METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONFINEMENT OF NUCLEAR- REACTOR MOLTEN CORE Russian patent published in 2001 - IPC

FIELD: nuclear reactor accident control. SUBSTANCE: proposed method and device are meant to ensure safety of nuclear plant and to prevent escape of corium products into environment in case of accident. Molten core is caught and held in corium catcher mounted under reactor; corium is fed from top into intake chamber and cooled down due to heat transfer into atmosphere through safety shield and also due to contact with chamber walls whereto coolant is supplied. Catcher mounted under reactor is covered with material that melts when brought in contact with corium. Intake chamber is located beyond reactor cavity and communicates with catcher through tilted pipeline. Intake chamber is multilayer structure; cooling system is arranged in chamber walls whereto coolant is supplied. Intake chamber is covered on top with pressurized safety shield. EFFECT: enhanced reliability and safety. 12 cl, 2 dwg