Integral reactor pressure vessel tube sheet

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11062811-B2
Application number	US-201815945612-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 4, 2018
Priority date	Dec 26, 2013
Publication date	Jul 13, 2021
Grant date	Jul 13, 2021

Abstract

A thermal control system for a reactor pressure vessel comprises a plate having a substantially circular shape that is attached to a wall of the reactor pressure vessel. The plate divides the reactor pressure vessel into an upper reactor pressure vessel region and a lower reactor pressure vessel region. Additionally, the plate is configured to provide a thermal barrier between a pressurized volume located within the upper reactor pressure vessel region and primary coolant located within the lower reactor pressure vessel region. One or more plenums provide a passageway for a plurality of heat transfer tubes to pass fluid through the wall of the reactor pressure vessel. The plurality of heat transfer tubes are connected to the plate.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A nuclear reactor system comprising:
a reactor pressure vessel;
a plate attached to a wall of the reactor pressure vessel,
wherein the plate
at least partially divides the reactor pressure vessel into an upper reactor pressure vessel region and a lower reactor pressure vessel region, and
is positioned to re-direct an upward flow of a primary flow exiting a riser within the reactor pressure vessel downwardly in the reactor pressure vessel, and

wherein the plate includes at least one orifice configured to controllably allow a primary coolant to pass through the plate between the upper and lower reactor pressure vessel regions, and
wherein the plate includes a tubesheet portion;

a plurality of heat transfer tubes connected to the plate at the tubesheet portion and extending into the lower reactor pressure vessel region; and
a plenum positioned in the upper reactor pressure vessel region, the plenum
enclosing the tubesheet region and
in fluid communication with an exterior of the reactor pressure vessel to transfer a secondary coolant between the heat transfer tubes and a region outside the reactor pressure vessel.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of heat transfer tubes attach to corresponding through-holes in the tubesheet portion of the plate.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the plenum includes a dome extending up from the plate, over the through-holes, and around an opening formed in the wall of the reactor pressure vessel.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one orifice is configured to be open or closed,
wherein the at least one orifice when open allows the primary coolant to pass through the plate into the upper reactor pressure vessel region, and
wherein the at least one orifice when closed prevents the primary coolant from passing through the plate.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plate is welded to a wall of the reactor pressure vessel.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plate comprises:
an upper flange mounted to an upper head of the reactor pressure vessel; and
a lower flange welded to a lower portion of the reactor pressure vessel.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the upper head is spaced apart from the lower portion of the reactor pressure vessel by the upper flange and the lower flange.

Assignees

• Nuscale Power Llc

Inventors

• Liszkai Tamas
• Cadell Seth
• Kruskamp Alex
• Mallet Matthew

Classifications

• G21C15/12 Primary

  from pressure vessel; from containment vessel · CPC title

• G21C1/32

  Integral reactors, i.e. reactors wherein parts functionally associated with the reactor but not essential to the reaction, e.g. heat exchangers, are disposed inside the enclosure with the core (G21C1/02 - G21C1/30 take precedence) · CPC title

• Y02E30/00

  Energy generation of nuclear origin · CPC title

• F22B1/023 Primary

  with heating tubes for nuclear reactors, as long as they are not classified according to a specified heating fluid, in another group · CPC title

• G21C13/02 Primary

  Details · CPC title