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US 12,040,098 B2Granted
External closed-loop nuclear reactor cooling assembly enclosed in a protective structure
AssigneeTerrestrial Energy Inc.
InventorsDavid Leblanc, Anthonius C. Rodenburg, John Handbury
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A closed loop heat convection cooling system for nuclear reactors. The cooling system is formed outside the containment structure of the nuclear reactor. The cooling system has cooling assemblies that are housed in protective structures, which shield the cooling assemblies from projectile impact. Air inlet and outlet apertures are formed in the protective structures to cause outside air to be drawn into the protective structures to passively cool the cooling assemblies.
Claims19
A cooling system for a nuclear reactor, the nuclear reactor being contained in a nuclear containment structure, the cooling system comprising:
- a closed circuit configured to be positioned outside the nuclear containment structure, the closed circuit further configured to have circulating therein a gas through heat convection, the closed circuit having:
- a receiving portion configured to be positioned at the nuclear containment structure to receive therefrom gas to be cooled by the cooling system;
- a return portion configured to be positioned at the nuclear containment structure to provide thereto gas cooled by the cooling system;
- and
- a plurality of cooling assemblies coupled to the receiving portion and to the return portion, each cooling assembly of the plurality of cooling assemblies comprising a group of conduits located along a same section of the closed circuit and interconnecting a first header to a second header, the group of conduits configured for the gas circulating therein to move toward the return portion;
- and
- a plurality of protective structures distinct from the plurality of cooling assemblies,
- each protective structure of the plurality of protective structures enclosing one or more than one cooling assembly of the plurality of cooling assemblies to shield the one or more than one cooling assembly from projectile impact,
- each protective structure of the plurality of protective structures having a pair of flat, spaced apart walls between which the group of conduits of the one or more than one cooling assembly are disposed, and
- each protective structure of the plurality of protective structures defining an air inlet aperture positioned on one of the pair of walls of the respective protective structure and an air outlet aperture positioned on the respective protective structure above the position of the inlet aperture, the air inlet aperture and the air outlet aperture being configured for passive circulation of air through their respective protective structure to passively cool the group of conduits of the one or more than one cooling assembly disposed in the respective protective structure.
7 more elements
A cooling system for a nuclear reactor, the nuclear reactor being contained in a nuclear containment structure, the cooling system comprising:
- a closed circuit configured to be positioned outside the nuclear containment structure, the closed circuit further configured to have circulating therein a gas through heat convection, the closed circuit having:
- a receiving portion configured to be positioned at the nuclear containment structure to receive therefrom gas to be cooled by the cooling system;
- a return portion configured to be positioned at the nuclear containment structure to provide thereto gas cooled by the cooling system;
- and
- a plurality of cooling assemblies coupled to the receiving portion and to the return portion, each cooling assembly of the plurality of cooling assemblies comprising a heat exchanger assembly located between the receiving portion and the return portion, the heat exchanger assembly configured for the gas circulating therein to move toward the return portion;
- and
- a plurality of protective structures distinct from the plurality of cooling assemblies,
- each protective structure of the plurality of protective structures enclosing one or more than one cooling assembly of the plurality of cooling assemblies to shield each heat exchanger assembly of each of the one or more than one cooling assembly from projectile impact,
- each protective structure of the plurality of protective structures having a pair of flat, spaced apart walls between which each heat exchanger assembly of the one or more than one cooling assembly is disposed, and
- each protective structure of the plurality of protective structures defining an air inlet aperture positioned on one of the pair of walls of the respective protective structure and an air outlet aperture positioned on the respective protective structure above the position of the inlet aperture, the air inlet aperture and the air outlet aperture being configured for passive circulation of air through their respective protective structure to provide passive cooling to each heat exchanger assembly of the one or more than one cooling assembly disposed in the respective protective structure.
7 more elements
A cooling system for a nuclear reactor, the cooling system comprising:
- a receiving portion configured to be positioned at the nuclear reactor to receive therefrom gas to be cooled by the cooling system;
- a return portion configured to be positioned at the nuclear reactor to provide thereto gas cooled by the cooling system;
- a plurality of cooling assemblies coupled to the receiving portion and to the return portion, each cooling assembly of the plurality of cooling assemblies comprising conduits through which the gas circulates, in a same direction, toward the return portion, each cooling assembly being part a closed circuit configured for the gas to circulate therein through heat convection;
- a plurality of protective structures distinct from the plurality of cooling assemblies,
- each protective structure of the plurality of protective structures enclosing one or more than one cooling assembly of the plurality of cooling assemblies to shield the one or more than one cooling assembly from projectile impact,
- each protective structure of the plurality of protective structures having a pair of flat, spaced apart walls between which the conduits of the one or more than one cooling assembly are disposed, and
- each protective structure of the plurality of protective structures defining an air inlet aperture defined by one wall of the pair of walls of the respective protective structure and an air outlet aperture defined by the respective protective structure above the position of the inlet aperture, the air inlet aperture and the air outlet aperture being configured for passive circulation of air through their respective protective structure to provide passive cooling to the conduits of the one or more than one cooling assembly disposed in the respective protective structure.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.