IP Library Granted Patent US 8,416,911
Granted Patent B2
US 8,416,911 · App. 13/041,464 · Granted Apr 9, 2013

Nuclear reactor cavity arrangements for ice condenser plants

Inventors: Michael F. Hankinson (Monroeville, PA); Larry C. Smith (Harrison City, PA); Joseph A. Harim (Dunbar, PA); John E. Bible (Ringgold, GA); Jianwei Chen (Wexford, PA)
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,416,911
App. No.
13/041,464
Granted
Apr 9, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A pressurized water reactor nuclear containment radiation shield which surrounds the upper portion of a pressure vessel in an ice condenser containment. The vertical walls of the neutron shield are formed in vertical sections with the lower and upper sections operable during outages, to open to promote air flow cooling along the walls in the vicinity of the vessel head.

Claims (21)

1. A nuclear steam supply system comprising:

a containment enclosing a primary loop of the nuclear steam supply system within an interior thereof;

a reactor vessel supported within a reactor well within a lower interior of the containment, the reactor well having walls that substantially surround a lower portion of the reactor vessel;

a vertical shield wall that extends up from an upper portion of the reactor well walls and substantially encircles an upper portion of the reactor vessel and extends vertically above the reactor well substantially to an elevation of an operating deck;

a missile shield capping a top of the vertical shield wall; and

wherein the shield wall includes at least one air inlet door located along at least a portion of a lower section of the shield wall, the inlet door being configured to be normally closed during reactor operation, but is configured to be opened during an outage to enable cooling air flow along an interior of the shield wall, and an outlet door located along at least a portion of an upper section of the shield wail, below the operating deck, the outlet door being configured to be normally closed during, reactor operation, but is configured to be opened during an outage to enable cooling air flow along the interior of the shield wall.

2. The nuclear steam supply system of claim 1 including a plurality of the outlet doors spaced circumferentially around. the upper section of the shield wall.

3. A nuclear steam supply system comprising:

a containment enclosing a primary loop of the nuclear steam supply system within an interior thereof;

a reactor vessel supported within a reactor well within a lower interior of the containment the reactor well having walls that substantially surround a lower portion of the reactor vessel;

a vertical shield wall that extends up from an upper portion of the reactor well walls and substantially encircles an upper portion of the reactor vessel and extends vertically above the reactor well substantially to an elevation of an operating deck;

a missile shield capping a top of the vertical shield wall; and

wherein the shield wall includes at least one air inlet door located along at least a portion of a lower section of the shield wall, the inlet door being configured to be normally closed during reactor operation, but is configured to be opened during an outage to enable cooling air flow along an interior of the shield wall and wherein the inlet door has a neutron absorbent panel.

4. The nuclear steam supply system of claim 3 wherein the neutron absorbent panel is removeably attached to the inlet door with fasteners.

5. The nuclear steam supply system of claim 3 wherein the neutron absorbent panel is formed from a metal can filled with boro-silicate concrete.

6. A nuclear steam supply system comprising:

a containment enclosing primary loop of the nuclear steam supply system within an interior thereof:

a reactor vessel supported within a reactor well within a lower interior of the containment, the reactor well having walls that substantially surround a lower portion of the reactor vessel:

a vertical shield wall that extends up from an upper portion of the reactor well walls and substantially encircles an upper portion of the reactor vessel and extends vertically above the reactor well substantially to an elevation of an operating deck;

a missile shield capping a top of the vertical shield walk; and

wherein the shield wall includes at least one air inlet door located along at least a portion of a lower section of the shield wall, the inlet door being configured to be normally closed during reactor operation, but is configured to he opened during an outage to enable cooling air flow along an interior of the shield wall and wherein the containment has a polar crane with an main and auxiliary hook and the shield wall is constructed in sections with substantially each section having a weight that is no heavier than can be lifted by the auxiliary hook.

Assignments (9)
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 7, 2011
From: HANKINSON, MICHAEL F., MR.; SMITH, LARRY C., MR.; HARIM, JOSEPH A., MR.; BIBLE, JOHN E., MR.; CHEN, JIANWEI, MR.
To: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 025906/0931 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61421672 · Dec 10, 2010
Related Publication 20120148011A1 · Jun 14, 2012