US3847733A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Nuclear reactor with integrated heat exchanger
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-07-13
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Granted: 1974-11-12
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Expires: 1991-07-13
Abstract
Abstract The reactor comprises within a leak-tight vessel a number of reactor cores disposed in a circle on a supporting platform, a fuel-handling device mounted above one of the cores, a heatexchanger suspended above each of the remaining cores, a central column rigidly fixed to the core-supporting platform and extending through the entire reactor vessel. The central column is coupled at a point located outside the reactor vessel to a system for carrying out the rotary displacement of the column about its own axis and thus causing the rotary displacement of the reactor cores so as to bring each core in turn from the normal operating position beneath a heat-exchanger to the refuelling position beneath the fuel-handling device.
Inventors
- 👤 E Ventre
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 19:25
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C19/00; G21C1/00; G21C1/02; G21C1/03; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30; Y10; Y10S; Y10S376/00; Y10S376/911
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A nuclear reactor of the integrated heat-exchanger type comprising a leak-tight enclosure, a number of reactor cores disposed in a circle in said enclosure, a supporting platform for said cores, a fuel-handling device mounted above one of said cores in said enclosure, a heat-exchanger in said enclosure suspended above each of the others of said cores, a central column rigidly fixed to said enclosure, a system outside said enclosure for rotating said column about its axis and for rotating said reactor cores from a position beneath a heatexchanger to a position beneath said fuel-handling device, vertical jacks supporting said column on saId enclosure and for raising and lowering said platform and said reactor cores with respect to said heat-exchangers, fuel elements in said cores, heads for said fuel-elements, a neutron shield fixed beneath each of said heat-exchangers and opening through said shield receiving said heads when said platform is raised.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
A nuclear reactor of the integrated heat-exchanger type comprising a leak-tight enclosure, a number of reactor cores disposed in a circle in said enclosure, a supporting platform for said cores, a fuel-handling device mounted above one of said cores in said enclosure, a heat-exchanger in said enclosure suspended above each of the others of said cores, a central column rigidly fixed to said enclosure, a system outside said enclosure for rotating said column about its axis and for rotating said reactor cores from a position beneath a heatexchanger to a position beneath said fuel-handling device, vertical jacks supporting said column on saId enclosure and for raising and lowering said platform and said reactor cores with respect to said heat-exchangers, fuel elements in said cores, heads for said fuel-elements, a neutron shield fixed beneath each of said heat-exchangers and opening through said shield receiving said heads when said platform is raised.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A reactor according to claim 1, each of said heat-exchangers being rigidly fixed to an external cylindrical skirt which engages over the adjacent one of said reactor cores.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
A reactor according to claim 1, each of said heat-exchangers having vertical tubes, a primary coolant in said enclosure circulated through said tubes, a secondary coolant circuit, control-rod guide tubes within said circuit opening into the adjacent reactor core and inlets for said secondary coolant circuit at the top of said heat exchanger.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A reactor according to claim 3, each of said secondary coolant circuits including peripheral tubes and ducts for the secondary coolant parallel to said tubes for the circulation of the primary coolant.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
A reactor according to claim 3, including pumps for circulating said primary coolant liquid within said central column and valves for controlling the rate of flow of said primary coolant liquid toward each of said reactor cores located adjacent said column and said supporting platform.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
A reactor according to claim 5, including a partition-wall supporting said pumps and dividing said central column into two sections, one of said sections including said valves and the outlets of said pumps and the other of said sections communicating with the outlet of said heat exchangers and the inlets of said pumps.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
A reactor according to claim 6, including openings in said column above said partition-wall.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A reactor according to claim 1 including a biological shield element at the level of each of said heat-exchangers mounted on and within said enclosure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A reactor according to claim 1, including removable plugs for said enclosure, said heat-exchangers, said control rods and said fuel-handling device being supported by said plugs.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-11 | 1978-05-13 | 1978-11-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-11 | 1982-05-13 | 1982-11-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-11 | 1986-05-13 | 1986-11-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |