US 12,087,456 B2
Integral vessel isolation valve
John D. Malloy, III, Goode, VA (US); Matthew W. Ales, Puyallup, WA (US); Michael J. Edwards, Forest, VA (US); Ronald C. Watson, Lynchburg, VA (US); and Andrew C. Whitten, Lynchburg, PA (US)
Assigned to BWXT mPower, Inc., Charlotte, NC (US)
Filed by BWXT mPower, Inc., Charlotte, NC (US)
Filed on Nov. 29, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/536,404.
Application 17/536,404 is a division of application No. 16/034,560, filed on Jul. 13, 2018, granted, now 11,189,385, issued on Nov. 30, 2021.
Application 16/034,560 is a division of application No. 13/864,466, filed on Apr. 17, 2013, granted, now 10,026,511, issued on Jul. 17, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/625,226, filed on Apr. 17, 2012.
Prior Publication US 2022/0084701 A1, Mar. 17, 2022
Int. Cl. G21C 9/00 (2006.01); G21C 13/02 (2006.01); G21C 13/028 (2006.01); G21C 15/24 (2006.01)
CPC G21C 13/02 (2013.01) [G21C 9/00 (2013.01); G21C 13/0285 (2013.01); G21C 15/24 (2013.01); Y02E 30/30 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A nuclear reactor comprising:
a nuclear reactor core;
a pressure vessel configured to contain the nuclear reactor core; and
an isolation valve including a mounting flange secured to a wall of the pressure vessel and a valve body disposed in the wall or in a flange assembly including the mounting flange, the isolation valve configured to close responsive to a pressure difference across the valve exceeding a threshold pressure difference, wherein:
the mounting flange includes a valve seat defined in the mounting flange; and
the valve body includes a valving element biased away from the valve seat defined in the mounting flange;
wherein a pressure difference across the valve exceeding the threshold pressure difference closes the isolation valve by causing the valving element to seat against the valve seat defined in the mounting flange.