Patent ID: 7848475
Filing Date: 2010-12-07
Classification: B01D

Abstract:
1. A nuclear power plant emergency core cooling system that circulates cooling water during a power plant loss of cooling accident, said cooling system having therein a strainer comprising: a strainer element for immersion in the cooling water during the loss of cooling accident, said strainer element including at least two strainer members, each said strainer member having a continuous major surface with a plurality of perforations therethrough distributed on at least a portion of said major surface for straining fibrous debris from cooling water passing through said perforations during the loss of cooling accident, wherein said strainer members are disposed with said major surfaces in spaced apart relation to form a hollow interior space with external sides of said major surfaces facing the cooling water during the loss of cooling accident; and a suction opening operatively connected between an emergency core cooling system pump and said interior space for drawing the cooling water into said interior space from said external sides through said perforations, wherein said external sides of said strainer member major surfaces have contouring members on at least said perforated portions of said major surfaces, and said contouring members contact fibrous debris in said cooling water during the loss of cooling accident to disrupt the formation on said perforations of a flat bed of fibrous debris that can trap particulate material small enough to pass through said perforations.