Nuclear reactor downcomer flow deflector
AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corp.
InventorsCharles B. Gilmore, David A. Altman, Norman R. Singleton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A nuclear reactor having a coolant flow deflector secured to a reactor core barrel in line with a coolant inlet nozzle. The flow deflector redirects incoming coolant down an annulus between the core barrel and the reactor vessel. The deflector has a main body with a front side facing the fluid inlet nozzle and a rear side facing the core barrel. The rear side of the main body has at least one protrusion secured to the core barrel so that a gap exists between the rear side of the main body adjacent the protrusion and the core barrel. Preferably, the protrusion is a relief that circumscribes the rear side of the main body.
Claims17
A nuclear reactor comprising:
- a pressure vessel having an axial dimension;
- a fluid inlet nozzle extending through the wall of the pressure vessel;
- an internal structure supported within the pressure vessel in spaced relationship with and opposite a pressure vessel interior side of said inlet nozzle;
- and
- a deflector positioned between the internal support structure and the fluid inlet nozzle, having a concave face in-line with the inlet nozzle, for deflecting substantially all of the fluid flowing through the inlet nozzle into the pressure vessel, the deflector having a main body with a front side facing the fluid inlet nozzle and a rear side facing the internal support structure, the rear side of the main body having at least one protrusion affixed to the internal support structure, so that a gap exists between the rear side of the main body adjacent the protrusion and the internal support structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.