US 4,664,871 AGranted

Nuclear power installation with a high temperature pebble bed reactor

AssigneeHochtemperatur-Reaktorbau GmbH

InventorJosef Schoening

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Abstract

Disclosed is a nuclear power plant comprising a high-temperature pebble bed reactor contained in a cylindrical steel pressure vessel in which an upper part of the cylindrical steel pressure vessel, which contains a heat utilization system, is retracted and equipped with a cover upon which circulating blowers are placed. The heat utilization system comprises, in a known manner, a single steam generator. The steam generator comprises at least two sub-systems independent of one another, with their own distributors and collectors, and with their own inlet and outlet lines. A first shut-down arrangement comprises a plurality of absorber rods insertable into bores of the side reflector from above and comprises rod drives arranged outside the steel pressure vessel in the area of its retracted upper part. A second shut-down arrangement comprises small absorber spheres for introducing into the core of the reactor, and several storage containers and annular conduits for said spheres. The storage containers are also arranged outside the steel pressure vessel in the area of its retracted upper part. Annular conduits for the introduction of the small absorber sphere are, however, disposed inside the steel pressure vessel and connected with channels provided in projections of the side reflector protruding into the core.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A nuclear power installation of compact construction, comprising:

a high-temperature pebble bed reactor, having a core of spherical fuel elements, and a reflector which surrounds the core and which has a side section;
a multicomponent cylindrical steel pressure vessel surrounding said reactor including a retracted upper section, a cover and a main body;
a heat utilization system positioned in the retracted section of the pressure vessel, above the reactor in the pressure vessel, comprising only one steam generator, wherein said heat utilization system uses a cooling gas which flows from bottom to top through the core and the pressure vessel;
at least two circulating blowers which are disposed on the cover of the vessel, which are connected with the heat utilization system, and which function in the direction of flow of the cooling gas;
a first means for shutting down the reactor having an upper portion laterally disposed to the retracted upper section externally to the pressure vessel and a lower portion located within the main body of the pressure vessel;
and
a second means for shutting down the reactor having an upper portion laterally disposed to the upper retracted section externally to the pressure vessel and a lower portion located within the main body of the pressure vessel;
wherein said first means for shutting down the reactor comprises a plurality of absorber rods, bores in said side section of said reflectors which function to contain said absorber rods, and rod drives disposed outside of said steel pressure vessel in the area of said retracted upper section, said rod drives functioning to insert the rods into the bores.

5 more elements

A nuclear power installation, comprising:

a high-temperature pebble bed reactor having a core of spherical fuel elements and a reflector which surrounds the core and which has a side section;
a multicomponent cylindrical steel pressure vessel surrounding said reactor including a retracted upper section, a cover and a main body;
a heat utilization system positioned in the retracted section of the pressure vessel, comprising only one steam generator with a centrally located sub-system and at least one annular sub-system independent from said centrally located sub-system wherein said annular sub-system surrounds said centrally located sub-system and wherein said heat utilization system uses a cooling gas which flows from bottom to top through the core and the pressure vessel;
at least two circulating blowers which are disposed on the cover of the vessel, which are connected with the heat utilization system, and which function in the direction of flow of the cooling gas;
a first means for shutting down the reactor;
and
a second means for shutting down the reactor.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 06/675,641Filed 28 Nov 1984
Priority: DE 334511314 Dec 1983
Granted: 12 May 1987
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

G21C 1/07
Heterogeneous reactors, i.e. in which fuel and moderator are separated: pebble-bed reactors; Reactors with granular fuel
G21C 7/08
By application of neutron-absorbing material, i.e. material with absorption cross-section very much in excess of reflection cross-section: by…
G21C 11/06
Shielding structurally associated with the reactor: reflecting shields, i.e. for minimising loss of neutrons
Y02E 30/30
Energy generation of nuclear origin: nuclear fission reactors