Liquid metal reactor power block
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorMarvin Man-Wai Hui
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A seismically isolated liquid metal reactor power block is described. In one embodiment, the liquid metal reactor power block is a substantially rectangular nuclear plant with two nuclear islands and a common liquid metal service facility commonly supported on a seismic isolation platform near grade level. The seismic isolation platform supports the nuclear islands in a mirror-symmetric arrangement on opposite sides of a shared liquid metal service facility. A containment pressure suppression system connects the primary pressure relief volumes of the containment structures of each nuclear island to that of the other and also to a common pressure relief volume in the liquid metal service facility, thereby reducing the pressure load on each individual containment structure.
Claims16
A liquid metal reactor power block comprising:
- at least two nuclear islands, each of said islands comprising a liquid metal reactor system enclosed within a reactor vessel, and a containment structure, said containment structure comprising a containment vessel enclosing said reactor vessel, and a chamber enclosing a primary pressure relief volume;
- a liquid metal service facility comprising a liquid metal drain tank coupled to said reactor system, a liquid metal cooling system coupled to said reactor system, and a storage vault enclosing a common pressure relief volume, said storage vault coupled to said containment structure of each of said nuclear islands;
- a pressure relief system configured to connect said primary pressure relief volume and said common pressure relief volume, said pressure relief system comprising at least one rupture disc between said storage vault and said containment structure of each of said nuclear islands;
- a seismic isolation platform supporting said nuclear islands and said liquid metal service facility;
- a plurality of seismic isolation bearings configured to support said seismic isolation platform;
- and
- a support structure comprising:
- a floor configured to support said isolation bearings at about grade level;
- and
- a well portion coupled to said floor, said well portion configured to extend below grade level, said containment vessel configured to extend into said well portion.
A liquid metal reactor power block comprising:
- at least one nuclear island, each said nuclear island comprising a containment structure enclosing a primary pressure relief volume;
- a liquid metal service facility comprising a storage vault enclosing a pressure relief volume, said storage vault coupled to said containment structure;
- a pressure relief system configured to connect each said reactor island primary pressure relief volume and said storage vault pressure relief volume;
- and
- a seismic isolation platform supporting said nuclear island and said liquid metal service facility.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.