Arrangement to prevent the molten core of a nuclear reactor from penetrating into the ground
US4978496A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 6, 1989 |
| Grant date | Dec 18, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 6, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E30/30
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An arrangement is disclosed for preventing the molten corium of a nuclear reactor from penetrating into the ground. The reactor is supported by a concrete raft bearing on the ground, and inserted in the raft is a retaining basin having an upper portion of refractory material which is chemically inert towards the constituents of the corium oriented toward the corium, and a lower portion made of a refractory material with a heat conductivity much greater than that of the upper portion. Generally the upper layer of the retaining basin will be made of zirconia and the lower layer will be made of graphite. Disposed between the reactor and the retaining basin is a means for deflecting the vertical attack of corium on the basin and spreading out the corium, comprising a plurality of concentric cavities, each successive cavity having a greater outer diameter than that of the preceding cavity and having a center located at a greater vertical distance from the reactor than the preceding cavity.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.