Patent Number: 040509842
Section: claims

1. Nuclear power plant having a gas coolant flowing in a closed cycle comprising a prestressed concrete pressure tank, a high-temperature reactor located within said tank, a gas turboset including a turbine located within said tank, heat exchange apparatus including recuperators, pre-coolers and intermediate coolers located within said pressure tank, conduit means connecting said reactor, turboset and heat exchange apparatus and forming a flow path for said gas coolant therebetween, wherein the improvement comprises that said tank has a vertically extending axis, said tank forming a horizontally extending tunnel spaced below said nuclear reactor, said turboset being positioned horizontally in the horizontally extending tunnel so that said turboset is spaced and shielded from said reactor by the portion of said concrete pressure tank disposed between said reactor and said turboset, said tank forming a plurality of vertically extending first shafts disposed in an annular arrangement about the vertical axis of said tank with said first shafts located uniformly radially outwardly from said reactor and extending from below to above said reactor, one said recuperator and one said pre-cooler located within each of said first shafts with said pre-cooler arranged to receive the flow of the gas coolant from said recuperator located in the same said first shaft, said conduit means arranged downstream in the path of said gas coolant from said turbine in said turboset is divided into at least two equal partial gas flow systems with each said system including a horizontally arranged first ring segment conduit separate from another horizontally arranged first ring segment conduit of the other said system, said recuperators in said first shafts divided into at least two separate groups with said recuperators in the same group positioned adjacent to one another, the same group of said recuperators each connected to the same said first ring segment conduit, a tie line interconnecting said turbine and the same group of said recuperators so that flow between said recuperators in the same group takes place through said first ring segment conduit, said conduit means including a horizontally arranged second ring segment conduit corresponding to each said first ring segment conduit and connected to said pre-coolers arranged in the same group with said recuperators interconnected by the corresponding said second ring segment conduit and arranged to receive the flow of said gas coolant from said recuperators connected to the corresponding said first ring segment conduit, a collecting conduit in communication with said second ring segment conduit for returning the flow of gas coolant to said turboset, each said recuperator comprises a nest of tubes, a horizontally arranged third ring segment conduit interconnecting said nests of tubes in each said recuperator within one said group of recuperators, and a tie line connecting said third ring segment to the high pressure stage of said compressor for distributing the gas proportionally to said nests of tubes in said recuperators within one said group of recuperators. 2. Nuclear power plant, as set forth in claim 1, wherein two said groups of said recuperators and pre-coolers are arranged within said pressure tank each consisting of three said recuperators and three said pre-coolers with one said first ring segment conduit interconnecting said three said recuperators in each said group, and each of said groups being arranged symmetrical to one another and to said reactor. 3. Nuclear power plant, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said turboset comprises a gas turbine, a generator, and a shaft rigidly coupling said gas turbine to said generator. 4. Nuclear power plant, as set forth in claim 1, wherein an intermediate cooler is located within at least two of said first shafts. 5. Nuclear power plant, as set forth in claim 4, wherein each said intermediate cooler is located within one of said shafts below said rectangular therein. 6. Nuclear power plant, as set forth in claim 5, wherein said turboset includes a compressor having a low-pressure stage and a high-pressure stage, at least two said intermediate coolers are located in each of said at least two groups containing said recuperators and pre-coolers, a first connecting duct interconnecting said intermediate coolers in each said group, and a tie line connecting said connecting duct to the low-pressure stage of said compressor. 7. Nuclear power plant, as set forth in claim 6, wherein a second connecting duct interconnects said intermediate coolers in each said group of intermediate coolers, and a tie line connecting said second connecting duct to the high-pressure stage of said compressor. 8. Nuclear power plant, as set forth in claim 1, wherein four said intermediate coolers are located within said tank and each said group of intermediate coolers consists of two said intermediate coolers with said intermediate coolers in each said group being connected to one said first connecting duct and to one said second connecting duct. 9. Nuclear power plant, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said turboset includes a compressor, and a flow line connecting said compressor to said recuperators. 10. Nuclear power plant, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said conduit means includes fittings accessibly arranged within said pressure tank.