Combined mounting/electrical distribution plate for powering internal control rod drive mechanism (CRDM) units of a nuclear reactor
AssigneeBWXT mPower, Inc.
InventorScott J. Shargots
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A power distribution plate (PDP) sits on top of a support plate. Control rod drive mechanism (CRDM) units are mounted on top of the PDP, but the PDP is incapable of supporting the weight of the CRDM units and instead transfers the load to a support plate. The PDP has receptacles which receive cable modules each including mineral insulated (MI) cables, the MI cables being connected with the CRDM units. The PDP may further include a set of hydraulic lines underlying the cable modules and connected with the CRDM units. The cable modules in their receptacles define conduits or raceways for their MI cables and for any underlying hydraulic lines.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising:
- a nuclear reactor comprising a pressure vessel containing primary coolant water and further containing:
- a nuclear reactor core;
- a mounting/electrical distribution plate secured entirely within the pressure vessel and configured to be submerged in the primary coolant;
- a set of control rod drive mechanism (CRDM) units mounted directly on the mounting/electrical distribution plate;
- and
- a plurality of cable modules mounted in receptacles of the mounting/electrical distribution plate wherein each cable module includes mineral insulated (MI) cables connected with one or more of the CRDM units, the cable module including its MI cables being removable as a unit from the receptacle of the mounting/electrical distribution plate.
A nuclear reactor including a pressure vessel containing primary coolant water and a nuclear reactor core, comprising:
- a mounting/electrical distribution plate secured entirely within the pressure vessel and configured to be submerged in the primary coolant;
- a set of control rod drive mechanism (CRDM) units mounted directly on the mounting/electrical distribution plate;
- and
- a plurality of cable modules mounted in receptacles of the mounting/electrical distribution plate wherein each cable module includes cables connected with one or more of the CRDM units, the cable module including its cables being removable as a unit from the receptacle of the mounting/electrical distribution plate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.