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A self-contained modular nuclear reactor which can be prefabricated at a factory location, nuclear-certified at the factory, transported to a field location for final assembly and connection to a large-scale electric-power generating facility. The modular reactor includes a prefabricated nuclear hea

A self-contained modular nuclear reactor which can be prefabricated at a factory location, nuclear-certified at the factory, transported to a field location for final assembly and connection to a large-scale electric-power generating facility. The modular reactor includes a prefabricated nuclear heat supply module and a plurality of shell segments which can be assembled about the heat supply module and which provide a form for the pouring and curing of a cementatious biological shield about the heat supply module. The modular reactor includes passive shutdown heat removal systems sufficient to render the reactor safe in an emergency. A large-scale power plant arrangement is disclosed which incorporates a plurality of the modular reactors.

대표청구항 ▼

A transportable prefabricated fast-breeder nuclear heat supply module for shipment to and erection at an electric-power generating facility comprising: a primary vessel having a removable recessed head including a cylindrical wall; an outer vessel surrounding said primary vessel and close-coupled th

A transportable prefabricated fast-breeder nuclear heat supply module for shipment to and erection at an electric-power generating facility comprising: a primary vessel having a removable recessed head including a cylindrical wall; an outer vessel surrounding said primary vessel and close-coupled thereto to define an interstitial region therebetween, said outer vessel having a removable head and having dimensions sized for shipment on a railroad car; a fast-breeder reactor core unit mounted within said primary vessel, said reactor core unit including a plurality of control rods; a heat exchanger of cylindrical annular shape mounted within said primary vessel and having an outer cylindrical wall in common with said primary vessel, said heat exchanger having an inlet and an outlet for secondary coolant; inlet means and outlet means communicating through said outer and primary vessels with said heat-exchanger inlet and outlet, respectively, said inlet means and said outlet means being adapted for connection to a secondary cooling system; a pump mounted within said primary vessel underneath the reactor core unit for pumping a primary coolant upwardly through said reactor core unit and said heat exchanger; first means defining an inlet plenum positioned intermediate the pump and the overlying reactor core, said pump and said reactor core unit communicating directly with said intermediate inlet plenum to define a direct upward primary coolant flow path from said pump to said reactor core unit; second means defining a primary coolant flow path from said reactor core unit to said heat exchanger including an inner cylindrical wall of said heat exchanger and said cylindrical wall of said recessed head, whereby said heat exchanger serves to isolate said primary coolant from said primary vessel to reduce thermal stress in said primary vessel, said heat exchanger providing a downward flow path for said primary coolant in counterflow to a secondary coolant, and third means defining a primary coolant flow path from said heat exchanger to an inlet of said pump mounted underneath the reactor core, said third means including a first shielding member surrounding said reactor core unit and extending upward therefrom thereby to shield said heat exchanger from said reactor core unit, and a second shielding member interiorly lining a portion of said primary vessel, said second means and said third means being devoid of piping; and a control rod drive unit mounted within the recess defined by said recessed head and operatively connected through the bottom of said recessed head to said control rods; whereby primary coolant will be contained entirely within said primary vessel and said nuclear heat supply module will be in fluid communication with the balance of said electric-power generating facility only through said secondary coolant inlet means and outlet means. A segmented shell for assembly about a nuclear heat supply module comprising: a nuclear heat supply module having an outer wall; a plurality of shell segments adapted to be joined to one another in surrounding relation to said nuclear heat supply module, the joined shell segments defining an inner wall immediately adjacent the outer wall of said nuclear heat supply module, an outer wall spaced apart from said inner wall and an intermediate wall spaced apart from said inner and outer walls to define therebetween an inner interstitial region providing a water jacket and an outer interstitial region for receiving a cementatious material; a plurality of heat exchange loops secured to said segments, each loop having an inner branch defining a first heat exchange area disposed at the inner wall of the shell segments for placement intimate to the outer wall of said heat supply module and an outer branch defining a second heat exchange area disposed at the outer surface of said segmented shell outer wall; whereby said segmented shell when assembled about said heat supply module provides a form for the pouring and curing of a biological shield of cementatious material and said heat exchange loops provide an emergency heat removal system.