Integrated reactor shield structures and integrated pressure vessel structures
AssigneeBattelle Energy Alliance, LLC
InventorsSamuel E. Bays, Abderrafi M. Ougouag, Ting-Leung Sham, Joshua N. Zelina, Ryan H. Stewart, Adam X. Zabriskie, Robert C. O'Brien, Robert E. Spears, Adrian R. Wagner, Kyler E. Egan
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Abstract
An integrated reactor shield structure includes radially adjacent layers. Each layer includes radially extending walls defining cells and a sheet surrounding the radially extending walls. Biologic shielding material is disposed in each of the cells. Integrated pressure vessel structures are also disclosed.
Claims23
An integrated reactor shield and pressure vessel structure for a nuclear reactor, the integrated reactor shield and pressure vessel structure comprising:
- radially adjacent layers, each layer comprising radially extending walls defining cells and a sheet surrounding the radially extending walls, the radially extending walls and the sheet being formed from steel, a steel alloy, an aluminum alloy, a titanium alloy, or a nickel alloy, and each of the cells comprising a linear channel extending longitudinally along substantially an entire length of each layer;
- and
- biologic shielding material disposed in each of the cells,
- the radially adjacent lavers each comprising an annular flange, the annular flange of each of the layers being fastened to one another.
A pressure vessel structure integrating a reactor shield comprising:
- layers of sandwich composite material, each layer comprising:
- a sheet of metallic material, and
- cell walls of the metallic material, the cell walls extending radially from the sheet, the sheet and the cell walls defining cores therebetween, the cores comprising longitudinally extending channels that each extend along substantially an entire length of each layer;
- and
- filler material disposed within the cores, the filler material being configured to transmit a compressive force between the layers of sandwich composite material,
- the layers of sandwich composite material each comprising an annular flange, the annular flange of each of the layers of sandwich composite material being fastened to one another.
An integrated reactor shield and pressure vessel structure comprising:
- a first layer comprising:
- a first sheet of metallic material,
- first cell walls extending radially from the first sheet, the first cell walls and the first sheet defining first cores therebetween, each first core being configured as a first channel extending longitudinally along substantially an entire length of the integrated reactor shield and pressure vessel structure, and
- a first biologic shielding material disposed within the first cores;
- and
- a second layer adjacent to the first layer, the second layer comprising:
- a second sheet of metallic material,
- second cell walls extending radially from the second sheet, the second cell walls and the second sheet defining second cores therebetween, each second core being configured as a second channel extending longitudinally along substantially the entire length of the integrated reactor shield and pressure vessel structure, and the second cell walls being circumferentially offset from the first cell walls, and
- a second biologic shielding material disposed within the second cores, the second biologic shielding material overlapping the first cell walls,
- the first and second layers each comprising an annular flange, the annular flange of each of the first and second layers being fastened to one another.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.