Method and device for removing decay heat from liquid metal reactors using thermosyphon

Abstract

A method and device for removing decay heat from a liquid metal reactor using a thermosyphon so as to cool the reactor is disclosed. The method and device of this invention uses a thermosyphon heating part in place of a conventional air separator, thus improving its decay heat removal capacity. In the method of this invention, decay heat from the reactor is absorbed at the flowing air and additionally at the evaporator section of the thermosyphon. The absorbed heat at the evaporator section is, thereafter, dissipated to the atmosphere from the condenser section of the thermosyphon. In the liquid metal reactor installed at a position between a containment and a reactor support concrete wall, the thermosyphon is installed at a position between the concrete wall and the containment vessel. The thermosyphon has a vertical evaporator section, an inclined adiabatic section extending upward from the top end of the evaporator section, and a vertical condenser section extending upward from the top end of the adiabatic section. Using a thermosyphon also reduces the temperature of the exhaust air of the cooling channel.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of removing decay heat from a liquid metal reactor using a thermosyphon, comprising the steps of: 
 absorbing the decay heat from said reactor at an evaporator section of the thermosyphon; and    dissipating the absorbed heat to the atmosphere from a condenser section of the thermosyphon.    
     
     
         2 . A device for removing decay heat from a liquid metal reactor installed at a position between a containment and a reactor support concrete wall, comprising: 
 a thermosyphon installed at a position between said reactor support concrete wall and a vessel of said containment.    
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein said thermosyphon comprises a vertical evaporator section, an inclined adiabatic section extending upward from a top end of said evaporator section, and a vertical condenser section extending upward from a top end of said adiabatic section.