Patent Number: 050874098
Section: abstract

A multiple shell pressure vessel is fabricated in modular sections comprising a top head module, a nozzle course module and a bottom shell module, each module utilizing telescoping shells with filled interspaces, each shell being removable for inspection and repair with all modular sections and shells being held in compression by a pair of upper and lower single or multilayer tendon skirts held in place by a number of tension members in combination with hydraulic or mechanical jacks or rams. Both tendons and rams are located outside the pressure vessel. Included is a method of arranging the shell flanges and shell radial supports to reduce or eliminate torsional forces on the flanges and flange seals. A leak detection system monitors for leaks in all shells. A method of adjusting shell stresses during operation uses pumps to adjust the pressure of the filler material in the interspaces between shells. The high thermal conductivity of the outer vessel wall, which is due to good thermal bonding provided by the intershell metallic filler-materials, makes it possible to keep the pressure-carrying outer vessel shells cool during service, by cooling the outer shell by plain water, borated water for nuclear reactor vessels, or other coolant.