Patent Number: 058964312
Section: abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus for preventing steam leakage between a drywell and a wetwell in a nuclear reactor are described. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the vacuum breaker of the nuclear reactor is coupled to a vacuum breaker condensing system which includes a condenser and a steam inlet pipe. The steam inlet pipe is substantially hollow and includes a first end, a second end, and a loop seal between the first and second ends. The first end of the pipe is positioned adjacent the drywell and the second end of the pipe is coupled to the vacuum breaker. The condenser is positioned proximate the steam inlet pipe and includes an inlet, an outlet, and a plurality of condenser tubes. The condenser inlet and condenser outlet are each coupled to a pool of water, e.g., the Gravity Driven Cooling System pool, and configured to draw water from the pool of water and through the condenser tubes to substantially condense steam flowing through the steam inlet pipe.