Safety device protecting against overpressure failure of a nuclear reactor pressure vessel

US5526385A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Siemens Aktiengesellschaft · DE

Inventors

• Horst-Dieter Stockhausen · Nürnberg, DE
• Hartmut Seidelberger · Erlangen, DE
• Gerhard Hau · Albstadt, DE
• Josef Hollmann · Schlüsselfeld, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 31, 1994
• Grant date: Jun 11, 1996
• Expiry date: Aug 31, 2014

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E30/30
• WIPO field: Engines, pumps, turbines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A nuclear reactor has a core and a pressure vessel with a wall and an interior. A pressure relief responding as a function of temperature is provided in the case of insufficient core cooling (due to a highly improbable failure of the cooling devices and emergency cooling devices). A safety device protecting against overpressure failure of the pressure vessel upon insufficient cooling of the core includes a pressure pipe passing pressure-tightly through the wall and extending into the interior of the pressure vessel. The pressure pipe has at least one pressure compensation opening formed therein in the interior of the pressure vessel and has a fusible sealing body sealing the pressure compensation opening. The fusible sealing body is formed of a melting solder melting at a limit temperature, such as 600.degree. to 700.degree. C., and unblocking the pressure compensation opening, but keeping the pressure compensation opening sealed during normal operation. The pressure pipe in particular is a blow-off pipe with a pressure relief opening. However, the pressure pipe can also be a pressure control pipe, with which a blow-off valve provided outside the vessel can be triggered for reducin…