Patent ID: 6192097
Filing Date: 2001-02-20
Classification: G21C,Y02E

Abstract:
In combination with a water-cooled nuclear reactor installation having a pressure vessel and a space below the pressure vessel for receiving a core melt in the case of a core meltdown, the space below the pressure vessel having a given area, a retaining device comprising:a spreading chamber disposed laterally offset from the space below the pressure vessel and lower than the space below the pressure vessel and having a spreading area larger than the given area of the space below the pressure vessel for spreading the core melt over said spreading area and for cooling the core melt;an obliquely inclined conduit connecting the space below the pressure vessel with said spreading chamber;said spreading chamber having a bearing and containment structure;a protective layer disposed upwardly adjacent on and protecting said bearing and containment structure of said spreading chamber;an outer sacrificial layer disposed upwardly adjacent on said protective layer, said outer sacrificial layer being melted when in contact with the core melt and cooling the core melt; anda cooling system for a delayed supplying of a coolant having temperature-dependently opening feed channels integrated in said outer sacrificial layer, for supplying the coolant to the core melt when said temperature-dependently opening feed channels get in contact with the core melt.