Patent ID: 6519308
Filing Date: 2003-02-11
Classification: G21C,Y02E

Abstract:
A nuclear reactor comprising a concrete reactor vault, at least one primary vessel located in said reactor vault and coupled to a reactor shield deck, and a heat removal system, each primary vessel substantially surrounded by a containment vessel in a spaced apart relationship, and comprising a reactor core submerged in a pool of liquid metal coolant, said heat removal system comprising:at least one guard vessel, each guard vessel substantially surrounding a corresponding containment vessel in a spaced apart relationship, and comprising a support skirt configured to rest on a base mat of said reactor vault, each said guard vessel coupled to and supporting said reactor shield deck; at least one inlet conduit in fluid communication with the ambient atmosphere outside said nuclear reactor; at least one outlet conduit in fluid communication with the ambient atmosphere outside said nuclear reactor; a first fluid flow heat transferring flowpath for the passage of air coolant from the ambient atmosphere outside said nuclear reactor, said flowpath comprising said at least one inlet conduit, the space intermediate said guard vessel of each primary vessel and said containment vessel of each primary vessel, and said at least one outlet conduit; and at least one regenerative heat exchanger in said first flowpath to elevate the temperature of said air coolant so that the temperature remains above the dew point temperature as said air coolant flows through said first flowpath, said at least one regenerative heat exchanger located upstream of the space intermediate said guard vessel and said containment vessel.