IP Library Granted Patent US 7,158,605
Granted Patent B2
US 7,158,605 · App. 10/670,540 · Granted Jan 2, 2007

Head assembly

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,158,605
App. No.
10/670,540
Granted
Jan 2, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

A head assembly for a reactor pressure vessel includes a removable closure head, an array of control rod drive mechanisms, a seismic support platform, a missile shield assembly and a cooling system for drawing atmospheric air across electromagnetic coil stack assemblies. The cooling system includes: a lower shroud surrounding the coil stack assemblies with an end open to the atmosphere around the CRDMs; a plurality of extending internal ducts disposed within the array of CRDMs upwardly to an upper plenum disposed above the seismic support platform and a plurality of fan assemblies disposed on the upper plenum. The missile shield is disposed within the upper plenum. The cooling system effectively cools the coil stack assemblies during fuel cycles and does not hinder access to the CRDMs during an outage. The head assembly has lift legs for transporting either the entire head assembly as an integral unit or the structure above the seismic support platform a subassembly.

Claims (35)

1. A head assembly for a reactor pressure vessel, comprising:

a reactor pressure vessel closure head;

a seismic support platform spaced from the closure head;

an array of control rod drive mechanisms, each control rod drive mechanism including an electro-magnetic coil stack assembly and having a lower end supported by the reactor pressure vessel and an upper end extending through the seismic support platform;

a lower shroud surrounding the electro-magnetic coil stack assemblies and having an upper end spaced from the seismic support platform in air flow communication with the atmosphere around the control rod drive mechanisms;

a plurality of internal ducts disposed between control rod drive mechanisms within the array of control rod drive mechanisms, each duct having a lower end extending below the electro-magnetic coil stack assemblies and in air flow communication with the lower shroud and each duct having an upper end extending above the seismic support platform;

an upper plenum disposed above the seismic support platform having inlet air openings in air flow communication with the upper ends of the internal ducts;

a missile shield assembly disposed within the upper plenum, the missile shield having a plate superposed over and spaced from the inlet air openings of the upper plenum in air flow communication with the upper ends of the internal ducts;

a plurality of fan assemblies disposed on the upper plenum in air flow communication with the upper plenum; and

lift legs connected with the reactor pressure vessel closure head and supporting the seismic support platform, the upper plenum and the missile shield assembly for removal of the head assembly as an integral assembly.

2. A head assembly for a reactor pressure vessel, comprising:

a reactor pressure vessel closure head;

a seismic support platform spaced from the closure head;

an array of control rod drive mechanisms, each control rod drive mechanism including an electro-magnetic coil stack assembly and having a lower end supported by the reactor pressure vessel and an upper end extending through the seismic support platform;

a lower shroud surrounding the electro-magnetic coil stack assemblies and having an upper end spaced from the seismic support platform in air flow communication with the atmosphere around the control rod drive mechanisms;

a plurality of internal ducts disposed within the array of control rod drive mechanisms, wherein each duct has a lower end extending below the electro-magnetic coil stack assemblies disposed in air flow communication with the lower shroud and each duck has an upper end, and wherein the internal ducts extend within the array of control rod drive mechanisms through the seismic support platform and have internal plates in the section of the ducts disposed in the seismic support platform;

an upper plenum disposed above the seismic support platform having inlet air openings in air flow communication with the upper ends of the internal ducts;

a missile shield assembly disposed within the upper plenum, the missile shield having a plate superposed over and spaced from the inlet air openings of the upper plenum in air flow communication with the upper ends of the internal ducts;

a plurality of fan assemblies disposed on the upper plenum in air flow communication with the upper plenum; and

lift legs connected with the reactor pressure vessel closure head and supporting the seismic support platform, the upper plenum and the missile shield assembly for removal of the head assembly as an integral assembly.

3. The head assembly of claim 1 , wherein the internal ducts are bolted to the upper plenum and wherein each lift leg comprises an upper leg member attached by a clevis assembly to a lower leg member with the upper plenum supported by the upper leg member and with the seismic support platform supported by the lower leg member.

4. The head assembly of claim 1 , wherein the internal ducts are a backfit into an existing head assembly.

5. A head assembly for a reactor pressure vessel, comprising:

a reactor pressure vessel closure head;

a seismic support platform spaced from the closure head;

an array of control rod drive mechanisms, each control rod drive mechanism including an electro-magnetic coil stack assembly and having a lower end supported by the reactor pressure vessel and an upper end extending through the seismic support platform;

a lower shroud surrounding the electro-magnetic coil stack assemblies and having an upper end spaced from the seismic support platform in air flow communication with the atmosphere around the control rod drive mechanisms;

a control rod drive mechanism plenum disposed between the closure head and the lower shroud;

a plurality of internal ducts disposed between control rod drive mechanisms within the array of control rod drive mechanisms, each duct having a lower end disposed in the control rod drive mechanism plenum and each duct having an upper end extending above the seismic support platform;

an upper plenum disposed above the seismic support platform having inlet air openings in air flow communication with the upper ends of the internal ducts;

a missile shield assembly disposed within the upper plenum, the missile shield having a plate superposed over and spaced from the inlet air openings of the upper plenum in air flow communication with the upper ends of the internal ducts;

a plurality of fan assemblies disposed on the upper plenum in air flow communication with the upper plenum; and

lift legs connected with the reactor pressure vessel closure head and supporting the seismic support platform, the upper plenum and the missile shield assembly for removal of the head assembly as an integral assembly.

6. The head assembly of claim 5 , wherein the internal ducts have an L shaped cross-section within the seismic support platform.

7. The head assembly of claim 5 , wherein the internal ducts have a rectangular shaped cross-section.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jan 30, 2024
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY LLC; FAUSKE AND ASSOCIATES LLC
Reel/Frame 066380/0392 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jan 30, 2024
From: BANK OF MONTREAL, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY LLC; BHI ENERGY I SPECIALTY SERVICES LLC
Reel/Frame 066380/0599 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 26, 2024
From: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY LLC; BHI ENERGY I SPECIALTY SERVICES LLC; STONE & WEBSTER, L.L.C. (FORMERLY STONE & WEBSTER, INC.)
To: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 066373/0604 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 27, 2022
From: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY LLC; BHI ENERGY I SPECIALTY SERVICES LLC
To: BANK OF MONTREAL, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 060791/0372 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Aug 1, 2019
From: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY LLC; FAUSKE AND ASSOCIATES LLC
Reel/Frame 049937/0032 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 1, 2018
From: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY LLC; FAUSKE AND ASSOCIATES LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 046708/0222 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 1, 2018
From: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY LLC; FAUSKE AND ASSOCIATES LLC
To: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 046708/0332 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 1, 2018
From: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY LLC; FAUSKE AND ASSOCIATES LLC
To: BANK OF MONTREAL, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 046708/0639 →