Passive containment cooling system
AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corp.
InventorsLawrence E. Conway, William A. Stewart
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A containment cooling system utilizes a naturally induced air flow and a gravity flow of water over the containment shell which encloses a reactor core to cool reactor core decay heat in two stages. When core decay heat is greatest, the water and air flow combine to provide adequate evaporative cooling as heat from within the containment is transferred to the water flowing over the same. The water is heated by heat transfer and then evaporated and removed by the air flow. After an initial period of about three to four days when core decay heat is greatest, air flow alone is sufficient to cool the containment.
Claims15
A passive containment cooling system comprising:
- a metal containment shell encasing a reactor core and having a top and inner and outer surfaces;
- a water supply disposed in an elevated position above the containment shell;
- a concrete shield building surrounding the containment shell and having a top and inner and outer surfaces;
- an air inlet formed radially at the top of the shield building;
- a chimney formed centrally in and extending upwardly from the top of the shield building;
- an air baffle extending from the top of the shield building over a substantial length of the containment shell and having inner and outer surfaces, a shape substantially conforming to the shape of the containment shell and an open lower end;
- the inner surface of the shield building and the outer surface of the air baffle forming a first annular space extending from the air inlet to the open end of the air baffle;
- the inner surface of the air baffle and the outer surface of the containment shell forming a second annular space extending from the open end of the air baffle to the chimney;
- the first and second annular spaces defining a cooling air flow path over the outer surface of the containment;
- and
- a fluid release system for releasing water on the top of the containment shell in stages with a highest rate occurring in a first, initial stage and a lowest rate occurring in a last stage.
A passive containment cooling system comprising:
- a metal containment shell encasing a reactor core and having a top and inner and outer surfaces;
- a water supply disposed in an elevated position above the containment shell;
- a concrete shield building surrounding the containment shell and having a top and inner and outer surfaces;
- an air inlet formed radially at the top of the shield building;
- a chimney formed centrally in and extending upwardly from the top of the shield building;
- an air baffle extending from the top of the shield building over a substantial length of the containment shell and having inner and outer surfaces, a shape substantially conforming to the shape of the containment shell and an open lower end;
- the inner surface of the shield building and the outer surface of the air baffle forming a first annular space extending from the air inlet to the open end of the air baffle;
- the inner surface of the air baffle and the outer surface of the containment shell forming a second annular space extending from the open end of the air baffle to the chimney;
- the first and second annular spaces defining a cooling air flow path over the outer surface of the containment;
- a fluid release system for releasing water on the top of the containment shell at a variable rate;
- and
- an outer layer of easily wettable, water diffusing, heat conductive inorganic paint covering the outer surface of the containment shell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.