Plug-to-plug gas transfer system
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
InventorAllan M. Poindexter
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for conducting a fluid from one component to another component of a nuclear reactor wherein at least one such component is a rotatable closure head plug capable of movement relative to the other component. The conducting system utilizes the annulus located between the components as a connecting passageway for the fluid.
Claims3
A nuclear reactor including a reactor vessel, fuel assemblies positioned therein, an inlet and an outlet for circulating a coolant in a heat transfer relationship with said fuel assemblies, and a closure head disposed on said reactor vessel in a fluid tight relationship, said closure head comprising:
- a first riser assembly and a first rotatable plug disposed on said reactor vessel together defining a first annulus;
- a first liquid dip seal disposed on a lower portion of said first annulus for preventing the release of contaminated particles from said reactor vessel through said first annulus;
- a first inflatable seal disposed in an upper portion of said first annulus for isolating said first annulus from the atmosphere outside said reactor vessel;
- a first conduit connected to said first annulus near said first inflatable seal and between said first inflatable seal and said first liquid dip seal for introducing a purge gas into said first annulus;
- a second riser assembly and a second rotatable plug disposed in said first riser assembly and said first rotatable plug combination and defining a second annulus ;
- a second liquid dip seal disposed in a lower portion of said second annulus for preventing the release of contaminated particles from said reactor vessel through said second annulus;
- a second inflatable seal disposed in an upper portion of said second annulus for isolating said second annulus from the atmosphere outside said reactor vessel;
- a second conduit connected at one end to said first annulus near said first liquid dip seal and between said first liquid dip seal and said first inflatable seal and connected at the other end to said second annulus near said second inflatable seal and between said second inflatable seal and said second liquid dip seal for conducting said purge gas from said first annulus and into said second annulus;
- and
- a third conduit connected at one end to said second annulus near said second liquid dip seal and between said second liquid dip seal and said second inflatable seal with its other end disposed in said reactor vessel for conducting said purge gas from said second annulus and into said reactor vessel, said purge gas removing contaminants that may be present in said first and second annuli while said first and second annuli serve as the interconnection between said conduits.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.