Patent Number: 052572951
Section: claims

1. In a nuclear reactor having a prismatic shaped core, a cylindrical casing and a core support plate, a core baffling device located in an annular space between the core and casing, said core baffling device comprising: a plurality of panels distributed so as to be distributed in an array having circumferential rows of said panels and vertical columns of said panels, all the panels of a same one of said circumferential rows being mutually identical and each of said panels comprising:  a plurality of solid vertical keys each fixed to said casing and each joining two mutually adjacent ones of said panels belonging to a same one of said rows and belonging to mutually adjacent columns for achieving circumferential continuity of said core baffling device; and  means disposed between mutually adjacent edges of mutually adjacent panels belonging to a same one of said columns for achieving vertical continuity of said core baffling device.  a plurality of panels distributed so as to constitute an array having circumferential rows of said panel and vertical columns of said panels, all the panels of a same one of said rows being mutually identical and each of said panels having:  a plurality of sealing strips each disposed between two superimposed panels and projecting into two grooves in the respective superimposed baffling plates thereof; and  a plurality of additional sealing strips each disposed between two superimposed keys and projecting into grooves formed in the respective keys.  (a) a plurality of panels distributed so as to constitute an array having circumferential rows of said panels and vertical columns of said panels, all the panels of a same one of said circumferential rows being mutually identical and each of said panels comprising:  (b) a plurality of solid vertical keys each fixed to said casing and each joining two mutually adjacent ones of said panels belonging to a same one of said circumferential rows and belonging to mutually adjacent columns, for achieving circumferential continuity of said core baffling device, each said key having an angled cross-section and slidably receiving lateral portions of partitions of the two mutually adjacent panels separated by the key.  the size of said vertical tubes being proportioned with respect to the size of the baffling plates and of the keys so that a vertical clearance exists between two superimposed baffling plates and between two superimposed keys when said vertical tubes are stacked;  (c) a plurality if sealing strips each disposed between two superimposed panels and projecting into two grooves in the baffling plates of the respective superimposed panels; and  (d) a plurality of additional sealing strips each disposed between two superimposed keys and projecting into grooves formed in the respective keys. 2. In a nuclear reactor having a prismatic shaped core, a cylindrical casing and a core support plate, a core baffling device located in an annular space between the core and casing, said core baffling device comprising: 3. In a nuclear reactor having a prismatic shaped core, a cylindrical casing and a core support plate, a core baffling device located in an annular space between the core and casing, said core baffling device having: 4. Device according to claim 1, wherein the panels are distributed into three rows and four columns. 5. Device according to claim 1, wherein said keys are formed by structural sections in the form of angle irons having means for receiving screws for connection to the casing. 6. Device according to claim 5, further comprising reinforcement gussets welded in the keys at the level of the horizontal reinforcements of the panels. 7. Device according to claim 5, wherein said keys are provided with bosses spaced vertically apart and provided for engaging into circumferential grooves of the casing, situated at the same level as the horizontal reinforcements of the panels 8. Device according to claim 5, wherein rectangular indentations are formed in some at least of said reinforcement gussets and wherein the casing carries cylindrical indexing pins projecting into the indentations. 9. Device according to claim 1, wherein the tubes of a same one of said same columns rest on each other via centering sockets to constitute said posts, each of said tubes of a lower one of said panels rests on the core support plate and locking means are located between each tube of each uppermost panel and the core casing so as to exert on the tube a force applying the respective post against the core support plate. 10. Device according to claim 8, wherein the locking means of each said post comprise structural means securely fixed to said casing and means located between said structural means and said post for exerting a force on the post via resilient means. 11. Device according to claim 1, wherein said vertical reinforcements and said horizontal reinforcements are formed with holes for circumferential and vertical flow of a reactor coolant.