High Capacity Suction Strainer for an Emergency Core Cooling System in a Nuclear Power Plant

A high capacity suction strainer for an emergency core cooling system in a nuclear power plant comprising:

• a frame;
• a flow-through plenum mechanically mounted to the frame and comprising a plurality of inlets and an outlet;
• and
• a filter array also mechanically mounted to the frame and comprising a plurality of filter groupings, each in fluid communication with a corresponding inlet on the plenum, each filter grouping comprising:
• a plurality of nested tubes, each comprising an inner perforated tube disposed within a corresponding outer perforated tube such that an interstitial space is created between the inner and outer perforated tubes;
• a flow-through top plate comprising a plurality of top grates located at a proximal end of the nested tubes;
• and
• a flow-through bottom plate wherein each top plate is mechanically joined to a corresponding bottom plate by a tie rod and each top plate is separated from the corresponding bottom plate by the plurality of nested tubes;
• wherein the plurality of top grates comprises:
• a first top grate comprising a plurality of first apertures corresponding in size and shape to the outer circumference of each outer perforated tube wherein a proximal end of each outer perforated tube is inserted within and supported by a corresponding first aperture and a plurality of second apertures located between and about the first apertures to allow a fluid flow therethrough;
• and
• a second top grate comprising a plurality of first apertures aligned with the first apertures in the first top grate, each having a smaller cross-sectional area than an opening at the proximal end of the outer perforated tube such that the interstitial space between the inner and outer tubes is at least substantially sealed against a surface of the second grate and such that a proximal end of each inner perforated tube is inserted within and supported by a corresponding first aperture, and a plurality of second apertures aligned with the second apertures on the first top grate and located between and about the first apertures to allow a fluid flow therethrough;
• and
• wherein each top plate is mechanically joined to a corresponding bottom plate by a tie rod and each top plate is separated from the corresponding bottom plate by the plurality of nested tubes.