Patent classifications
G21C13/022
Vacuum breaker valve assembly
A breaker valve assembly for a nuclear reactor containment includes a valve body, a valve body insert, and a lid. The valve body includes a first side wall defining a chamber, a first opening in a top portion of the first side wall, and a second opening in a bottom portion of the first side wall. The second opening communicates with the first opening of the valve body. The valve insert body includes a second side wall defining a second chamber, and a third opening in a bottom portion of the second side wall. The valve insert body is nested in the valve body. The lid is arranged on an upper edge of the side wall of the valve insert body. The valve insert body is configured to move substantially vertically with respect to the valve body.
Controlling a power output of a nuclear reactor without using control rods
A nuclear power system includes a reactor vessel that includes a reactor core that includes nuclear fuel assemblies configured to generate a nuclear fission reaction. A representative nuclear power system further includes a riser positioned above there actor core and a primary coolant flow path that extends from a bottom portion of the reactor vessel, through the reactor core, and through an annulus between the riser and the reactor vessel. A primary coolant circulates through the primary coolant flow path to receive heat from the nuclear fission reaction and release the heat to a power generation system configured to generate electric power. The nuclear power system further includes a control rod assembly system positioned in the reactor vessel and configured to position control rods in only two discrete positions.
MULTIPLE-PATH FLOW RESTRICTOR NOZZLE
A flow restrictor nozzle for a pressurized vessel of a nuclear reactor may comprise a nozzle body including an inlet face and an outlet face. The nozzle body may define a plurality of internal flow paths extending from the inlet face to the outlet face. Each of the plurality of internal flow paths may include a convergent section, a throat section, and a divergent section.
Reactor Containment Building Spent Fuel Pool Filter Vent
A nuclear containment atmospheric filter including dedicated piping, valves, a control system and a chemical injection system to facilitate the use of a commercial nuclear power plant's Spent Fuel Storage Pool and Spent Fuel Storage Pool Cooling System to filter and cool contaminated air and steam vapor released from within a Reactor Containment Vessel/Building preventing vessel overpressure and radioactive release.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AIRFLOW CONTROL IN REACTOR PASSIVE DECAY HEAT REMOVAL
Damper systems selectively reduce coolant fluid flow in nuclear reactor passive cooling systems, including related RVACS. Systems include a damper that blocks the flow in a coolant conduit and is moveable to open, closed, and intermediate positions. The damper blocks the coolant flow when closed to prevent heat loss, vibration, and development of large temperature gradients, and the damper passively opens, to allow full coolant flow, at failure and in transient scenarios. The damper may be moveable by an attachment extending into the coolant channel that holds the damper in a closed position. When a transient occurs, the resulting loss of power and/or overheat causes the attachment to stop holding the damper, which may be driven by gravity, pressure, a spring, or other passive structure into the open position for full coolant flow. A power source and temperature-dependent switch may detect and stop holding the damper closed in such scenarios.
ORGANIC IODINE TRAPPING APPARATUS AND ORGANIC IODINE TRAPPING METHOD
An organic iodine trapping apparatus and method efficiently traps organic iodine in a nuclear reactor container vessel. A liquid vessel contains a non-volatile liquid (e.g., ionic liquid or interfacial active agent solution) capable of decomposing organic iodine. An introduction pipe introduces a fluid containing organic iodine in the nuclear reactor container vessel to the non-volatile liquid. The non-volatile liquid is heated by heat in the nuclear reactor container vessel or reaction heat of the fluid in the nuclear reactor container vessel. Then, the trapping apparatus decomposes and traps the organic iodine. The organic iodine trapping method includes heating a non-volatile liquid capable of decomposing organic iodine by heat in the nuclear reactor container vessel or reaction heat of fluid in the nuclear reactor container vessel; making the fluid containing organic iodine pass through the heated non-volatile liquid; and decomposing and trapping the organic iodine in the non-volatile liquid.
Internal dry containment vessel for a nuclear reactor
A power module assembly includes a reactor core immersed in a coolant and a reactor vessel housing the coolant and the reactor core. An internal dry containment vessel submerged in liquid substantially surrounds the reactor vessel in a gaseous environment. During an over-pressurization event the reactor vessel is configured to release the coolant into the containment vessel and remove a decay heat of the reactor core through condensation of the coolant on an inner surface of the containment vessel.
Systems, methods, and filters for radioactive material capture
A system configured to passively filter radioactive materials from a flow may include one or more particulate removal devices; one or more water removal devices; and/or one or more radionuclide removal devices. At least one of the one or more particulate removal devices may mechanically remove particulates of the radioactive materials from the flow. At least one of the one or more water removal devices mechanically may remove water from the flow. At least one of the one or more radionuclide removal devices may remove radioactive aerosols, reactive radioactive gases, or radioactive aerosols and reactive radioactive gases from the flow using engineered filter media. A filter may include a body, including an inlet and an outlet. The body may be configured to store filter media, to contain pressure from gas explosions, and/or to allow the stored filter media to move toward the outlet when pressure at the inlet increases.
Controlling a power output of a nuclear reaction using chemical injection
A nuclear power system includes a reactor vessel that includes a reactor core mounted therein. The reactor core includes nuclear fuel assemblies configured to generate a nuclear fission reaction. The nuclear power system further includes a chemical injection system configured to inject a chemical into the reactor vessel and remove the chemical from the reactor vessel, and a control system communicably coupled to the chemical injection system and configured to control a power output of the nuclear fission reaction. For example, the control system can determine that the power output is greater than an upper value of a range or less than a lower value of the range and, based on the determination, adjust an amount of the chemical injected into or removed from the reactor vessel by the chemical injection system to adjust the power output.
Emission monitoring system for a venting system of a nuclear power plant
An emission monitoring system for a venting system of a nuclear power plant is configured for low consumption of energy and high reliability. The emission monitoring system has a pressure relief line connected to a containment and contains a high-pressure section, a low-pressure section, and a sampling line. The sampling line opens into the low-pressure section of the pressure relief line and is guided from there to a functional path and through the sampling line steam flows. A jet pump containing a pump fluid connector, a suction connector and an outlet connector is provided. A pump fluid feed line has an inlet side opening into the high-pressure section of the pressure relief line and is guided from there to the jet pump and connected to the pump fluid connector. A sample return line is guided from the functional path to the jet pump and connected to the suction connector.