Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A high capacity suction strainer for an emergency core cooling system in a nuclear power plant comprising:a frame;a flow-through plenum mechanically mounted to the frame and comprising a plurality of inlets and an outlet; anda filter array also mechanically mounted to the frame and comprising a plurality of filter groupings, each in fluid communication with a corresponding inlet on the plenum, each filter grouping comprising:a plurality of nested tubes, each comprising an inner perforated tube disposed within a corresponding outer perforated tube such that an interstitial space is created between the inner and outer perforated tubes;a flow-through top plate comprising a plurality of top grates located at a proximal end of the nested tubes; anda flow-through bottom plate wherein each top plate is mechanically joined to a corresponding bottom plate by a tie rod and each top plate is separated from the corresponding bottom plate by the plurality of nested tubes;wherein the plurality of top grates comprises:a first top grate comprising a plurality of first apertures corresponding in size and shape to the outer circumference of each outer perforated tube wherein a proximal end of each outer perforated tube is inserted within and supported by a corresponding first aperture and a plurality of second apertures located between and about the first apertures to allow a fluid flow therethrough; anda second top grate comprising a plurality of first apertures aligned with the first apertures in the first top grate, each having a smaller cross-sectional area than an opening at the proximal end of the outer perforated tube such that the interstitial space between the inner and outer tubes is at least substantially sealed against a surface of the second grate and such that a proximal end of each inner perforated tube is inserted within and supported by a corresponding first aperture, and a plurality of second apertures aligned with the second apertures on the first top grate and located between and about the first apertures to allow a fluid flow therethrough; andwherein each top plate is mechanically joined to a corresponding bottom plate by a tie rod and each top plate is separated from the corresponding bottom plate by the plurality of nested tubes. 2. The high capacity suction strainer of claim 1 wherein the nested tubes are arranged in a plurality of columns and rows and extend outwardly from the plenum such that each nested tube has a nested tube outlet forming a fluid communication between each interstitial space and an inlet on the plenum. 3. The high capacity suction strainer of claim 2 wherein the plurality of top grates comprises:a third top grate comprising a plurality of first apertures aligned with the first apertures in the second top grate, each having a smaller cross-sectional area than an opening at the proximal end of the inner perforated tube such that the proximal end of the inner perforated tube abuts a surface of the third top grate forming the nested tube inlet, and a plurality of second apertures aligned with the second apertures on the second top grate and located between and about the first apertures to allow a fluid flow therethrough. 4. The high capacity suction strainer of claim 3 wherein the plurality of bottom grates comprises:a first bottom grate comprising a plurality of first apertures corresponding in size and shape to the outer circumference of each outer perforated tube wherein a distal end of each outer perforated tube is inserted within and supported by a corresponding first aperture. 5. The high capacity suction strainer of claim 4 wherein the plurality of bottom grates comprises:a second bottom grate comprising a plurality of first apertures, each aligned with a corresponding interstitial space between an inner perforated tube and an outer perforated tube, a plurality of second apertures, each aligned with an opening at a distal end of a corresponding inner perforated tube forming the nested tube outlet aligned with an inlet on the plenum, a central webbing about each second aperture substantially sealing the opening at the distal end of the corresponding inner perforated tube, and a plurality of mechanical fasteners, each fastener passing through a corresponding second aperture and engaging the distal end of the corresponding inner perforated tube to maintain the corresponding inner perforated tube in a desired position in the nested tube. 6. The high capacity suction strainer of claim 5 wherein the first top grate and the third top grate sandwich the second top grate therebetween such that surfaces of the first top grate and the third top grate engage opposite surfaces of the second top grate. 7. The high capacity suction strainer of claim 6 wherein the first top grate, the second top grate, and the third top grate are mechanically attached to the frame. 8. The high capacity suction strainer of claim 7 wherein the first bottom grate and a surface of the plenum sandwich the second bottom grate therebetween such that surfaces of the first bottom grate and the plenum engage opposite surfaces of the second bottom grate. 9. The high capacity suction strainer of claim 8 wherein the first bottom grate and the second bottom grate are mechanically attached to the frame. 10. The high capacity suction strainer of claim 9 wherein each top plate is mechanically joined to a corresponding bottom plate by a pair of cross members joined to the top plate by a mechanical fastener and to the corresponding bottom plate at an opposing end by a mechanical fastener. 11. The high capacity suction strainer of claim 10 wherein each filter grouping is attached to the flow-through plenum by a mechanical fastener. 12. The high capacity suction strainer of claim 5 wherein the interstitial spaces between the inner perforated tubes and the outer perforated tubes are adapted to receive a filtered fluid flow as a contaminated fluid passes from outer surfaces to inner surfaces of the outer perforated tubes and from inner surfaces to outer surfaces of the inner perforated tubes. 13. The high capacity suction strainer of claim 12 wherein the bottom plates are adapted to act as outlets feeding a filtered fluid to the inlets on the flow-through plenum. 14. The high capacity suction strainer of claim 1 wherein the nested tubes are oriented between 0 degrees and 90 degrees relative to an upper surface of a fluid in a containment area. 15. The high capacity suction strainer of claim 1 wherein the nested tubes are substantially vertically oriented relative to an upper surface of a fluid in a containment area. 16. The high capacity suction strainer of claim 1 wherein the nested tubes are substantially horizontally oriented relative to an upper surface of a fluid in a containment area.