Core melt-through retention device for light-water reactors

A core reactor plant comprising:

• a reactor pressure vessel having an outer wall;
• a containment foundation for housing the pressure vessel;
• a retention device disposed within the containment foundation for retaining molten mass from a core melt-through in the pressure vessel, the retention device comprising:
• a water filled cooling basin beneath the pressure vessel;
• and
• a crucible disposed within the cooling basin, the crucible having a metal wall lined with a ceramic material and including a container with a plurality of cooling tubes extending from a lower surface of the container, a lid that forms a watertight upper seal for the container and a reinforcement structure disposed within the container for absorption of kinetic energy from the core melt-through;
• and
• a generally conical collecting structure disposed between the pressure vessel and the retention device, the collecting structure being adapted to protect the retention device from a section of the outer wall being blown off the pressure vessel and to direct the molten mass into the container.