Patent Number: 042138248
Section: description

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The sole drawing illustrates a preferred embodiment of a nuclear steam generating plant 10 including a vertically positioned pressure vessel 11 contained within a containment 12 of circular cross section. The pressure vessel 11 forms a pressurized container for a consolidated nuclear steam system (not shown in detail). The containment 12 consists of an outer cylindrical containment wall 13 topped by an outer upper head 14, and an inner cylindrical containment wall 15 topped by an inner upper head 16. An annular shaped chamber 20 is formed by the boundaries of the outer and inner walls, 13 and 15 respectively, and the inner upper head 16; and, an upper chamber 17 is formed between the upper inner and outer heads, 16 and 14 respectively, and the upper portion of the outer wall 13. The outer upper head 14 and inner upper head 16 are provided with removable sections, 18 and 19, respectively. A vertically disposed cylindrical shell 21, radially spaced in close proximity about the lower portion of the pressure vessel 11, cooperates with a horizontally disposed floor 22 to divide the containment into two compartments designated as the dry well 23 and wet well 24. A second cylindrical shell 25 is disposed in the wet well 24, radially spaced between the cylindrical shell 21 and the lower portion inner containment wall, thus subdividing the wet well into an inner annular region 26, and an outer annular region 27. Suppression pool water is contained only within the inner annular region 26 to a level 30 located so as to substantially fill the region. In the embodiment shown in the sole drawing, the centerline 51 of the pressure vessel 11 is not coincident with the centerline 52 of the containment 12. Although not essential to the practice of the invention, the centerlines 51, 52 are typically offset in order to facilitate the location of auxiliary equipment (not shown) in the dry well 23. Hence, it should be understood that cylindrical shell 21, in the embodiment illustrated in the drawing, is not concentrically circumscribed by the cylindrical shell 25. A plurality of vertically disposed perforated pressure suppression pipes 31, only two (31A, 31B) of which are shown for clarity, are substantially located within annular region 26 and extend through the horizontal floor 22 such that their upper extremity extends into the dry well 23. The lower end of each pressure suppression pipe 31 longitudinally extends partly into a ring collar 32 which is radially spaced thereabout to permit expansion of the pipe while precluding excessive lateral movements. Low pressure rupture discs 33 seal the upper end of the pressure suppression pipes. The upper volume of the inner annular region 26 is divided into circumferential upper portions by baffles 34, extending downward from the floor 22 to a level below that of the liquid level 30. The baffles 34 are circumferentially disposed between the vapor suppression pipes 31. Rupture discs 35 are provided above the water level 30 in the cylindrical shell 25. One rupture disc 35 is generally provided between each pair of circumferentially adjacent baffle plates 34. Feed 36 and returns 37 cooling pipe connections are provided within the inner annular region 26 and are attached to a cooling system (not shown). The feed 36 and return 37 cooling pipe connections provide means for circulating and cooling the water of the suppression pool which is heated due to convection from the pressure vessel and from the absorption of gamma radiation escaping from the core. A feedwater inlet pipe 40 and a steam outlet pipe 41 penetrate the outer and inner containment walls, 13 and 15 respectively, pass through the dry well 23, and extend into the pressure vessel 11. While only one inlet and one outlet pipe are illustrated, a plurality of these pipes would generally be disposed at spaced intervals about the pressure vessel and throughout the containment. A sealed conduit 42 traverses the outer annular region 27 and connects with a fluid tight passage 43 leading to a lower region 44 which is located below the pressure vessel. Instrument lines 45 from outside (not shown) of the containment are routed through the dry well to the lower region and enter the bottom of the reactor via the conduit 42, passages 43 and lower region 44. In operation, the reactor core 50 which is illustrated schematically, is disposed significantly below the suppression pool water level 30 in the annular region 26 which directly circumscribes the lower portion of the pressure vessel. Chambers 17 and 20 are water filled to afford biological shielding from the ionizing radiation which emanates from the reactor core. In ship propulsion applications, under normal conditions, the height of the water level 30 precludes significant reduction of the shielding achieved when the vessel achieves extreme attitudes. The baffled arrangement of the upper portion of the suppression pool effectively prevents air located above the water level 30 from shifting to the higher portion of the inner annular region during the pitch and roll of the vessel in which the reactor plant is located. All process penetrations into the pressure vessel 11 are made in the dry well compartment, thus the dry well 23 initially receives the discharge fluid upon a loss of coolant accident. As the dry well pressurizes the discs 33 rupture allowing the flow of fluid and air through the pressure suppression pipes 31 and into the suppression pool where the condensible gases released from the pressure vessel condense. The inner annular region, in turn, pressurizes causing the discs 35 to burst into the outer annular region, thereby relieving the pressure build up in the inner annular region. Means (not shown) are provided for draining the upper chamber 17. The center sections 18 and 19 of the upper outer head 14 and inner head 16 are removable for servicing, installation and removal of major components, and refueling of the reactor. The use of the water filled double wall containment arrangement permits elimination or a substantial reduction in the thickness of the biological shield of concrete (not shown) traditionally used resulting in an overall reduction in containment weight. The division of wet well and utilization of the waterless outer annular region 27 results in an increased suppression pool height which, in itself, and in conjunction with the inner region baffles 34 enhances the additional radiation shielding provided by the suppression pool. It will be evident to those skilled in the art that changes may be made, e.g. the use of sand for biological shielding purposes in chamber 20, or that parts of the invention may be used without other parts described herein, without departing from the spirit of the invention covered in the claims.