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AssigneeBWXT mPower, Inc.
InventorThomas G. Graham
Estimating the term…
In conjunction with a pressurized water reactor (PWR) and a pressurizer configured to control pressure in the reactor pressure vessel, a decay heat removal system comprises a pressurized passive condenser, a turbine-driven pump connected to suction water from at least one water source into the reactor pressure vessel; and steam piping configured to deliver steam from the pressurizer to the turbine to operate the pump and to discharge the delivered steam into the pressurized passive condenser. The pump and turbine may be mounted on a common shaft via which the turbine drives the pump. The at least one water source may include a refueling water storage tank (RWST) and/or the pressurized passive condenser. A pressurizer power operated relief valve may control discharge of a portion of the delivered steam bypassing the turbine into the pressurized passive condenser to control pressure in the pressurizer.
A method operating in conjunction with a pressurized water reactor (PWR) including a nuclear reactor core comprising fissile material disposed in a reactor pressure vessel also containing primary coolant water, a pressurizer integral with or operatively connected with the reactor pressure vessel and configured to control pressure in the reactor pressure vessel, and a refueling water storage tank (RWST), the method comprising responding to a loss of heat sinking of the PWR by operations including:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.