Small light water reactor with passive decay heat removal

摘要

A nuclear reactor comprises means for releasing coolant (100) as steam (41) into a containment region (44) located between a containment vessel (54) and a reactor vessel (52), wherein the containment region (44) is substantially dry prior to a high pressure event, and means for condensing the steam (41) on an inner wall (55) of the containment vessel (54) to transfer a decay heat outside of the containment vessel (55) and maintain a containment pressure within design limits through the condensation of the steam (41) on the inner wall (55).