Patent Number: 059582340
Section: abstract

A suction strainer includes a hollow internal core tube and an external filtering surface built around the internal core tube. A plurality of openings are defined through the side wall of the internal core tube core. In some cases the openings through the side wall are constructed and arranged such that there is somewhat less open area near the downstream end than the upstream end of the internal core tube, and the amount of open area tapers between the upstream end and the downstream end. As a result, when liquid is drawn into the internal core tube through the plurality of openings, a substantially uniform inflow distribution may be defined along substantially the entire length of the internal core tube. The internal core tube functions as a rigid structural support for the external filtering surface, enabling the apparatus to withstand post-LOCA hydrodynamic forces. The size of the filtering surface is enlarged by virtue of the fact that the filtering surface defines a plurality of filtering disk assemblies that are connected to and extend radially from the internal core tube. A separation distance is defined between neighboring disk assemblies, and filtering inner walls connect between neighboring disk assemblies and extend around the internal core tube at a radius less than the outermost radius of the disk assemblies. The total flow surface area is increased within a limited geometric profile. This serves to maximize surface area while minimizing post-LOCA reactive forces on attachment ECCS piping in a BWR suppression pool.