Patent Number: 051868881
Section: abstract

The device is constituted by a metal structure (10) resting on the bottom of the reactor pit (3) and submerged in a mass of water filling the lower portion of the reactor pit (3). The metal structure (10) comprises a central chimney (11), a recovery wall (12) constituted by juxtaposed dihedra (22) made from metal sheet, and a peripheral wall (13) fixed to the external edges of the dihedra (22) and providing water passages at the periphery of the reactor pit. When the molten core of the reactor spreads into the reactor pit, following an accident, the structure (10) ensures its recovery and prevents contact between the molten core and the bottom of the reactor pit. The molten core flows onto the wall (12) in such a manner as to constitute a layer of small thickness which is cooled over its upper surface and over its lower surface and which solidifies rapidly.