1 wherein said means for supporting the base plate comprises a plurality of metal piling means in intimate thermal contact with said base plate and which extend downwardly and outwardly into the earth to support at least the base plate and conduct heat away from the reactor into underlying porous media and earth.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The reactor of claim 4 wherein the piling means are in the form of metal H-Beams.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
82 words
In a nuclear reactor having a reactor vessel disposed in a cavity located at least partially below earth's surface, the improvement comprising: a cast steel containment member having a base plate section and a sidewall section with inner surfaces which conform in shape to an outer surface of the reactor vessel, said containment member being positioned adjacent to but spaced from the reactor vessel, and means in thermal contact with said base plate section for supporting same and for conducting heat therefrom.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
82 words
In a nuclear reactor having a reactor vessel disposed in a cavity located at least partially below earth's surface, the improvement comprising: a cast steel containment member having a base plate section and a sidewall section with inner surfaces which conform in shape to an outer surface of the reactor vessel, said containment member being positioned adjacent to but spaced from the reactor vessel, and means in thermal contact with said base plate section for supporting same and for conducting heat therefrom.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The improvement of claim 6, wherein said base plate section of said containment member includes a flange member extending radially outwardly beyond a perimeter of said sidewall section.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The improvement of claim 6, additionally including means located below and adjacent to said base plate section for feeding water to a porous media disposed immediately beneath said base plate section, and means for venting any steam formed in said porous media.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The improvement of claim 6, wherein said base plate section has a thickness of about three feet, and wherein said sidewall section has a thickness of about eight inches.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
63 words
The improvement of claim 6, wherein said means for supporting said base plate section comprises a plurality of metal pilings which extend downwardly and outwardly into earth beneath said base plate section, each of said plurality of metal pilings being in contract at one end thereof with said base plate section and additionally function to dissipate heat away from said base plate section.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The improvement of claim 10, wherein said metal pilings each are in the form of metal H-beams.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The improvement of claim 6, additionally including heat dissipating means positioned around at least said sidewall section of said containment member.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-03-16 | 1990-09-15 | 1991-03-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-03-16 | 1994-09-15 | 1995-03-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-03-16 | 1998-09-15 | 1999-03-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |