Pressurised water reactor - with primary feed and return in one duct divided by wall with expansion joint

摘要

The Parent Patent describes a pressurised water reactor power plant, in which the steam generator contains the primary circulating pump within it and is housed in a safety containment, the feed and return lines for the primary coolant being incorporated into a single duct (1) subdivided by a partition wall (2). The partition wall is fixed, e.g. welded, to opposite sides of the duct. At least in the region near the reactor pressure vessel, this partition wall (2) is longitudinally divided by a gap (5), permitting changes of dimension across the diameter. Pref. the gap is formed as a set of meshing teeth in the two parts of the partition wall. Thermal stresses, in partic. in the region near to the stiff pressure vessel wall, are accommodated.