US 11,984,230 B2
Dual-mode heat removal system that allows first direction natural circulation flow through a heat exchanger during nuclear reactor emergency cooling and allows opposite direction forced flow through the heat exchanger during decay heat removal
David H. Hinds, Wilmington, NC (US); and Charles L. Heck, Wilmington, NC (US)
Assigned to GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC, Wilmington, NC (US)
Filed by GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC, Wilmington, NC (US)
Filed on Dec. 22, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/131,273.
Prior Publication US 2022/0199271 A1, Jun. 23, 2022
Int. Cl. G21C 15/18 (2006.01); G21C 15/24 (2006.01); G21C 15/25 (2006.01); G21C 15/257 (2006.01)
CPC G21C 15/182 (2013.01) [G21C 15/24 (2013.01); G21C 15/25 (2013.01); G21C 15/257 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A heat removal system for a nuclear reactor, the heat removal system comprising:
a first connection configured to connect to the nuclear reactor;
a second connection configured to connect to the nuclear reactor,
wherein the first connection is an Isolation Condenser System (ICS) supply line, and
wherein the second connection is an ICS condensate return line;
a heat exchanger connected between the first and the second connections to allow reactor coolant to flow from the nuclear reactor through the first connection, the second connection, and the heat exchanger and back into the reactor; and
a pump connected to the second connection,
wherein the pump is configured to
force circulation of reactor coolant in a first direction through the heat exchanger
and allow circulation of reactor coolant in a second direction opposite of the first direction through the heat exchanger.