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US 2019/0164655 A1Published application
Floating nuclear power reactor with a self-cooling containment structure
OwnerPalvannanathan Ganesaninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A floating nuclear power reactor including one or two nuclear power reactors positioned in a floating vessel such as a barge or the like. Means is disclosed for flooding the containment structure of the nuclear reactor and for flooding the reactor vessels to cool the same.
Claims8
A floating nuclear power reactor, comprising:
- a floating vessel having a bottom positioned beneath the water level of a body of water, sides extending upwardly from said bottom, and an upper end which is positioned above the water level of the body of water;
- a nuclear power reactor positioned on said vessel which extends upwardly from said bottom of said vessel;
- said nuclear power reactor including an upstanding containment structure having a lower end, an upstanding side wall, and an upper end;
- said upstanding containment structure defining a sealed interior compartment;
- said lower end and a lower portion of said upstanding side wall of said containment structure being positioned below the water level of the body of water;
- a first water passageway, having inner and outer ends, extending through said bottom of said vessel and through said containment structure;
- said outer end of said first water passageway being in fluid communication with the body of water;
- said inner end of said first water passageway being in fluid communication with said interior compartment of said containment structure;
- a reactor vessel in said interior compartment of said containment structure;
- said reactor vessel being positioned below the water level of the body of water;
- a first hatch movably mounted in said first water passageway;
- said first hatch being movable between a closed position and an open position;
- means associated with said movable hatch which yieldably urges said hatch to said open position;
- said first hatch, when in said closed position, closing said first water passageway;
- said first hatch, when in said open position, permitting water from the body of water to flow inwardly through said first water passageway into said interior compartment of said containment structure to cool said reactor vessel;
- a first latching means associated with said first hatch which is movable from a latched position to an unlatched position;
- said first latching means, when in said latched position, maintaining said first hatch in said closed position;
- said first latching means, when in said unlatched position, permitting said first hatch to move from said closed position to said open position;
- and a condition responsive actuator associated with said first latching means to move said first latching means from said latched position to said unlatched position upon the condition within said containment structure reaching a predetermined level.
16 more elements
A nuclear power reactor, comprising:
- a nuclear power reactor submerged in a body of water;
- said nuclear power reactor having a lower end, an upstanding side wall, and an upper end;
- a water passageway, having inner and outer ends, extending into said nuclear power reactor;
- said outer end of said water passageway being in fluid communication with the body of water;
- a hatch movably mounted in said water passageway;
- said hatch being movable between a closed position and an open position;
- means associated with said movable hatch which yieldably urges said hatch to said open position;
- said hatch, when in said closed position, closing said water passageway;
- said hatch, when in said open position, permitting water from the body of water to flow inwardly through said water passageway into said nuclear power reactor;
- a latching means associated with said hatch which is movable from a latched position to an unlatched position;
- said latching means, when in said latched position, maintaining said hatch in said closed position;
- said latching means, when in said unlatched position, permitting said hatch to move from said closed position to said open position;
- and a condition responsive actuator associated with said latching means to move said latching means from said latched position to said unlatched position upon the condition within said nuclear power reactor reaching a predetermined level.
10 more elements
A condition responsive actuator, comprising:
- an elongated hollow body portion having first and second ends with a hollow neck portion extending from said second end of said body portion;
- a piston slidably mounted in said neck portion which is longitudinally movable between first and second positions in said neck portion;
- an actuator rod, having inner and outer ends, secured to said piston which is movable between retracted and extended positions;
- said actuator rod extending from said piston outwardly through said neck portion;
- said actuator rod being in said retracted position when said piston is in said first position;
- said actuator rod being in said extended position when said piston is in said second position;
- said body having a pressure or temperature responsive medium therein;
- said pressure or temperature responsive medium expanding when subjected to a predetermined level of temperature or pressure to cause said piston to move from said first position to said second position thereby causing said actuator to move from said retracted position to said extended position.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.