Patent GB-1501733-A (GB)
Title: Thermogenic swimming-pool type nuclear reactor
IPC: G21C1/00
Filed: 1975-08-12
Abstract: 1501733 Reactors COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE 12 Aug 1975 [30 Aug 1974] 33562/75 Heading G6C A swimming-pool type reactor adapted to produce hot water at a temperature of about 110 to 120 C. for supplying a heating installation or for water desalination includes at least one Venturi through which the cooling water is passed in order to obtain the necessary pressurization. The Venturi neck is subjected to a pressure equal to the hydrostatic pressure corresponding to the head of water in the reactor enclosure above the neck, this pressure being obtained by a conduit discharging at the Venturi neck, the conduit inlet being situated in the top zone of the enclosure. In one embodiment, Fig. 2, the enclosure comprises a cylindrical vessel 2 closed by a base 4 at the bottom and open at the top. An insulating plug 6 floats on the free surface of the water within the vessel 2. The vessel 2 is supported within a concrete caisson 8 via a collar 10 and co-operating bearing surface 11. The core 12 is housed within a cylinder 14 provided with water outlets and inlets 16, 18 and continuing downwards in the form of a duct 20 which passes through the caisson 8 and which enables control rods 22 to be operated. The vessel 2 contains two heat exchangers 24 (only one shown) and two Venturis 42 (only one shown). Primary water enters each exchanger 24 via top apertures 28 in the wall 26 and leaves via bottom apertures 30. Inside the wall 26 are U-tubes 32 in which secondary water flows. Each Venturi 42 comprises an outer cylindrical wall 44 and an inner wall 48 giving the Venturi shape with a neck 52, and is connected to a pump 54 which feeds water to the core 12 via apertures 46. The interior of the vessel 2 is divided into two zones 56, 58 by a horizontal wall formed by spaced partitions 60, 62. The core cylinder 14, the heat exchangers 24 and the Venturis 42 are suspended from the partitions 60, 62 with the outlets 16 and apertures 28 leading into the space 64 between partitions 60, 62. The annular space 52 of each Venturi 42 communicates with the top zone 56 by means of a conduit 72 provided with a non-return valve and extending through the partitions 60, 62, and at the neck 50 apertures 71 are formed in the inner wall 48. Thus all the hydrostatic pressure due to the head of water is applied to the neck 50. In operation, the water leaving the heat exchangers 24 via apertures 30, enters the Venturis 42 via convergent sections 66 and leaves via apertures 46. The only purpose of the pumps 54 is to cause the water to flow in the primary circuit, making up the pressure losses in the core and heat exchangers. The pressure at the Venturi inlet is greater than the hydrostatic pressure at the neck 50 and the pressure at the core outlets 16 is still higher, due to the pressure losses in the heat exchangers, so that the water while at a temperature of about 110 to 120 C. can be kept in the liquid state. The water in the top zone 56 can be kept at a temperature below 75 C. The bottom part of the vessel 2 (corresponding to the bottom zone 58) is made from stainless steel while the top part is made from ordinary plated steel. In the event of accidental stoppage of the pumps 54, a valve 82 in the top partition 62 and a valve 84 at the upper end of a conduit 86 leading to the lower end of the core cylinder 14 enable the core 12 to be cooled by natural convection.