US3206373A - Support structure for vertical stack of solid moderator - Google Patents

Support structure for vertical stack of solid moderator Download PDF

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Publication number
US3206373A
US3206373A US280807A US28080763A US3206373A US 3206373 A US3206373 A US 3206373A US 280807 A US280807 A US 280807A US 28080763 A US28080763 A US 28080763A US 3206373 A US3206373 A US 3206373A
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United States
Prior art keywords
columns
tile
axis
stack
support structure
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Expired - Lifetime
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US280807A
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English (en)
Inventor
Dupuy Gerard
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Commissariat a lEnergie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives CEA
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Commissariat a lEnergie Atomique CEA
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
    • G21C—NUCLEAR REACTORS
    • G21C5/00—Moderator or core structure; Selection of materials for use as moderator
    • G21C5/02—Details
    • G21C5/10—Means for supporting the complete structure
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E30/00—Energy generation of nuclear origin
    • Y02E30/30—Nuclear fission reactors

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a support structure for the vertical stack of solid moderator of a nuclear reactor, and especially a heterogeneous reactor cooled by a circulation of gas under pressure.
  • each column consisting of prismatic bricks of identical transverse cross-section which are placed one above the other.
  • the coupling between the various columns of the stack is carried out by means of parallelipipedal keys fitted inside radial and longitudinal grooves which are preferably formed in the center of the lateral faces of opposite bricks of adjacent columns.
  • a stack of this type offers a large number of advantages especially as regards the stability and mechanical strength of the moderator structure.
  • each column is capable of either expanding or contracting freely about its own axis. The lattice pitch on which the said columns are arranged thus remains unchanged during the operation of the reactor.
  • the present invention has for its object to ensure that the lattice pitch on which the moderator columns are disposed is kept strictly constant irrespective of the deformations of the support structure.
  • a further object of the invention is to simplify the problems of loading and unloading, so that by reason of the constancy of pitch, the openings of the channels which are formed along the axes of the moderator bricks always remain opposite the openings formed through the reactor vessel so as to permit the introduction of the fuel elements to be stacked in the interior of said channels.
  • the support structure in accordance with the invention for the columns of a moderator stack consists of an assembly of adjacent tiles separated by a lateral clearance and disposed side by side in a same horizontal plane, each tile having a polygonal configuration admitting of a vertical axis of symmetry andadapted to support an assembly unit which is formed by a limited number of said columns, and is characterized in that each tile is coupled only to the central column which forms part of the assembly unit carried on said tile and which is disposed along the axis of symmetry of said tile, and is supported on a stationarily fixed bearing surface by pillars I Eithhfii Patented Sept. 14, 1965 which are spaced symmetrically about said axis and the lower portions of which are thermally insulated from said tile.
  • the support structure calls for the use of various secondary arrange ments which will be discussed in greater detail below and which are especially concerned on the one hand with the manner in which the tiles are arranged with respect to each other as a function of their own configuration and of the transverse cross-section of the moderator bricks which constitute the columns and, on the other hand, with the means employed for the purpose of ensuring hori zontality of each individual tile.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a support tile on which an assembly of moderator columns is supported.
  • FIG. 2 is a top view of a support tile.
  • FIG. 3 is a partial view on a smaller scale representing a group of tiles similar to the group of FIG. 1, said tiles being disposed in adjacent relation.
  • FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic View in partial cross-section along the line IV-IV of FIG. 2.
  • the stack is composed of a group of columns 1 each constituted by the superposition of bricks 2 of moderator material such as graphite, for example.
  • Each column is made up in this example of four bricks placed one directly above the other and the transverse cross-section of which is a regular hexagon.
  • the columns ll of the stack are connected together by means of longitudinal keys 3 which engage in grooves or keyways 4 formed along the lateral faces of the bricks 2.
  • the various columns are disposed in adjacent relation while allowance is made between the columns for a small lateral clearance 5, the dimensions of which vary during the operation of the reactor by reason of the swelling or shrinkage of the columns under the action of radiations and temperature differences.
  • the columns rest on support plates or tiles 6, each tile being designed to support only a small number of columns. (This number is equal to seven in the form of embodiment which is illustrated in the figures.)
  • the said tiles have a polygonal external configuration (namely hexagonal in the example which has been chosen) and are supported on the bottom of the reactor vessel (which has not been illustrated in the drawings) by three pillars such as the pillar 7, the constructional detail of which will be explained precisely below.
  • the combined assembly of seven columns which are supported on the tile 6 and which are shown in chain-dotted lines in the drawing constitutes a unit which, in transverse cross-section, does not have the configuration of a regular polygon.
  • identical support tiles may accordingly be employed for the stack, it is found necessary to displace these latter relatively to each other as has been shown in FIG. 3 by a distance which is equal to one third of the length of one side of a tile.
  • the relative displacement of three tiles such as the tiles 6a, 6b and 6c thus provides a free space 8a, the dimensions of which are sulficiently small not to cause any hindrance whatsoever to the supporting of the columns themselves.
  • each tile 6 there are formed in each tile 6 seven vertical bores 9 each corresponding to a central channel which is formed along the axis of a column in order to accommodate the fuel elements and in order to serve as passages for the flow of coolant.
  • each tile is supported on its three pillars '7 by means of a system which can be adjusted for height.
  • This system consists of a plug 11 having an external surface which is threaded so that said plug can thus be screwed into a tapped hole 12 which extends through the tile 6 opposite each pillar 7.
  • Each plug is provided with two holes 13 so as to permit this latter to be screwed home by means of a pin wrench and is provided in the central portion thereof with an adjusting screw 14 which is adapted to engage inside the top portion 15 of the pillar 7 so as to effect the height-adjustment of the tile 6 by screwing of the plug and by producing action on the screw 14.
  • Each pillar is constituted by a central portion 16 of s eel which is surrounded by a second casing 17, and the space which is formed between the external surface of the central portion 16 and the casing 17 is filled with a suitable layer 13 of heat-insulating material.
  • the bottom of each pillar rests on a bearing surface 19, said bearing surface being in turn supported on the bottom of the reactor vessel by studs of asbestos such as the stud 2t) which are located in the line of extension of the pillars.
  • said support plate 19 Since the support plate 19 must be maintained at a temperature which is as constant as possible, said support plate can be heat-insulated with a certain thickness 22 of a suitable material on that side which faces the reactor core, that is to say which is directed towards the til-es 6, whilst the underface of said support plate can be ventilated by means of a circulation of coolant gas through the spaces 21.
  • the foregoing arrangement accordingly makes it possible to maintain the lower portion of the pillars on a surface which remains cold or at least at a constant temperature, the use of heat-insulating material being especially intended to prevent convection between the bearing surface referred-to above and the heat-transporting gas which circulates in the passages provided in the moderator bricks.
  • the pillars themselves are preferably made of a metal having poor heat conductivity such as stainless steel or hastalloy.
  • a vertical stack of solid moderator wherein said stack is made up of adjacent vertical columns connected to each other by a system of longitudinal keys engaged in radial grooves formed in said columns, clearances being provided between adjacent columns and between the keys and the bottom of the grooves in which said keys engage so as not to impair, during the operation of the reactor, the lattice pitch on which said columns are disposed, support structure consisting of an assembly of adjacent tiles separated by a lateral clearance and disposed side by side in a same horizontal plane, each tile having a polygon-sided configuration admitting of a vertical axis of symmetry and adapted to support an assembly unit which is formed by a limited number of said columns, characterized in that each tile is coupled only to the central column which forms part of the assembly unit carried on said tile and which is disposed along the axis of symmetry of said tile, and is supported I on a stationarily fixed bearing surface by pillars which are spaced symmetrically about said axis and the lower portions of which are thermally insulated
  • support structure characterized in that the lower portion of each pillar is embedded in a thickness of heat-insulating material which covers the uppermost face of said stationarily fixed bearing surface while the underface of said bearing surface is cooled by a circulation of gas.
  • support structure characterized in that the tiles have a side-configuration corresponding to a regular hexagon and are displaced relatively to each other by a distance which is equal to one third of the length of one side of a ti e.
  • support structure characterized in that the coupling between the pillars and the tiles is carried out by means of a screw system which can be adjusted for height, thereby ensuring horizontality of said tiles at the time of assembly.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • High Energy & Nuclear Physics (AREA)
  • Carbon And Carbon Compounds (AREA)
  • Particle Accelerators (AREA)
  • Structure Of Emergency Protection For Nuclear Reactors (AREA)
US280807A 1962-05-25 1963-05-16 Support structure for vertical stack of solid moderator Expired - Lifetime US3206373A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR898823A FR1331572A (fr) 1962-05-25 1962-05-25 Structure de support pour empilement vertical de modérateur solide

Publications (1)

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US3206373A true US3206373A (en) 1965-09-14

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US280807A Expired - Lifetime US3206373A (en) 1962-05-25 1963-05-16 Support structure for vertical stack of solid moderator

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US (1) US3206373A (en(2012))
BE (1) BE632774A (en(2012))
CH (1) CH395357A (en(2012))
DE (1) DE1177751B (en(2012))
FR (1) FR1331572A (en(2012))
GB (1) GB958887A (en(2012))
LU (1) LU43726A1 (en(2012))
NL (1) NL293220A (en(2012))

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3329576A (en) * 1965-03-12 1967-07-04 Commissariat Energie Atomique Core structure for solid-moderator nuclear reactors
US3351535A (en) * 1964-11-13 1967-11-07 United Power Company Ltd Moderator cores for nuclear reactors
US4234384A (en) * 1977-04-26 1980-11-18 Hochtemperatur-Reaktorbau Gmbh Support structure for the core of a high capacity gas cooled high temperature reactor
US4546583A (en) * 1983-12-05 1985-10-15 Gary Hussar Modular building construction system
US4569820A (en) * 1981-05-13 1986-02-11 Ga Technologies Inc. Nuclear reactor core and fuel element therefor
US5315802A (en) * 1992-03-25 1994-05-31 Solite Corporation Modular wall system
US5622015A (en) * 1995-04-12 1997-04-22 Collins; James S. Method and apparatus for consolidating earth and anchor setting device
US7621098B2 (en) 2001-11-20 2009-11-24 Mfpf, Inc. Segmented foundation installation apparatus and method
US11610694B2 (en) * 2020-08-11 2023-03-21 Radiant Industries, Incorporated Nuclear reactor system with lift-out core assembly

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2742847C2 (de) * 1977-09-23 1985-07-18 Hochtemperatur-Reaktorbau GmbH, 4600 Dortmund Tragkonstruktion für den Kern eines gasgekühlten Hochtemperaturreaktors
DE2854155A1 (de) * 1978-12-15 1980-07-03 Hochtemperatur Reaktorbau Gmbh Gasgekuehlter hochtemperaturreaktor mit einer mit gasdurchlaessen versehenen tragkonstruktion

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2863815A (en) * 1953-07-23 1958-12-09 Moore Richard Valentine Nuclear reactor
GB913818A (en(2012)) * 1958-10-18 1962-12-28
US3119746A (en) * 1957-11-09 1964-01-28 Commissariat Energie Atomique Devices for supporting at least the solid moderator of a nuclear reactor having vertical channels

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL102453C (en(2012)) * 1956-12-03
FR1260603A (fr) * 1960-03-11 1961-05-12 Commissariat Energie Atomique Perfectionnements aux réacteurs nucléaires à modérateur solide

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2863815A (en) * 1953-07-23 1958-12-09 Moore Richard Valentine Nuclear reactor
US3119746A (en) * 1957-11-09 1964-01-28 Commissariat Energie Atomique Devices for supporting at least the solid moderator of a nuclear reactor having vertical channels
GB913818A (en(2012)) * 1958-10-18 1962-12-28

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3351535A (en) * 1964-11-13 1967-11-07 United Power Company Ltd Moderator cores for nuclear reactors
US3329576A (en) * 1965-03-12 1967-07-04 Commissariat Energie Atomique Core structure for solid-moderator nuclear reactors
US4234384A (en) * 1977-04-26 1980-11-18 Hochtemperatur-Reaktorbau Gmbh Support structure for the core of a high capacity gas cooled high temperature reactor
US4569820A (en) * 1981-05-13 1986-02-11 Ga Technologies Inc. Nuclear reactor core and fuel element therefor
US4546583A (en) * 1983-12-05 1985-10-15 Gary Hussar Modular building construction system
US5315802A (en) * 1992-03-25 1994-05-31 Solite Corporation Modular wall system
US5622015A (en) * 1995-04-12 1997-04-22 Collins; James S. Method and apparatus for consolidating earth and anchor setting device
US5797704A (en) * 1995-04-12 1998-08-25 Collins; James S. Pier foundation and method of installation
US7621098B2 (en) 2001-11-20 2009-11-24 Mfpf, Inc. Segmented foundation installation apparatus and method
US11610694B2 (en) * 2020-08-11 2023-03-21 Radiant Industries, Incorporated Nuclear reactor system with lift-out core assembly
US12148539B2 (en) 2020-08-11 2024-11-19 Radiant Industries, Incorporated Method for replacing nuclear reactor core

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BE632774A (en(2012))
GB958887A (en) 1964-05-27
CH395357A (fr) 1965-07-15
LU43726A1 (en(2012)) 1963-07-11
NL293220A (en(2012))
DE1177751B (de) 1964-09-10
FR1331572A (fr) 1963-07-05

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