Device and method for collecting and cooling reactor-meltdown products

US5867548A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Siemens Aktiengesellschaft · DE

Inventors

• Dietmar Bittermann
• Andreas Göbel · Eiterfeld, DE
• Gerhard Hau · Albstadt, DE
• Hartmut Seidelberger · Erlangen, DE
• Horst Weisshaupl · Herzogenaurach, DE
• Lothar Wistuba · Herzogenaurach, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 8, 1995
• Grant date: Feb 2, 1999
• Expiry date: Dec 8, 2015

Classification

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

Abstract

A device for collecting and cooling reactor-meltdown products from a reactor pressure vessel includes an antechamber disposed below the reactor pressure vessel and an expansion chamber for the reactor-meltdown products. A channel which is disposed between the antechamber and the expansion chamber has a partition being destructible by the reactor-meltdown products. A closure element which connects a coolant reservoir to the expansion chamber is destructible by the reactor-meltdown products. A method for collecting and cooling reactor-meltdown products from a reactor pressure vessel includes collecting reactor-meltdown products in an antechamber disposed below the reactor pressure vessel and keeping them in the antechamber for a predetermined time interval. A partition disposed between the antechamber and an expansion chamber is destroyed with the reactor-meltdown products. The reactor-meltdown products penetrate from the antechamber into the expansion chamber and are spread in the expansion chamber. A closure element is destroyed with the reactor-meltdown products in the expansion chamber, for connecting a coolant reservoir to the expansion chamber and permitting coolant to flow int…