Induced nuclear reactions: processes – systems – and elements – Reactor protection or damage prevention – Pressure suppression and relief
Patent
1989-03-13
1991-01-08
Wasil, Daniel D.
Induced nuclear reactions: processes, systems, and elements
Reactor protection or damage prevention
Pressure suppression and relief
376405, 122 32, 165 38, G21C 900, F28D 700
Patent
active
049833537
ABSTRACT:
In a steam generator utilized with a liquid sodium cooled nuclear reactor, provision is made to vent the violent sodium water reaction emanating from a tube rupture casualty. The steam generator includes a sodium plenum at the bottom thereof containing a conventional rupture disk for venting sodium, steam, and reaction products including hydrogen immediately upon a tube rupture casualty. The invention includes providing an alternate concentric flow path interior to the steam generator and parallel to the tube bundle. This alternate concentric flow path extends from the upper portion of the steam generator down into the lower head or plenum adjacent to the pressure relief diaphragm. This alternate path is partially filled with sodium during normal reactor operation. In the event of a tube bundle break, the alternate flow path dumps its sodium through the conventional rupture disk and then provides an immediate alternate pressure release path in parallel with the tube bundle for steam and water flow from the tube rupture site to the rupture disk. This parallel flow path reduces the pressure differential from the water/steam flow through the tube bundle such that water/steam does not flow back through the intermediate heat transport system to the intermediate heat exchanger (IHX) where it would react with residual sodium and potentially damage the IHX tube bundle which is part of the reactor primary containment barrier.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3924675 (1975-12-01), Essebaggers
patent: 4452182 (1984-06-01), Baudoin
patent: 4515109 (1985-05-01), Jullien
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patent: 4600554 (1986-07-01), Brachet et al.
patent: 4905757 (1990-03-01), Boardman et al.
Boardman Charles E.
Maurer John P.
General Electric Company
Schroeder Robert R.
Wasil Daniel D.
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